Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing.” New Living Translation For some say, “Paul’s letters are demanding and forceful, but in person he is weak, and his speeches are worthless!” English Standard Version For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.” Berean Standard Bible For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but his physical presence is unimpressive, and his speaking is of no account.” Berean Literal Bible For they say, "The letters indeed are weighty and strong, but the presence of the body is weak, and the speech having been ignored." King James Bible For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible. New King James Version “For his letters,” they say, “are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.” New American Standard Bible For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his personal presence is unimpressive and his speech contemptible.” NASB 1995 For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his personal presence is unimpressive and his speech contemptible.” NASB 1977 For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his personal presence is unimpressive, and his speech contemptible.” Legacy Standard Bible For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his personal presence is weak and his words contemptible.” Amplified Bible for they say, “His letters are weighty and forceful and impressive, but his personal presence is unimpressive and his speech contemptible [of no account].” Christian Standard Bible For it is said, “His letters are weighty and powerful, but his physical presence is weak and his public speaking amounts to nothing.” Holman Christian Standard Bible For it is said, “His letters are weighty and powerful, but his physical presence is weak, and his public speaking is despicable.” American Standard Version For, His letters, they say, are weighty and strong; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account. Aramaic Bible in Plain English Because there are many people who say, “The letters are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak and his speech contemptible.” Contemporary English Version Some of you are saying, "Paul's letters are harsh and powerful. But in person, he is a weakling and has nothing worth saying." Douay-Rheims Bible (For his epistles indeed, say they, are weighty and strong; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible,) English Revised Version For, His letters, they say, are weighty and strong; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account. GOD'S WORD® Translation I know that someone is saying that my letters are powerful and strong, but that I'm a weakling and a terrible speaker. Good News Translation Someone will say, "Paul's letters are severe and strong, but when he is with us in person, he is weak, and his words are nothing!" International Standard Version For someone is saying, "His letters are impressive and forceful, but his bodily presence is weak and his speech contemptible." Literal Standard Version “because the letters indeed,” says one, “[are] weighty and strong, and the bodily presence weak, and the speech despicable.” Majority Standard Bible For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but his physical presence is unimpressive, and his speaking is of no account.” New American Bible For someone will say, “His letters are severe and forceful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.” NET Bible because some say, "His letters are weighty and forceful, but his physical presence is weak and his speech is of no account." New Revised Standard Version For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.” New Heart English Bible For, "His letters," they say, "are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech is despised." Webster's Bible Translation For his letters (say they) are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible. Weymouth New Testament For they say "His letters are authoritative and forcible, but his personal presence is unimpressive, and as for eloquence, he has none." World English Bible For, “His letters”, they say, “are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech is despised.” Young's Literal Translation because the letters indeed -- saith one -- are weighty and strong, and the bodily presence weak, and the speech despicable.' Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Paul's Apostolic Authority…9I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you by my letters. 10For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but his physical presence is unimpressive, and his speaking is of no account.” 11Such people should consider that what we are in our letters when absent, we will be in our actions when present.… Cross References 1 Corinthians 1:17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with words of wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. 1 Corinthians 2:3 I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. 2 Corinthians 10:1 Now by the mildness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you--I, Paul, who am humble when face to face with you, but bold when away. 2 Corinthians 10:9 I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you by my letters. 2 Corinthians 10:11 Such people should consider that what we are in our letters when absent, we will be in our actions when present. 2 Corinthians 11:6 Although I am not a polished speaker, I am certainly not lacking in knowledge. We have made this clear to you in every way possible. 2 Corinthians 11:21 To my shame I concede that we were too weak for that! Speaking as a fool, however, I can match what anyone else dares to boast about. Treasury of Scripture For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible. say they. 2 Corinthians 10:11 Let 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. but. 2 Corinthians 10:1 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: 2 Corinthians 12:5-9 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities… 1 Corinthians 2:3,4 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling… and his. 2 Corinthians 11:6 But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things. Exodus 4:10 And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. Jeremiah 1:6 Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. Jump to Previous Account Amounts Authoritative Bodily Body Contemptible Despicable Despised Eloquence Feeble Force Forceful Forcible Indeed Letters Naught Personal Powerful Presence Speaking Speech Strong Talking Way Weak Weight WeightyJump to Next Account Amounts Authoritative Bodily Body Contemptible Despicable Despised Eloquence Feeble Force Forceful Forcible Indeed Letters Naught Personal Powerful Presence Speaking Speech Strong Talking Way Weak Weight Weighty2 Corinthians 10 1. Against the false apostles, who disgraced the weakness of his person and bodily presence, 4. he shows the spiritual might and authority with which he was armed against all adverse powers; 7. assuring those who at his coming he will be found as mighty in word as he is now in writing; 12. and encouraging them to reach out themselves beyond their compass. (10) For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful.--Allusive references to what had been said of him at Corinth have already appeared frequently. Here, for the first time, we have the very words quoted. The scorn conveyed in them had wounded the Apostle's sensitive nature like a poisoned arrow; and we have here the nearest approach which the New Testament presents to the passionate complaints poured forth by some of the Psalmists of the Old (Psalms 69, 109). We note the common element of a burning indignation under the sense of wrong. We note also the absence from the Apostle's feelings of the maledictory element which is so prominent in theirs. The "meekness and gentleness of Christ" had not been without their effect in tempering even the most vehement emotions. The great majority of MSS. give the verb in the singular: "For his letters, saith he . . ." This may be taken, like the French on dit, as used impersonally, and possibly this is the meaning which the English version was intended to convey. The context, however, the definite "such a man as that" of the next verse, is obviously decisive. St. Paul has in his thoughts here, and through the rest of the chapter, one conspicuous antagonist,--the head of a clique and cabal of opponents. His bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.--As with other antithetical epigrams, the sting was found in the tail. It would seem all but incredible that any doubt could ever have been expressed as to the fact that the words point to physical infirmities. They can, indeed, refer to nothing else. For the tradition as to the Apostle's personal appearance, see Excursus at the end of the Acts of the Apostles. The "contemptible speech" (literally, speech of no value; counted as nought) may refer either to a weak or unmusical voice, or to the absence of the rhetorical artifices, the exordium, divisions, perorations, in which Greek audiences delighted. It may be noted that these words give a fresh significance to a remarkable passage in an Epistle written, in the judgment of many critics, within a few weeks of this. "You," he says to the Galatians (Galatians 4:13-14), "though I came to you with that infirmity of the flesh which others sneer at, the chronic trial of my life, you did not contemn" (the self-same verb as that used here) "nor loathe me." There is manifestly a contrast present to his thoughts between the mean insults of his rivals at Corinth and the affection which the Galatians had once manifested, and which made their subsequent alienation all the more painful to him. Verse 10. - Say they; literally, says he. The phrase may, indeed, imply "it is said" (on dit); but it may refer to one main critic and opponent (comp. vers. 7, 11). Perhaps it would have been wiser and kinder if no one had reported to St. Paul all these subterranean calumnies and innuendoes. Weighty and strong. This could not be denied, considering the immense effect which had been produced by his first letter (2 Corinthians 7:7). His bodily presence is weak. This is usually taken to mean that St. Paul's personal appearance was unprepossessing (Galatians 4:1). This, indeed, we should infer from many other passages (1 Corinthians 2:34; Galatians 4:13, 14), and as a natural result of his "stake in the flesh." It is, too, the consistent though late tradition respecting him (see my 'Life of St. Paul,' 2:628). Here, however, the words may mean no more than that "he adds nothing to his cause by being present in person, since he shows vacillation and want of energy." Contemptible; rather, despised (see 1 Corinthians 2:3, 4).Parallel Commentaries ... Greek ForὍτι (Hoti) Conjunction Strong's 3754: Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because. [some] say, φησίν (phēsin) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 5346: To say, declare. Properly, the same as the base of phos and phaino; to show or make known one's thoughts, i.e. Speak or say. “[His] Αἱ (Hai) Article - Nominative Feminine Plural Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. letters ἐπιστολαὶ (epistolai) Noun - Nominative Feminine Plural Strong's 1992: A letter, dispatch, epistle, message. From epistello; a written message. [are] weighty Βαρεῖαι (Bareiai) Adjective - Nominative Feminine Plural Strong's 926: Heavy, weighty, burdensome, lit. and met; violent, oppressive. From the same as baros; weighty, i.e. burdensome, grave. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. forceful, ἰσχυραί (ischyrai) Adjective - Nominative Feminine Plural Strong's 2478: Strong (originally and generally of physical strength); mighty, powerful, vehement, sure. From ischus; forcible. but δὲ (de) Conjunction Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc. his τοῦ (tou) Article - Genitive Neuter Singular Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. physical σώματος (sōmatos) Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular Strong's 4983: Body, flesh; the body of the Church. From sozo; the body, used in a very wide application, literally or figuratively. presence παρουσία (parousia) Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular Strong's 3952: From the present participle of pareimi; a being near, i.e. Advent; physically, aspect. [is] unimpressive, ἀσθενὴς (asthenēs) Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular Strong's 772: (lit: not strong), (a) weak (physically, or morally), (b) infirm, sick. Strengthless. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. [his] ὁ (ho) Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. speaking λόγος (logos) Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular Strong's 3056: From lego; something said; by implication, a topic, also reasoning or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, the Divine Expression. [is] of no account.” ἐξουθενημένος (exouthenēmenos) Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular Strong's 1848: To set at naught, ignore, despise. A variation of exoudenoo and meaning the same. Links 2 Corinthians 10:10 NIV2 Corinthians 10:10 NLT 2 Corinthians 10:10 ESV 2 Corinthians 10:10 NASB 2 Corinthians 10:10 KJV 2 Corinthians 10:10 BibleApps.com 2 Corinthians 10:10 Biblia Paralela 2 Corinthians 10:10 Chinese Bible 2 Corinthians 10:10 French Bible 2 Corinthians 10:10 Catholic Bible NT Letters: 2 Corinthians 10:10 For His letters they say are weighty (2 Cor. 2C iiC 2Cor ii cor iicor) |
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