EasyEnglish Bible 2018
2 Corinthians 10:12
12Some people praise themselves. They say how clever they are. But we could never do that. We could not even try to be like those people. But they do not understand anything. They decide among themselves how good they are. They look at one another to see if they are better or worse.
2 Corinthians 10:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
- New International Version (NIV)We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
Context of 2 Corinthians 10:12
10Some people say: ‘Paul's letters are powerful and they say strong things. But when he himself is here with us, he seems to be weak. And the words that he speaks have no value.’ 11Anyone who says things like that should understand this: There is no difference between what we write and what we do. When we come to you, we will do what we have written in our letters. Some people praise themselves. They say how clever they are. But we could never do that. We could not even try to be like those people. But they do not understand anything. They decide among themselves how good they are. They look at one another to see if they are better or worse. 13As for us, we will only be proud of the work that God has given us to do. We will not be proud of anything more than that. And that includes our work among you. 14We were the first people to come as far as Corinth and tell you the good news about Christ. That was part of the work that God has given to us to do. So it is right for us to tell you how proud we are.
Read all of 2 Corinthians 102 Corinthians 10:12 word by word
Οὐ γὰρ τολμῶμεν ἐγκρῖναι ἢ συγκρῖναι ἑαυτούς τισιν τῶν ἑαυτοὺς συνιστανόντων· ἀλλ᾽ αὐτοὶ ἐν ἑαυτοῖς ἑαυτοὺς μετροῦντες καὶ συγκρίνοντες ἑαυτοὺς ἑαυτοῖς οὐ συνιᾶσιν.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Forγάρgar · forG1063
- we dareτολμάωtolmaō · be boldG5111
- notοὐou · noG3756
- make ourselves of the numberἐγκρίνωegkrinō · to classifyG1469
- orἤē · orG2228
- compareσυγκρίνωsugkrinō · to compareG4793
- ourselvesἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438
- with someτιςtis · oneG5100
- that commendσυνίστημι, συνιστάωsunistaō sunistanō sunistēmi · to commendG4921
- butἀλλάalla · butG235
- theyαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- measuringμετρέωmetreō · to measureG3354
- byἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- areσυνίημιsuniēmi · to understandG4920
Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 10:12
- 2 Corinthians 3:1We do not need any more to show that our work is good. Some people need to have letters from other people to say that they do good work. We do not need to show you letters like that. Nor do we need you to write a letter like that for us.
- 2 Corinthians 5:12We are not trying again to make you think that our work is good. But we do want to give you the chance to be proud of us. Then you will be able to show the false teachers that they are wrong. They are proud about what they look like on the outside. They do not think about what they are really like inside themselves.
- Job 12:2‘You people think that you know everything. You think that there will be no wisdom after you die.
- Proverbs 25:27It is bad for you to eat too much honey. If you always want people to praise you, it is also bad for you.
- Proverbs 27:2Let other people praise you. Do not boast about yourself.
- Luke 18:11The Pharisee stood there by himself. He prayed like this: “Thank you, God, that I am different from all these other people. They are bad people. They rob other people. They have sex with women who are not their wife. Thank you, God, that I am not like this man who takes taxes on behalf of the government.
- Romans 15:18But I will only speak about the work that Christ has made me able to do. I have lived among the Gentiles and I have spoken God's message to them. They have obeyed God as a result of Christ's work through me.
- Proverbs 26:12Some men think that they are already wise. A fool is more likely to learn something than they are.
Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 10:12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12We dare not make ourselves, etc. - As if he had said: I dare neither associate with, nor compare myself to, those who are full of self-commendation. Some think this to be an ironical speech. But they, measuring themselves by themselves - They are not sent of God; they are not inspired by his Spirit; therefore they have no rule to think or act by. They are also full of pride and self-conceit; they look within themselves for accomplishments which their…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12For we dare not make ourselves of the number - We admit that we are not bold enough for that. They had accused him of a lack of boldness and energy when present with them, 2 Corinthians 10:1, 2 Corinthians 10:10. Here in a strain of severe but delicate irony, he says he was not bold enough to do things which the had done. He did not dare to do the things which had been done among them. To such boldness of character, present or absent, he could lay no…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-18Verses 12-18 If we would compare ourselves with others who excel us, this would be a good method to keep us humble. The apostle fixes a good rule for his conduct; namely, not to boast of things without his measure, which was the measure God had distributed to him. There is not a more fruitful source of error, than to judge of persons and opinions by our own prejudices. How common is it for persons to judge of their own religious character, by the opinions…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12Paul accuses his enemies of having false values because they think too highly of themselves.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. "We do not presume (irony) to judge ourselves among, or in comparison with, some of them that commend themselves." The charge falsely brought against him of commending himself (2Co 3:1; 5:12), really holds good of the false teachers. The phrase, "judge ourselves of the number," is drawn from the testing of athletes and senators, the "approved" being set down on the roll [Wahl]. measuring themselves by themselves--"among themselves": to correspond to…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Corinthians 10:12
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 10
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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