2 Corinthians 10:18

2 Corinthians 10:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.
• New International Version (NIV)For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.

Context of 2 Corinthians 10:18

16Then we will be able to go and preach the Good News in other places far beyond you, where no one else is working. Then there will be no question of our boasting about work done in someone else’s territory. 17As the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.” When people commend themselves, it doesn’t count for much. The important thing is for the Lord to commend them.

2 Corinthians 10:18 word by word

οὐ γὰρ ὁ ἑαυτὸν συνιστάνων, ἐκεῖνός ἐστιν δόκιμος, ἀλλ᾽ ὃν ὁ κύριος συνίστησιν.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• notοὐou · noG3756
• he thatἐκεῖνοςekeinos · thatG1565
• commendethσυνίστημι, συνιστάωsunistaō sunistanō sunistēmi · to commendG4921
• himselfἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438
• isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• approvedδόκιμοςdokimos · testedG1384
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• whomὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 10:18

• 2 Corinthians 10:12Oh, don’t worry; we wouldn’t dare say that we are as wonderful as these other men who tell you how important they are! But they are only comparing themselves with each other, using themselves as the standard of measurement. How ignorant!
• 2 Corinthians 3:1Are we beginning to praise ourselves again? Are we like others, who need to bring you letters of recommendation, or who ask you to write such letters on their behalf? Surely not!
• 2 Corinthians 5:12Are we commending ourselves to you again? No, we are giving you a reason to be proud of us, so you can answer those who brag about having a spectacular ministry rather than having a sincere heart.
• Proverbs 21:2People may be right in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their heart.
• Proverbs 27:2Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth— a stranger, not your own lips.
• Luke 16:15Then he said to them, “You like to appear righteous in public, but God knows your hearts. What this world honors is detestable in the sight of God.
• Luke 18:10“Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector.
• 2 Corinthians 6:4In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind.
• 2 Corinthians 13:7We pray to God that you will not do what is wrong by refusing our correction. I hope we won’t need to demonstrate our authority when we arrive. Do the right thing before we come—even if that makes it look like we have failed to demonstrate our authority.
• Acts 2:22“People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know.
• Romans 14:18If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too.
• Romans 16:10Greet Apelles, a good man whom Christ approves. And give my greetings to the believers from the household of Aristobulus.
• 1 Corinthians 11:19But, of course, there must be divisions among you so that you who have God’s approval will be recognized!
• 2 Timothy 2:15Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.
• Matthew 25:20The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of silver came forward with five more and said, ‘Master, you gave me five bags of silver to invest, and I have earned five more.’
• John 5:42because I know you don’t have God’s love within you.

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 10:18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18Not he that commendeth himself - Not the person who makes a parade of his own attainments; who preaches himself, and not Christ Jesus the Lord; and, far from being your servant for Christ's sake, affects to be your ruler; not such a one shall be approved of God, by an especial blessing on his labors; but he whom the Lord commendeth, by giving him the extraordinary gifts of the Holy Spirit, and converting the heathen by his ministry. These were…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18For not he that commendeth himself … - Not he who boasts of his talents and endowments. He is not to be judged by the estimate which he shall place on himself, but by the estimate which God shall form and express. Is approved - By God. It is no evidence that we shall be saved that we are prone to commend ourselves; see Romans 16:10. But whom the Lord commendeth - see the note on Romans 2:29. The idea here is, that people are to be approved or rejected by…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. 17-18Paul quotes Jeremiah 9:24 to show that the Lord guides all missionaries. Boasting does not matter much. Success only matters when the Lord praises our service.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. (Pr 27:2). whom the Lord commendeth--to whom the Lord has given as His "Epistle of commendation," the believers whom he has been the instrument of converting: as was Paul's case (2Co 3:1-3). is approved--can stand the test of the final trial. A metaphor from testing metals (Ro 16:10; 1Co 11:19). So on the other hand those finally rejected by the Lord are termed "reprobate silver" (Jr 6:30).Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Corinthians 10:18

• Boasting
• God
• Pride
• Self-Exaltation
• Self-Righteousness

In the dictionaries

• Approved
• Beseech
• Captivity
• Measure
• Walk
• Warfare
• Weapon
• Commend
• Corinthians, Second Epistle to the
• Galatians, 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