New English Translation
2 Corinthians 10:13
13But we will not boast beyond certain limits, but will confine our boasting according to the limits of the work to which God has appointed us, that reaches even as far as you.
2 Corinthians 10:13 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.
- New International Version (NIV)We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the sphere of service God himself has assigned to us, a sphere that also includes you.
- English Standard Version (ESV)But we will not boast beyond limits, but will boast only with regard to the area of influence God assigned to us, to reach even to you.
- New King James Version (NKJV)We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us—a sphere which especially includes you.
Context of 2 Corinthians 10:13
11Let such a person consider this: What we say by letters when we are absent, we also are in actions when we are present. 12For we would not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who recommend themselves. But when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding. But we will not boast beyond certain limits, but will confine our boasting according to the limits of the work to which God has appointed us, that reaches even as far as you. 14For we were not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach as far as you, because we were the first to reach as far as you with the gospel about Christ. 15Nor do we boast beyond certain limits in the work done by others, but we hope that as your faith continues to grow, our work may be greatly expanded among you according to our limits,
Read all of 2 Corinthians 102 Corinthians 10:13 word by word
ἡμεῖς δὲ οὐκ εἰς τὰ ἄμετρα καυχησόμεθα ἀλλὰ κατὰ τὸ μέτρον τοῦ κανόνος οὗ ἐμέρισεν ἡμῖν ὁ θεὸς μέτρου ἐφικέσθαι ἄχρι καὶ ὑμῶν.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Butδέde · thenG1161
- weἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- willκαυχάομαιkauchaomai · to boastG2744
- notοὐχίouchi · not!G3780
- ofεἰςeis · towardG1519
- thingsὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- withoutἄμετροςametros · immoderateG280
- butἀλλάalla · butG235
- according toκατάkata · according toG2596
- the measureμέτρονmetron · measureG3358
- of the ruleκανώνkanōn · ruleG2583
- whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- hath distributedμερίζωmerizō · to divideG3307
- to reachἐφικνέομαιephikneomai · to reachG2185
- evenκαίkai · andG2532
- untoἄχριachri achris · untilG891
- youσύsu · youG4771
Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 10:13
- 2 Corinthians 10:15Nor do we boast beyond certain limits in the work done by others, but we hope that as your faith continues to grow, our work may be greatly expanded among you according to our limits,
- Proverbs 25:14Like cloudy skies and wind that produce no rain, so is the one who boasts of a gift not given.
- 2 Corinthians 10:14For we were not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach as far as you, because we were the first to reach as far as you with the gospel about Christ.
- Matthew 25:15To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.
- Romans 12:6And we have different gifts according to the grace given to us. If the gift is prophecy, that individual must use it in proportion to his faith.
- Romans 15:20And in this way I desire to preach where Christ has not been named, so as not to build on another person’s foundation,
- 1 Corinthians 12:11It is one and the same Spirit, distributing as he decides to each person, who produces all these things.
- Ephesians 4:7But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
- 1 Peter 4:10Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of the varied grace of God.
- Psalms 19:4Yet its voice echoes throughout the earth; its words carry to the distant horizon. In the sky he has pitched a tent for the sun.
- Isaiah 28:17I will make justice the measuring line, fairness the plumb line; hail will sweep away the unreliable refuge, the floodwaters will overwhelm the hiding place.
- Romans 10:18But I ask, have they not heard? Yes, they have: Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.
Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 10:13
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13Things without our measure - There is a great deal of difficulty in this and the three following verses, and there is a great diversity among the MSS.; and which is the true reading can scarcely be determined. Our version is perhaps the plainest that can be made of the text. By the measure mentioned here, it seems as if the apostle meant the commission he received from God to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles; a measure or district that extended through…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13But we will not boast of things without our measure - Tyndale renders this:” But we will not rejoice above measure.” There is great obscurity in the language here, arising from its brevity. But the general idea seems to be plain. Paul says that he had not boldness as they had to boast of things wholly beyond his proper rule and his actual attainments and influence: and, especially, that he was not disposed to enter into other people‘s labors; or to boast…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-18Verses 12-18 If we would compare ourselves with others who excel us, this would be a good method to keep us humble. The apostle fixes a good rule for his conduct; namely, not to boast of things without his measure, which was the measure God had distributed to him. There is not a more fruitful source of error, than to judge of persons and opinions by our own prejudices. How common is it for persons to judge of their own religious character, by the opinions…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 13-16Paul respected the limits God set for his missionary work, which included working with the Corinthians. He defends his honesty and authority, stating that when he first came to Corinth (Acts 18:1–17), he did so because God called him. Paul was determined not to enter another's area (see Romans 15:20), and he was the first to bring the good news about Jesus to Corinth. His recent opponents visited the church much later (2 Corinthians 11:4), so their claim…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1313. not boast ... without ... measure--Greek, "to unmeasured bounds." There is no limit to a man's high opinion of himself, so long as he measures himself by himself (2Co 10:13) and his fellows, and does not compare himself with his superiors. It marks the personal character of this Epistle that the word "boast" occurs twenty-nine times in it, and only twenty-six times in all the other Epistles put together. Undeterred by the charge of vanity, he felt he…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Corinthians 10:13
In the dictionaries
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
New English Translation — © 1996-2016 Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C.
Commentaries