New American Standard Bible 1995
2 Corinthians 12:9
9And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for 1power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather 2boast 3about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
2 Corinthians 12:9 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
- New International Version (NIV)But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
- English Standard Version (ESV)But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Context of 2 Corinthians 12:9
7Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me--to keep me from exalting myself! 8Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. 11I have become foolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, for in no respect was I inferior to the most eminent apostles, even though I am a nobody.
Read all of 2 Corinthians 122 Corinthians 12:9 word by word
καὶ εἴρηκέν μοι· ἀρκεῖ σοι ἡ χάρις μου· ἡ γὰρ δύναμις ἐν ἀσθενείᾳ τελεῖται. ἥδιστα οὖν μᾶλλον καυχήσομαι ἐν ταῖς ἀσθενείαις μου, ἵνα ἐπισκηνώσῃ ἐπ᾽ ἐμὲ ἡ δύναμις τοῦ Χριστοῦ.Read the interlinear
- And He has saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- “My graceχάριςcharis · graceG5485
- is sufficientἀρκέωarkeō · be sufficientG714
- powerδύναμιςdunamis · powerG1411
- is perfectedτελέωteleō · to finishG5055
- in weaknessἀσθένειαastheneia · weakness: weakG769
- Mostἡδέωςhēdeōs · gladlyG2234
- thereforeοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
- I will ratherμᾶλλονmallon · moreG3123
- boastκαυχάομαιkauchaomai · to boastG2744
- aboutἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- soἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
- of ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547
- may dwellἐπισκηνόωepiskēnoō · to rest upon/dwellG1981
Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 12:9
- 2 Corinthians 12:10Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
- 2 Corinthians 3:5Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God,
- Exodus 3:11But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?”
- Exodus 4:10Then Moses said to the Lord, “Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither recently nor in time past, nor since You have spoken to Your servant; for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.”
- Deuteronomy 33:25Your locks will be iron and bronze, And according to your days, so will your leisurely walk be.
- Joshua 1:9Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
- Isaiah 43:2When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you.
- Jeremiah 1:6Then I said, “Alas, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, Because I am a youth.”
- Matthew 10:19But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say.
- Luke 21:15for I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute.
- 1 Corinthians 10:13No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.
- 1 Corinthians 15:10But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.
- Colossians 1:28We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.
- 1 Timothy 1:14and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.
- Hebrews 4:16Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
- Psalms 8:2From the mouth of infants and nursing babes You have established strength Because of Your adversaries, To make the enemy and the revengeful cease.
Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 12:9
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9My grace is sufficient for thee - Thou shalt not be permitted to sink under these afflictions. Thy enemies shall not be able to prevail against thee. My strength is made perfect in weakness - The more, and the more violently, thou art afflicted and tried, being upheld by my power, and prospered in all thy labors, the more eminently will my power be seen and acknowledged. For the weaker the instrument I use, the more the power of my grace shall be…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9And he said unto me - The Saviour replied. In what way this was done, or whether it was done at the time when the prayer was offered, Paul does not inform us. It is possible, as Macknight supposes, that Christ appeared to him again and spoke to him in an audible manner. Grotius supposes that this was done by the בת קול Bath-qowl- “daughter of the voice,” so frequently referred to by the Jewish writers, and which they suppose to be referred to in 1 Kings…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. 99. said--literally, "He hath said," implying that His answer is enough [Alford]. is sufficient--The trial must endure, but the grace shall also endure and never fail thee [Alford], (De 33:25). The Lord puts the words into Paul's mouth, that following them up he might say, "O Lord, Thy grace is sufficient for me" [Bengel]. my strength--Greek, "power." is made perfect--has its most perfect manifestation. in weakness--Do not ask for sensible strength, FOR My…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Corinthians 12:9
In the dictionaries
Notes
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
New American Standard Bible 1995 — © 1960–1995 The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
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