2 Corinthians — Chapter 10
Meekness and authority
10:1
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
Now I myself, Paul, appeal to you through the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am lowly among you face to face, but bold toward you when absent.
Textual & reception notes
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: Christ's meekness frames Paul's impending correction. [Homily 21, on 2 Corinthians 10:1-2].
10:2
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
And I beg that, when present, I may not have to be bold with the confidence with which I intend to dare against some who reckon us as walking according to the flesh.
Textual & reception notes
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: Paul seeks reform that will make severe discipline unnecessary. [Homily 21, on 2 Corinthians 10:1-2].
10:3
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
For though we walk in flesh, we do not wage war according to flesh,
Textual & reception notes
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: Spiritual warfare does not rely on merely human assistance. [Homily 21, on 2 Corinthians 10:3].
10:4
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
for the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but powerful through God for the pulling down of strongholds. We pull down reasonings
Textual & reception notes
Powerful through God renders dynata tō theō; divinely powerful or powerful before God are possible constructions. Pulling down is carried into the next clause and contrasted with building up at 10:8.
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: The ministry's weapons derive their force from God. [Homily 21, on 2 Corinthians 10:4].
10:5
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
and every lofty thing raised against the knowledge of God, and take captive every thought into the obedience of Christ,
Textual & reception notes
Obedience of Christ is retained; obedience to Christ is the chosen contextual sense, with Christ’s obedience another possible genitive construal.
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: The strongholds are proud arguments and resistant thoughts. [Homily 21, on 2 Corinthians 10:5].
10:6
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
and stand ready to punish every disobedience when your obedience is complete.
Textual & reception notes
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: Delayed discipline allows time for obedience. [Homily 21, on 2 Corinthians 10:6].
The authority to build up
10:7
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
Look at what is before your face. If anyone is confident in himself that he belongs to Christ, let him reckon this again for himself: just as he belongs to Christ, so also do we.
Textual & reception notes
Look is an imperative reading of blepete; you look or do you look is also possible. The source permits different punctuation.
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: Outward appearance cannot determine who genuinely belongs to Christ. [Homily 22, on 2 Corinthians 10:7].
10:8
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
For even if I boast somewhat more abundantly concerning our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for pulling you down, I will not be put to shame.
Textual & reception notes
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: Apostolic authority aims at building up the community. [Homily 22, on 2 Corinthians 10:8].
10:9
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
I do not want to seem as though I would terrify you through the letters.
Textual & reception notes
I do not want supplies the English main clause for the Greek purpose construction, so that I may not seem. It is not an additional claim from another source.
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: Paul rejects the suggestion that his letters are empty intimidation. [Homily 22, on 2 Corinthians 10:9-11].
10:10
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
For someone says, “The letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak and his speech is despised.”
Textual & reception notes
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: He treats disparagement of Paul's presence as an accusation by opponents. [Homily 22, on 2 Corinthians 10:9-11].
10:11
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
Let such a person reckon this: what we are in word through letters when absent, such we are also in deed when present.
Textual & reception notes
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: Paul's actions can correspond to the force of his letters. [Homily 22, on 2 Corinthians 10:9-11].
The measure of the mission
10:12
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
For we do not dare to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves with themselves, do not understand.
Textual & reception notes
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: Self-comparison supplies a defective basis for boasting. [Homily 22, on 2 Corinthians 10:12].
10:13
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
But we will not boast beyond measure, but according to the measure of the sphere that God apportioned to us, a measure reaching even as far as you.
Textual & reception notes
Sphere renders kanōn in the argument about a measured field of mission; rule or measuring line preserves the underlying image.
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: God's allotted field sets the limits of Paul's claim. [Homily 22, on 2 Corinthians 10:13].
10:14
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
For we are not overextending ourselves as though we did not reach you, for we came even as far as you in the good news of Christ.
Textual & reception notes
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: Paul actually reached Corinth with the gospel. [Homily 22, on 2 Corinthians 10:14].
10:15
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
We do not boast beyond measure in others’ labors, but have hope that, as your faith grows, we may be enlarged among you according to our sphere, abundantly,
Textual & reception notes
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: Their growing faith can open a wider field for ministry. [Homily 22, on 2 Corinthians 10:15-16].
10:16
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
so as to proclaim the good news in the regions beyond you, not to boast in another’s sphere over things already prepared.
Textual & reception notes
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: Paul seeks new territory rather than another worker's achievements. [Homily 22, on 2 Corinthians 10:15-16].
10:17
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
But let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.
Textual & reception notes
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: Glory belongs to the Lord rather than the minister. [Homily 22, on 2 Corinthians 10:17].
10:18
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.
Textual & reception notes
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: The Lord's approval, not self-commendation, establishes genuine worth. [Homily 22, on 2 Corinthians 10:18].