2 Corinthians 10:13-18 New English Translation

¹³But we will not boast beyond certain limits,^[a] but will confine our boasting^[b] according to the limits of the work to which God has appointed us,^[c] that reaches even as far as you. ¹⁴For we were not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach as far as you, because we were the first to reach as far as you with the gospel about Christ.^[d] ¹⁵Nor do we boast beyond certain limits^[e] in the work^[f] done by others, but we hope^[g] that as your faith continues to grow, our work may be greatly expanded^[h] among you according to our limits,^[i] ¹⁶so that we may preach the gospel in the regions that lie beyond you, and not boast of work already done in another person’s area. ¹⁷But the one who boasts must boast in the Lord.^[j] ¹⁸For it is not the person who commends himself who is approved, but the person the Lord commends.

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Footnotes

2 Corinthians 10:13 tn Or “boast excessively.” The phrase εἰς τὰ ἄμετρα (eis ta ametra) is an idiom; literally it means “into that which is not measured,” that is, a point on a scale that goes beyond what might be expected (L&N 78.27).
2 Corinthians 10:13 tn The words “will confine our boasting” are not in the Greek text, but the reference to boasting must be repeated from the previous clause to clarify for the modern reader what is being limited.
2 Corinthians 10:13 tn Grk “according to the measure of the rule which God has apportioned to us as a measure”; for the translation used in the text see L&N 37.100.
2 Corinthians 10:14 tn Grk “with the gospel of Christ,” but since Χριστοῦ (Christou) is clearly an objective genitive here, it is better to translate “with the gospel about Christ.”
2 Corinthians 10:15 tn Or “boast excessively.” The phrase εἰς τὰ ἄμετρα (eis ta ametra) is an idiom; literally it means “into that which is not measured,” that is, a point on a scale that goes beyond what might be expected (L&N 78.27).
2 Corinthians 10:15 tn Or “in the labors.”
2 Corinthians 10:15 tn Grk “but we have the hope.”
2 Corinthians 10:15 tn Or “greatly enlarged.”
2 Corinthians 10:15 tn That is, Paul’s work might be greatly expanded within the area of activity assigned to him by God.
2 Corinthians 10:17 tn The traditional translation (“let the one who boasts boast in the Lord”) can be understood as merely permissive by the English reader, but the Greek verb καυχάσθω (kauchasthō) is a third person imperative.sn A quotation from Jer 9:24 (also quoted in 1 Cor 1:31).

New English Translation (NET)