2 Corinthians 11:12

2 Corinthians 11:12 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.
• New International Version (NIV)And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And what I am doing I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast.

Context of 2 Corinthians 11:12

10As surely as I have Christ’s truth, my bragging will not be silenced anywhere in Greece. 11Why? Because I don’t love you? God knows that I do love you. But I’ll go on doing what I’m doing. This will take away the opportunity of those people who want to brag because they think they’re like us. 13People who brag like this are false apostles. They are dishonest workers, since they disguise themselves as Christ’s apostles. 14And no wonder, even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

2 Corinthians 11:12 word by word

ὃ δὲ ποιῶ, καὶ ποιήσω, ἵνα ἐκκόψω τὴν ἀφορμὴν τῶν θελόντων ἀφορμήν, ἵνα ἐν ᾧ καυχῶνται, εὑρεθῶσιν καθὼς καὶ ἡμεῖς.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Butδέde · thenG1161
• whatὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• I doποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
• ·καίkai · andG2532
• thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• I may cut offἐκκόπτωekkoptō · to preventG1581
• occasionὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• occasionἀφορμήaphormē · opportunityG874
• which desireθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
• ·ἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• they gloryκαυχάομαιkauchaomai · to boastG2744
• they may be foundεὑρίσκωheuriskō · to find/meetG2147
• asκαθώςkathōs · as/just asG2531
• weἐγώegō · I/weG1473

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 11:12

• 2 Corinthians 11:9When I was with you and needed something, I didn’t bother any of you for help. My friends from the province of Macedonia supplied everything I needed. I kept myself from being a financial burden to you in any way, and I will continue to do that.
• 2 Corinthians 1:17You don’t think that I made these plans lightly, do you? Do you think that when I make plans, I make them in a sinful way? Why would I say that something is true when it isn’t?
• Job 23:13“But God is one of a kind. Who can make him change his mind? He does whatever he wants!
• 1 Corinthians 9:12If others have the right to expect this from you, don’t we deserve even more? But we haven’t used our rights. Instead, we would put up with anything in order not to hinder the Good News of Christ in any way.
• 1 Timothy 5:14So I want younger widows to marry, have children, manage their homes, and not give the enemy any chance to ridicule them.
• Galatians 1:7But what some people are calling good news is not really good news at all. They are confusing you. They want to distort the Good News about Christ.
• Philippians 1:15Some people tell the message about Christ because of their jealousy and envy. Others tell the message about him because of their good will.
• 2 Corinthians 11:18Since it’s common for people to brag, I’ll do it too.
• 2 Corinthians 5:12We are not trying to show you our qualifications again, but we are giving you an opportunity to be proud of us. Then you can answer those who are proud of their appearance rather than their character.
• 2 Corinthians 10:17“Whoever brags should brag about what the Lord has done.”
• 1 Corinthians 5:6It’s not good for you to brag. Don’t you know that a little yeast spreads through the whole batch of dough?
• Galatians 6:13It’s clear that not even those who had themselves circumcised did this to follow Moses’ laws. Yet, they want you to be circumcised so that they can brag about what was done to your body.

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 11:12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12But what I do, etc. - I act thus that I may cut off occasion of glorying, boasting, or calumniating from them - the false prophets and his partisans, who seek occasion - who would be glad that I should become chargeable to you, that it might in some sort vindicate them who exact much from you; for they bring you into bondage, and devour you, 2 Corinthians 11:20. Nothing could mortify these persons more than to find that the apostle did take nothing, and…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12But what I do - The course of life which I have been pursuing I will continue to pursue. That is, I will continue to preach as I have done without demanding a support. I will labor with my own hands if necessary; I will preach without demanding rigidly what I might be entitled to. That I may cut off occasion - That I might give them no opportunity of accusing me of desiring to grow rich, and of calumniating me. Paul meant that they should have no…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 5-15Verses 5-15 It is far better to be plain in speech, yet walking openly and consistently with the gospel, than to be admired by thousands, and be lifted up in pride, so as to disgrace the gospel by evil tempers and unholy lives. The apostle would not give room for any to accuse him of worldly designs in preaching the gospel, that others who opposed him at Corinth, might not in this respect gain advantage against him. Hypocrisy may be looked for, especially…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12Paul refused support from the Corinthians (11:7–11) to demonstrate true Christian service. He wanted to contrast this with those who served to boast.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. I will do--I will continue to decline help. occasion--Greek, "the occasion," namely, of misrepresenting my motives, which would be afforded to my detractors, if I accepted help. that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we--Bengel joins this clause with "the occasion," namely, of glorying or boasting; the occasion "that they may be found (a point wherein they glory) even as we," that is, quite as disinterested, or virtually, quite as…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Corinthians 11:12

• Minister, Christian
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Abase
• Above
• Corrupt
• Fear
• Jealous
• Peril
• Philippians, Epistle to
• Receive
• Save
• Corinthians, Second Epistle to the

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 11

• 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