The big picture
2 Corinthians 10 opens in verse 1 with “Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 9 with “That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters.”, and closes in verse 18 with “For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.” Repeated or prominent terms include measure, think, boast, bold, Christ. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
2 Corinthians · King James Version · 182 Corinthians 10:1-6
1–6: I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who…
2 Corinthians 10:1–6 opens with “Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base…” and reaches “And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Corinthians 10 develops its own movement around measure, think, boast, bold, Christ, with particular weight carried by bold, flesh, beseech.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being…” Naming Christ and Paul keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
2 Corinthians 10:1-6
King James Version1Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:
2But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.
3For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
6And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
2 Corinthians 10:7-12
7–12: Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to…
2 Corinthians 10:7–12 opens with “Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is…” and reaches “For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Corinthians 10 develops its own movement around measure, think, boast, bold, Christ, with particular weight carried by Christ’s, letters, think.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
2 Corinthians 10:7-12
King James Version7Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ’s, even so are we Christ’s.
8For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:
9That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters.
10For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.
11Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.
12For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
2 Corinthians 10:13-18
13–18: We will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the…
2 Corinthians 10:13–18 opens with “But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule…” and reaches “For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Corinthians 10 develops its own movement around measure, think, boast, bold, Christ, with particular weight carried by measure, boast, commendeth.
Context that brings the passage to life
“But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath…” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.
“For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
2 Corinthians 10:13-18
King James Version13But 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.
14For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ:
15Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men’s labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly,
16To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s line of things made ready to our hand.
17But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
18For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
2 Corinthians 10:1 begins with “Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:”
Where the chapter turns
2 Corinthians 10:7 forms a natural hinge: “Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is…”
The final note
2 Corinthians 10:18 leaves the reader with “For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words measure, think, boast, bold, Christ, Christ’s help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
Why list the nations before introducing Abram?
The blessing promised through Abram will concern the families of the earth, not an isolated group.
What organizes the table?
Families, lands, nations and languages recur, linking people with place and relationship.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- hath
- has
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.