God’s Word Translation
2 Corinthians 12:10
10Therefore, I accept weakness, mistreatment, hardship, persecution, and difficulties suffered for Christ. It’s clear that when I’m weak, I’m strong.
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 begged the Lord three times to take it away from me. 9But he told me: “My kindness is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak.” So I will brag even more about my weaknesses in order that Christ’s power will live in me. Therefore, I accept weakness, mistreatment, hardship, persecution, and difficulties suffered for Christ. It’s clear that when I’m weak, I’m strong. 11I have become a fool. You forced me to be one. You should have recommended me to others. Even if I’m nothing, I wasn’t inferior in any way to your super-apostles. 12While I was among you I patiently did the signs, wonders, and miracles which prove that I’m an apostle.
Read all of 2 Corinthians 122 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 1:4He comforts us whenever we suffer. That is why whenever other people suffer, we are able to comfort them by using the same comfort we have received from God.
- 2 Corinthians 4:8In every way we’re troubled, but we aren’t crushed by our troubles. We’re frustrated, but we don’t give up.
- 2 Corinthians 7:4I have great confidence in you, and I have a lot of reasons to be proud of you. Even as we suffer, I’m encouraged and feel very happy.
- Acts 5:41The apostles left the council room. They were happy to have been considered worthy to suffer dishonor for speaking about Jesus.
- Romans 5:3But that’s not all. We also brag when we are suffering. We know that suffering creates endurance,
- Romans 8:35What will separate us from the love Christ has for us? Can trouble, distress, persecution, hunger, nakedness, danger, or violent death separate us from his love?
- Philippians 1:29God has given you the privilege not only to believe in Christ but also to suffer for him.
- Philippians 2:17My life is being poured out as a part of the sacrifice and service ⌞I offer to God⌟ for your faith. Yet, I am filled with joy, and I share that joy with all of you.
- Colossians 1:24I am happy to suffer for you now. In my body I am completing whatever remains of Christ’s sufferings. I am doing this on behalf of his body, the church.
- James 1:2My brothers and sisters, be very happy when you are tested in different ways.
- 1 Peter 1:6You are extremely happy about these things, even though you have to suffer different kinds of trouble for a little while now.
- 1 Peter 4:13but be happy as you share Christ’s sufferings. Then you will also be full of joy when he appears again in his glory.
- 2 Corinthians 11:23Are they Christ’s servants? It’s insane to say it, but I’m a far better one. I’ve done much more work, been in prison many more times, been beaten more severely, and have faced death more often.
- 2 Corinthians 4:5Our message is not about ourselves. It is about Jesus Christ as the Lord. We are your servants for his sake.
- 2 Corinthians 10:18It isn’t the person who makes his own recommendation who receives approval, but the person whom the Lord recommends.
- Luke 6:22Blessed are you when people hate you, avoid you, insult you, and slander you because you are committed to the Son of Man.
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
In the dictionaries
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries