2 Corinthians 10:13

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 Living Translation (NLT)We will not boast about things done outside our area of authority. We will boast only about what has happened within the boundaries of the work God has given us, which includes our working with you.

Context of 2 Corinthians 10:13

11Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such we will also be in deed when we are present. 12For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us—a sphere which especially includes you. 14For we are not overextending ourselves (as though our authority did not extend to you), for it was to you that we came with the gospel of Christ; 15not boasting of things beyond measure, that is, in other men’s labors, but having hope, that as your faith is increased, we shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere,

2 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 10:15not boasting of things beyond measure, that is, in other men’s labors, but having hope, that as your faith is increased, we shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere,
• Proverbs 25:14Whoever falsely boasts of giving Is like clouds and wind without rain.
• 2 Corinthians 10:14For we are not overextending ourselves (as though our authority did not extend to you), for it was to you that we came with the gospel of Christ;
• Matthew 25:15And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.
• Romans 12:6Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith;
• Romans 15:20And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man’s foundation,
• 1 Corinthians 12:11But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
• Ephesians 4:7But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
• 1 Peter 4:10As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
• Psalms 19:4Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their words to the end of the world. In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun,
• Isaiah 28:17Also I will make justice the measuring line, And righteousness the plummet; The hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, And the waters will overflow the hiding place.
• Romans 10:18But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed: “Their sound 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

• Boasting

In the dictionaries

• God
• Approved
• Beseech
• Captivity
• Measure
• Walk
• Warfare
• Weapon
• Canon of the Old Testament
• Corinthians, Second Epistle to the

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