2 Corinthians 10:18 Parallel Verses [⇓ See commentary ⇓]
2 Corinthians 10:18, NIV: For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.2 Corinthians 10:18, ESV: For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.
2 Corinthians 10:18, KJV: For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.
2 Corinthians 10:18, NASB: For it is not the one who commends himself that is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.
2 Corinthians 10:18, NLT: When people commend themselves, it doesn't count for much. The important thing is for the Lord to commend them.
2 Corinthians 10:18, CSB: For it is not the one commending himself who is approved, but the one the Lord commends.
BibleRef.com is a ministry of
THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL
VERSION®, NIV® Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica®.
The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® Copyright© 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New American Standard Bible Copyright© 1960 - 2020 by The Lockman Foundation.
Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright© 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.
The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® Copyright© 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New American Standard Bible Copyright© 1960 - 2020 by The Lockman Foundation.
Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright© 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.
What does 2 Corinthians 10:18 mean? [⇑ See verse text ⇑]
The bottom line of this passage is that Paul does not need to compete in a bragging contest with opponents in Corinth. Those false teachers may have been skillful by the standards of the day: demonstrating superiority through speaking skill, self-promotion, and tearing down competitors. Commending oneself was an important part of that competition.Paul has said that he refuses to participate in that competition for several reasons. First, he has already accomplished what he set out to do: leading the Corinthians to faith in Christ. Another reason is that praising oneself does not actually make the person who is boasting worthy of anything. The self-praiser is not approved by anyone except himself. The one who is commended by the Lord, though, is approved by the one who matters most.
Paul is urging the Corinthians to stop allowing shallow showmen to turn their minds away from Paul and, by implication, away from Christ. They should know, better than most, that Paul's role as Christ's representative is genuine. They believed in Christ because of Paul's message. At least for that reason, they should know the Lord has commended Paul. God's approval of Paul should be the only opinion that matters to them.