But we will not boast beyond our measure, but within the measure of the domain which God assigned to us as a measure, to reach even as far as you.
Parallel translations
- WEB But we will not boast beyond proper limits, but within the boundaries with which God appointed to us, which reach even to you.
- KJV 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.
- BSB We, however, will not boast beyond our limits, but only within the field of influence that God has assigned to us—a field that reaches even to you.
- NKJV We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us—a sphere which especially includes you.
- NLT We will not boast about things done outside our area of authority. We will boast only about what has happened within the boundaries of the work God has given us, which includes our working with you.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Paul boasts only within the sphere of ministry God assigned him, which rightly includes Corinth. He keeps within God-appointed limits.
Overview
Unlike his rivals, Paul confines any boasting to the field of service God measured out to him, a field that legitimately reaches the Corinthians, since he founded their church. This stewardship language emphasizes that authentic ministry stays within God's calling rather than encroaching on others' work.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- 1 Pet 4:10As each has received a gift, employ it in serving one another, as good managers of the grace of God in its various forms.
- Rom 12:6Having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us, if prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of our faith;
- Rom 12:3For I say, through the grace that was given me, to every man who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think reasonably, as God has apportioned to each person a measure of faith.
- Eph 4:7But to each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
- 2 Cor 10:14–15For we don’t stretch ourselves too much, as though we didn’t reach to you. For we came even as far as to you with the Good News of Christ,
- Rom 15:20yes, making it my aim to preach the Good News, not where Christ was already named, that I might not build on another’s foundation.
- 1 Cor 12:11But the one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing to each one separately as he desires.
- Ps 19:4Their voice has gone out through all the earth, their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun,
- Matt 25:15To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to each according to his own ability. Then he went on his journey.
- Prov 25:14As clouds and wind without rain, so is he who boasts of gifts deceptively.
- Isa 28:17I will make justice the measuring line, and righteousness the plumb line. The hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters will overflow the hiding place.
- Rom 10:18But I say, didn’t they hear? Yes, most certainly, “Their sound went out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”
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Christ at the center
In Christ all God's promises are 'Yes and Amen'; though rich, he became poor to make us rich, and in him God reconciles the world, making us new creations.
How 2 Corinthians 10:13 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.