Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such are we also in deed when we are present.
Parallel Translations
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Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such are we also in deed when we are present.
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Let him that is soche thynke on this wyse that as we are in wordes by letters when we are absent soche are we in dedes when we are present.
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Let such one thinke this, that such as wee are in woorde by letters, when we are absent, such wil we be also in deede, when we are present.
Cross-references (4)
Passages linked to 2 Corinthians 10:11 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- 2 Corinthians 12:20 For I am afraid that by any means, when I come, I might find you not the way I want to, and that I might be found by you as you don’t desire, that by any means there would be strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, whisperings, proud thoughts, or riots,
- 2 Corinthians 13:2-3 I have said beforehand, and I do say beforehand, as when I was present the second time, so now, being absent, I write to those who have sinned before now, and to all the rest, that, if I come again, I will not spare; seeing that you seek a proof of Christ who speaks in me; who toward you is not weak, but is powerful in you.
- 2 Corinthians 13:10 For this cause I write these things while absent, that I may not deal sharply when present, according to the authority which the Lord gave me for building up, and not for tearing down.
- 1 Corinthians 4:19-20 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord is willing. And I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. For God’s Kingdom is not in word, but in power.
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (15 sources)
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John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain 11 Let such an one think this, that, such…
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.
Ver. 11. Such will we be, &c.] That we have not hitherto been so, was because we spared you. Posse et nolle nobile, saith Chrysostom. Kindness is godliness, Isa 40:6, חסד
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain I would have no such person think so of…
I would have no such person think so of me, for he shall find me the same in deed when I come, that I have spoken myself to be by my letters. I do not write vainy, merely to terrify you, but what I truly intend to do, and when I come he shall find that I will do.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain But we will not boast of things without our…
But we will not boast of things without our measure,.... Or things unmeasurable; meaning not doctrines, the knowledge of which they had not attained to, and which were not to be measured by reason or revelation, such as the Gnostics boasted of; but the sense is, that they would not glory in, and boast of actions, that were never done by them, within the compass of their ministration, as the false apostles did; who pretended that they had been everywhere, and had preached the Gospel, and had made converts in all parts of the world; but the apostle and his fellow labourer, desired only to speak of those things which were done of them, and of their successful labours:
according to the measure of the rule; not the measure of the gift of Christ, or of faith bestowed upon them; nor the measuring rule and canon of the Scriptures, though both are truths; but the places or parts of the world, which God in his secret purpose had fixed, and in his providence directed them to preach in: or as he says,
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which God hath distributed to us; parted and divided to them; assigning such and such places to some, and such and such to others, as he himself pleased, to discharge their ministerial office in; drawing as it were a line, or setting a bound, by which and how far each should go, and no further:
a measure to reach even unto you; the line of their ministration was drawn, or the bounds of their preaching were carried from Judea, and through all the intermediate places to Corinth, so that the Corinthians were properly under the jurisdiction of the apostles, and in their district; wherefore the false apostles had really no right nor claim to be among them; nay, their measure reached to the ends of the world, according to Psa 19:4 "their line" "is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world".
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 11. Such as we are in word] A…
Verse 11. Such as we are in word] A threatening of this kind would doubtless alarm the false apostle; and it is very likely that he did not await the apostle's coming, as he would not be willing to try the fate of Elymas.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain 2Co 10:11-12. Let such a one, whoever he be,…
2Co 10:11-12. Let such a one, whoever he be, think this — Reckon upon this as a certain fact; that such as we are in word by letters — However weighty and powerful they may be; when we are absent, such — The same also; will we be in deed, or action, when we are present — Our deeds will fully correspond to our words, and we shall do something to vindicate these pretences, if their speedy repentance do not prevent it. For we dare not, &c. — As if he had said, I, whose appearance and speech are so contemptible, cannot presume to make myself of the number, or to equal myself, as a partner of the same office, or to compare myself with some that commend themselves — As a partaker of the same labour! A strong irony. But they, measuring themselves by themselves — That is, by their own opinion of themselves, and making it the only standard whereby to judge of themselves; are not wise — Do not understand themselves, nor see their own inferiority to the apostles, evangelists, and many other extraordinary or even ordinary ministers of Christ. The meaning is, that the false teachers, in their conversations among themselves, measured or estimated themselves not according to their real worth, but according to the opinion which they had formed of themselves. They looked continually on themselves, surveying their own great imaginary qualifications, but not considering the vastly superior abilities of many others; and so formed a disproportionate opinion of themselves. And this is everywhere one of the greatest sources of pride.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain Let such an one think this ... - Let…
Let such an one think this ... - Let them not flatter themselves that there will be any discrepancy between my words and my deeds. Let them feel that all which has been threatened will be certainly executed unless there is repentance. Paul here designedly contradicts the charge which was made against him; and means to say that all that he had threatened in his letters would he certainly executed unless there was a reform. I think that the evidence here is clear that Paul does not intend to admit what they said about his bodily presence to be true; and most probably all that has been recorded about his deformity is mere fable.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain think this--"consider this."
think this--"consider this."
such will we be--or "are," in general, not merely shall we be at our next visit.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 11. Think—Count upon, assume.
11. Think—Count upon, assume.
Letters… absent… deed… present— He does not promise that his elocution will be improved. It is his deed, not his speech, that will be as powerful as his letters.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 11. such a one] i.e. the man who speaks…
11. such a one] i.e. the man who speaks in this way. See note on ch. 2Co_2:7.
that, such as we are in word by letters] It is evident that St Paul’s opponents were not very measured in their opposition to him. Not only did they deny his Apostolic authority (1Co_9:1; 1Co_9:6), not only did they ridicule his appearance, but they even charged him with the grossest cowardice. For nothing is more contemptible than to utter loud threats when at a distance, and to subside into silence and meekness when confronted with an adversary. See note on. 2Co_10:1.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (11) Such will we be also.—As a verb of…
(11) Such will we be also.—As a verb of some kind must be supplied, it would be better to give the present: Such are we. It is not so much a threat of what will happen in a particular instance as a statement of the general consistent character of his life.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain Such a one. A formula used to avoid mentioning…
Such a one. A formula used to avoid mentioning a special name. (see note on 2Co_2:7) Such will we be; rather, such are we. The verb is not expressed, but it would have been if the future tense had been intended. In this verse St. Paul is not saying what he would do hereafter, but is rebutting with calmness and dignity the false charge that he was in any way different when absent from what he was when present.
Vers. 11-13.
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The false and true method of estimating men.
such a 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. For 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. But 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." In these verses we have two subjects worthy of notice.
I THE FALSE AND TRUE METHOD OF ESTIMATING THE CHARACTER OF OTHERS. "Let such a one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters," etc.
1. To judge by public report is a wrong method. It would almost seem that there was a general impression in Corinth that not only was Paul"s "bodily presence" somewhat contemptible, but that his letters were not a fair representation of himself, that they displayed an elevation and a heroism of which the writer was destitute, and from this general impression he was judged and considered to be something of a boaster and charlatan. How common it is for people to judge those they have never seen by general report! But a miserably false standard of judgment is this. Not unfrequently have I received impressions concerning a person whom I have never seen, which a subsequent personal acquaintance has completely dispelled. As a rule, the public estimate of men, both in Church and state, is most fallacious and unjust.
2. To judge by personal knowledge is the true method. "Let such a one think reckon this, that, such as we are in word by letters such will we be also in deed when we are present." The meaning of this seems to be Wait until I come amongst you, and you will find that I am true to the character of my letters, that I will act out their spirit. A man"s own letters, even when rightly interpreted, will not give a free and a complete idea of the author. The author is greater than his book, the man greater than his productions. One hour with an author will give me a better idea of him than I could obtain from all the productions of his pen, however voluminous.
II THE FALSE AND TRUE METHOD OF ESTIMATING OUR OWN CHARACTERS.
1. The false method is comparing our own character with the character of others. "Measuring themselves by themselves." This the Corinthians seem to have done, and this, perhaps, is the general tendency of mankind. We judge ourselves by the characters of others. When we are accused we are prone to say we are not worse than So-and-so. A false standard this, because:
(1) The mass of mankind are corrupt.
(2) The best of men are more or less imperfect.
(3) There is only One perfect character Jesus Christ.
In these words Paul indicates:
(a) That it is a terrible thing thus to judge ourselves. "We dare not are not bold enough to make ourselves of the number." Truly it is a terrible thing, for it leads to fearful issues.
(b) That it is an unwise thing thus to judge ourselves. Those who compare themselves with others "are not wise," or are "without understanding.
2. The true method is judging ourselves by the will of God. "According to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us." Though the apostle by the expression, "rule which God hath distributed," primarily refers to the Divine limits of his apostolic work, as will appear again, the "rule" applies also to his personal character, God"s will is the standard or canon by which all characters are to be determined.
CONCLUSION. "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain Such as we are in word … will we…
2Co_10:11-18
Such as we are in word … will we be also in deed.
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The vital in character, foolish in judgment, dishonourable in conduct, and supreme in obligation
Here is--
I. A trait of character that is vital (2Co_10:11). The apostle claims for himself thorough and inflexible honesty. His enemies implied that he would not say in their presence what he wrote in his epistles. He denies this. A good man is incarnate honesty, always, everywhere, and with all. A splendid attribute of character this, albeit rare. Truculency and time-serving are, alas! rampant; they are a cancer that is eating up the life of the social body.
II. A judgment of self that is foolish (2Co_10:12).
1. They had represented Paul as cowardly. With oblique irony he says, We dare not make ourselves of the number, as if he had said, Of course we cannot compare ourselves with men of your transcendent courage. Satire is often a serviceable element in conveying truth; it cuts its way into the heart, and makes the nerves of self-conceit quiver,
2. But the point to be noticed is contained in the last clause of the verse, that is their foolish test of self-judgment, viz., the character of others. Nothing can be more unwise than for a man to make the character of another the standard by which to try his own, because--
(1) It would lead to a wrong estimate of self. The best of men are imperfect, and conformity to them would leave us far from what we ought to be.
(2) It will exert a pernicious influence. It will nurse vanity in the soul. Those who are conspicuously vain have their settled society among those who are inferior to themselves. On the other hand, the presence of the great humbles us.
III. A conduct of ministers that is dishonourable (2Co_10:13-16).
1. The teachers at Corinth who were calumniating Paul had gone into his measure or province of labour; they had gone to the Church at Antioch, which he had founded, and to the Church at Galatia, now they were stirring up strife at Corinth. They did not break up fresh ground. Paul did so everywhere; his commission was to the whole Gentile world; therefore he did not stretch himself beyond his province; therefore he did not boast of things without his measure, or of other mens labours.
2. The conduct which the apostle here deprecates is pursued in these times--
(1) In interfering in other mens spheres of labour.
(2) In appropriating other ministers sermons,
IV. moral obligations that are supreme.
1. Glorying in the Lord (2Co_10:17). This implies--
(1) Supreme appreciation. We can only glory in that which we value.
(2) Soul-appropriation. As a rule we can only glory in that which belongs to us. He who can say, The Lord is my portion may well glory.
2. Seeking the approval of the Lord (2Co_10:18). To please Him is our highest duty and sublimest happiness (D. Thomas, D. D.)
The false and true method of estimating men
I. The false and true method of estimating the character of others (2Co_10:13).
1. To judge by public report is a wrong method. There was an impression in Corinth that not only was Pauls bodily presence contemptible, but that his letters displayed a heroism of which the writer was destitute, and hence he was judged to be a boaster and charlatan. How common it is for people to judge by general report! But a miserably false standard of judgment is this. I have often received impressions concerning a person I have never seen, which a subsequent personal acquaintance has completely dispelled.
2. To judge by personal knowledge is the true method. Wait, until I come, and you will find that I am true to the character of my letters. A mans letters, even when rightly interpreted, will not give a complete idea of the author. The author is greater than his book, and one hour with him will give a better idea of him than all the productions of his pen.
II. The false and true method of estimating our own characters.
1. The false method is comparing our own character with the character of others (verse 19).
(1) This is the general tendency of mankind. When we are accused we are prone to say we are not worse than so-and-so. A false standard this, because--
(a) The mass of mankind are corrupt.
(b) The best of men are more or less imperfect.
(c) There is only one perfect character--Jesus Christ.
(2) In these words Paul indicates--
(a) That it is a terrible thing thus to judge ourselves. We dare not (are not bold enough) make ourselves of the number. It is a terrible thing, for it leads to fearful issues.
(b) An unwise thing.
2. The true method is judging ourselves by the will of God (2Co_10:13). Though the apostle by the expression rule which God hath distributed primarily refers to the Divine limits or his apostolic work, as will appear again, the rule applies also to his personal character. Gods will is the standard or canon by which all characters are to be determined. Conclusion: Search me, O God, and know my heart, etc. (D. Thomas, D. D.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
B. W. Johnson 1891 · Public Domain 11. Let such an one think this. Let all…
11. Let such an one think this. Let all who make such statements know that when I come I will in presence do just as I have written.
B. W. Johnson's The People's New Testament with Notes (1889–1891) — public domain. Electronic text from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) ThML edition.
J. W. McGarvey 1914 · Public Domain Let such a one reckon this, that, what we…
Let such a one reckon this, that, what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such are we also in deed when we are present .
J. W. McGarvey (with Philip Y. Pendleton), Commentaries on the New Testament (The Fourfold Gospel, 1914; Acts; and the epistles) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 Let such people be aware
Let such people be aware
"I want such people to be aware"
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what we are in the words of our letters when we are absent is what we will be in our actions when we are there
"we will do the same things when we are there with you that we have written about in our letters while we have been away from you"
we ... our
All instances of these words refer to Paul's ministry team but not the Corinthians. (See: Exclusive and Inclusive "We")
to group ourselves or compare
"to say we are as good as"
they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with each other
Paul is saying much the same thing twice. (See: Parallelism)
they measure themselves by one another
Paul is speaking of goodness as though it were something whose length people could measure. AT: "they look at each other and try to see who is better" (See: Metaphor)
have no insight
"show everyone that they do not know anything"
translationWords
people group
epistle
praise
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.