2 Corinthians 12:10

2 Corinthians 12:10 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
• New International Version (NIV)That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Context of 2 Corinthians 12:10

8I asked the Lord three times to take this pain away from me. 9But he said to me, ‘I will be kind to you and I will help you. That will be enough for you. When you are weak, I will show that I am completely powerful to help you.’ So I am happy to be proud about my weakness. Then I know that Christ's power will be with me. That is why I am happy even when I am weak. People may insult me. They may bring me trouble. They may want to hurt me. I may have many kinds of trouble. But I am still happy because I am serving Christ. Yes, whenever I am weak, then I am strong. 11I am speaking like a proud fool, but you have made me do it. You yourselves should be saying good things about me. I may not be important. But I am as good as those very special apostles. 12When I was there with you, I showed that I was a true apostle. I worked patiently among you. I did many miracles and great things that showed God's power.

2 Corinthians 12:10 word by word

διὸ εὐδοκῶ ἐν ἀσθενείαις, ἐν ὕβρεσιν, ἐν ἀνάγκαις, ἐν διωγμοῖς καὶ στενοχωρίαις, ὑπὲρ Χριστοῦ· ὅταν γὰρ ἀσθενῶ τότε δυνατός εἰμι.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Thereforeδιόdio · thereforeG1352
• I take pleasureεὐδοκέωeudokeō · to delightG2106
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• infirmitiesἀσθένειαastheneia · weakness: weakG769
• reproachesὕβριςhubris · mistreatmentG5196
• necessitiesἀνάγκηanagkē · necessityG318
• persecutionsδιωγμόςdiōgmos · persecutionG1375
• distressesστενοχωρίαstenochōria · hardshipG4730
• forὑπέρhuper · above/forG5228
• Christ’s sakeΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547
• forγάρgar · forG1063
• whenὅτανhotan · when(-ever)G3752
• I am weakἀσθενέωastheneō · be weak: weakG770
• thenτότεtote · thenG5119
• am Iεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• strongδυνατόςdunatos · ableG1415

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 12:10

• 2 Corinthians 1:4Whenever we have trouble, he comforts us. Because of that, we ourselves can comfort other people. When they have any kind of trouble, we can comfort them, in the same way that God has comforted us.
• 2 Corinthians 4:8We receive trouble all the time, but that does not stop us. We do not always know what to do, but we are not afraid to continue.
• 2 Corinthians 7:4I know you and I trust you. I am proud of you. You have helped me to be strong. So, even when we have many troubles, I am still very happy.
• Acts 5:41The apostles went away from the meeting of the Jewish leaders. They were very happy because they thought to themselves, ‘These leaders have done bad things to us because we obey Jesus. That shows that God accepts us as his people.’
• Romans 5:3We are happy even when we have troubles and pain. That is because we know that those troubles help us to become patient and strong.
• Romans 8:35Christ will always continue to love us. Nothing can stop that! We may have troubles. Things may make us sad or afraid. People may do bad things to us. We may have no food or no clothes. There may be great danger. People may even try to kill us. But none of these things can stop Christ from loving us.
• Philippians 1:29God is helping you to serve Christ well. That means that you believe in Christ. But it also means that you receive trouble and pain on his behalf. Both of those are gifts from God.
• Philippians 2:17You believe in Christ, and you are his servants. That is like you are offering yourselves as a sacrifice to God. Perhaps I will soon have to die. Then my blood would be like drink that I am pouring on your sacrifice, to please God. So, if I have to die now, I will be happy. And we should all be happy together.
• Colossians 1:24At this time, I am suffering on your behalf, but I am still happy. Christ himself suffered on behalf of his people, the church. Now, while I live in my human body, I also suffer. I continue to receive the pain that Christ received, so that it may be complete. In that way, I help the church, which is like Christ's own body.
• James 1:2My Christian friends, remember to be happy, even when many kinds of trouble happen to you. Troubles can help you.
• 1 Peter 1:6All this causes you to be very happy, even when you have troubles. For a short time now, different kinds of troubles may make you sad.
• 1 Peter 4:13Instead, be happy when you have trouble. Remember that Christ also received much trouble and pain. If you have trouble like he did, then you will be happy when he returns. At that time, everyone will see how great Christ really is. Then you will be very happy with a great joy.
• 2 Corinthians 11:23Are they Christ's servants? I serve him even better than they do! (Now I am speaking like a crazy person.) I work much more than they have worked. I have been in prison more often than they have. People have hit me with whips very many times. I have nearly died many times.
• 2 Corinthians 4:5We do not speak a message about ourselves. We tell people that Jesus Christ is our Lord. Because we belong to Jesus, we have become your servants, not your masters.
• 2 Corinthians 10:18Who is really good? It is not the person who praises himself. It is the person that the Lord says is a good person.
• Luke 6:22People may hate you, because you believe in me, the Son of Man. They may say bad things against you and make you go away from them. They may say that you are very bad. When that happens, be happy.

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 12:10

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 10Therefore I take pleasure - I not only endure them patiently, but am pleased when they occur; for I do it for Christ's sake - on his account; for on his account I suffer. For when I am weak - most oppressed with trials and afflictions, then am I strong; God supporting my mind with his most powerful influences, causing me to rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 10Therefore I take pleasure - Since so many benefits result from trials; since my afflictions are the occasion of obtaining the favor of Christ in so eminent a degree, I rejoice in the privilege of suffering. There is often real pleasure in affliction, paradoxical as it may appear. Some of the happiest persons I have known are those who have been deeply afflicted; some of the purest joys which I have witnessed have been manifested on a sick-bed, and in the…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-10Verses 7-10 The apostle gives an account of the method God took to keep him humble, and to prevent his being lifted up above measure, on account of the visions and revelations he had. We are not told what this thorn in the flesh was, whether some great trouble, or some great temptation. But God often brings this good out of evil, that the reproaches of our enemies help to hide pride from us. If God loves us, he will keep us from being exalted above…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7-10We do not know what Paul's thorn in the flesh was (see Numbers 33:55; Ezekiel 28:24; Hosea 2:6). We only know it was meant to keep him humble, to burst his pride. It was a messenger from Satan, meaning something or someone evil, so Paul asked the Lord to remove it. The Lord replied each time, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." Paul's weakness allowed Christ's power to work through him by God's grace. Paul accepted his suffering…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1010. take pleasure in--too strongly. Rather as the Greek, "I am well contented in." infirmities--the genus. Two pairs of species follow, partly coming from "Satan's messenger," partly from men. reproaches--"insults." when--in all the cases just specified. then--then especially. strong--"powerful" in "the power of Christ" (2Co 12:9; 2Co 13:4; He 11:34).Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Corinthians 12:10

• Faith
• Happiness
• Humility
• Joy
• Minister, Christian
• Paradox
• Paul
• Persecution
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Afflictions
• Backbiting
• Crafty
• Excuse
• Gain
• Grace
• Perfect
• Prayer
• Providence
• Revelation

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 12

• 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
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings