2 Corinthians 10:10

2 Corinthians 10:10 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.
• New International Version (NIV)For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)For they say, "His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account."
• New King James Version (NKJV)“For his letters,” they say, “are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.”

Context of 2 Corinthians 10:10

8For if I boast somewhat more about our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be put to shame, 9for I do not want to seem as if I would terrify you by my letters. For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his personal presence is unimpressive and his speech contemptible.” 11Have such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when absent, such persons we are also in deed when present. 12For we do not presume to rank or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they have no understanding.

2 Corinthians 10:10 word by word

ὅτι αἱ ἐπιστολαὶ μέν φησιν βαρεῖαι καὶ ἰσχυραί, ἡ δὲ παρουσία τοῦ σώματος ἀσθενὴς καὶ ὁ λόγος ἐξουθενημένος.Read the interlinear

• For they sayφημίphēmi · to assertG5346
• His lettersἐπιστολήepistolē · epistleG1992
• are weightyβαρύςbarus · weightyG926
• and strongἰσχυρόςischuros · strongG2478
• personalσῶμαsōma · bodyG4983
• presenceπαρουσίαparousia · comingG3952
• unimpressiveἀσθενήςasthenēs · weakG772
• his speechλόγοςlogos · wordG3056
• contemptibleἐξουθενέωexoutheneō · to rejectG1848

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 10:10

• 2 Corinthians 10:11Have such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when absent, such persons we are also in deed when present.
• 2 Corinthians 10:1Now I, Paul, myself urge you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ--I who am meek when face to face with you, but bold toward you when absent!
• 2 Corinthians 12:5In behalf of such a man I will boast; but in my own behalf I will not boast, except regarding my weaknesses.
• 1 Corinthians 2:3I also was with you in weakness and fear, and in great trembling,
• Galatians 4:13but you know that it was because of a bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you the first time;
• 2 Corinthians 11:6But even if I am unskilled in speech, yet I am not so in knowledge; in fact, in every way we have made this evident to you in all things.
• 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.”
• Jeremiah 1:6Then I said, “Oh, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, Because I am a youth.”
• 1 Corinthians 1:17For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made of no effect.
• 1 Corinthians 2:1And when I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come as someone superior in speaking ability or wisdom, as I proclaimed to you the testimony of God.

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 10:10

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 10For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful - He boasts of high powers, and that he can do great things. See on 2 Corinthians 10:1-2; (note). But his bodily presence is weak - When you behold the man, you find him a feeble, contemptible mortal; and when ye hear him speak, his speech, ̔ , probably, his doctrine, , is good for nothing; his person, matter, and manner, are altogether uninteresting, unimpressive, and too contemptible to be valued by…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 10For his letters - The letters which he has sent to the church when absent. Reference is had here probably to the First Epistle to the Corinthians. They might also have seen some of Paul‘s other epistles, and been so well acquainted with them as to he able to make the general remark that he had the power of writing in an authoritative and impressive manner. Say they - Margin, “Said he.” Greek ( ̀ phēsin) in the singular. This seems to have referred to…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-11Verses 7-11 In outward appearance, Paul was mean and despised in the eyes of some, but this was a false rule to judge by. We must not think that none outward appearance, as if the want of such things proved a man not to be a real Christian, or an able, faithful minister of the lowly Saviour.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 10Paul’s letters can be difficult and demanding, as other Christians also noticed (compare 2 Peter 3:16). his physical presence is unimpressive: Paul did not have an overpowering presence that forced people to obey (compare 2 Corinthians 1:24; 1 Corinthians 2:1–5). The earliest descriptions of Paul’s appearance (Acts of Paul and Thecla, around AD 200) describe him as "a man of small height, almost bald, with crooked legs, but with a good body and eyebrows…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1010. letters--implying that there had been already more letters of Paul received by the Corinthians than the one we have, namely, First Corinthians; and that they contained strong reproofs. say they--Greek, "says one," "such a one" (2Co 10:11) seems to point to some definite individual. Compare Ga 5:10; a similar slanderer was in the Galatian Church. weak--(2Co 12:7; 1Co 2:3). There was nothing of majesty or authority in his manner; he bore himself…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Corinthians 10:10

• Church
• Paul

In the dictionaries

• Approved
• Beseech
• Captivity
• Measure
• Thorn in the flesh
• Walk
• Warfare
• Weapon
• Corinthians, Second Epistle to the
• Epistle

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