New International Version
2 Corinthians 12:9
9But 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.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.
Context of 2 Corinthians 12:9
7or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 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. 10That 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. 11I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.
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
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- he saidἐρῶereō · to sayG2046
- unto meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- graceχάριςcharis · graceG5485
- is sufficientἀρκέωarkeō · be sufficientG714
- for theeσύsu · youG4771
- forγάρgar · forG1063
- strengthδύναμιςdunamis · powerG1411
- is made perfectτελειόωteleioō · to perfectG5048
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- weaknessἀσθένειαastheneia · weakness: weakG769
- Most gladlyἥδισταhēdista · most gladlyG2236
- thereforeοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
- will Iκαυχάομαιkauchaomai · to boastG2744
- ratherμᾶλλονmallon · moreG3123
- thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
- of ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547
- may restἐπισκηνόωepiskēnoō · to rest upon/dwellG1981
- uponἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 12:9
- 2 Corinthians 12:10That 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.
- 2 Corinthians 3:5Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.
- Exodus 3:11But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”
- Exodus 4:10Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”
- Deuteronomy 33:25The bolts of your gates will be iron and bronze, and your strength will equal your days.
- Joshua 1:9Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
- Isaiah 43:2When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
- Jeremiah 1:6“Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.”
- Matthew 10:19But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say,
- Luke 21:15For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.
- 1 Corinthians 10:13No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
- 1 Corinthians 15:10But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
- Colossians 1:28He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.
- 1 Timothy 1:14The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
- Hebrews 4:16Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
- Psalms 8:2Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.
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
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
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