2 Corinthians 12:9

The Lord answers that his grace is sufficient and his power is perfected in weakness, so Paul gladly boasts in his weaknesses. It matters because it is one of Scripture's clearest promises that God's strength meets us precisely in our frailty.

Cross-references · 36

• Phil 4:13I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
• 2 Cor 12:10That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
• Isa 40:29–31He gives power to the faint and increases the strength of the weak.
• Eph 3:16I ask that out of the riches of His glory He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being,
• Josh 1:9Have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
• Isa 43:2When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you go through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched; the flames will not set you ablaze.
• Heb 4:16Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
• 1 Cor 10:13No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide an escape, so that you can stand up under it.
• 2 Cor 3:5–6Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim that anything comes from us, but our competence comes from God.
• 2 Cor 12:5I will boast about such a man, but I will not boast about myself, except in my weaknesses.
• 1 Cor 15:10But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not in vain. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
• 1 Cor 2:5so that your faith would not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.
• Col 1:11being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have full endurance and patience, and joyfully
• Isa 35:3–4Strengthen the limp hands and steady the feeble knees!
• 1 Pet 4:13–14But rejoice that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed at the revelation of His glory.
• Luke 21:15For I will give you speech and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.
• Exod 4:10–15“Please, Lord,” Moses replied, “I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since You have spoken to Your servant, for I am slow of speech and tongue.”
• 2 Cor 11:30If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.
• 1 Tim 1:14And the grace of our Lord overflowed to me, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
• Matt 10:19–20But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to respond or what to say. In that hour you will be given what to say.
• Heb 11:34quenched the raging fire, and escaped the edge of the sword; who gained strength from weakness, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight.
• Zeph 3:17The LORD your God is among you; He is mighty to save. He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you with His love; He will rejoice over you with singing.”
• Deut 33:25–27May the bolts of your gate be iron and bronze, and may your strength match your days.”
• Dan 10:16–19And suddenly one with the likeness of a man touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and said to the one standing before me, “My lord, because of the vision, I am overcome with anguish, and I have no strength.
• Ps 8:2From the mouths of children and infants You have ordained praise on account of Your adversaries, to silence the enemy and avenger.
• Col 1:28–29We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.
• Matt 5:11–12Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
• Matt 28:20and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
• Jer 1:6–9“Ah, Lord GOD,” I said, “I surely do not know how to speak, for I am only a child!”
• Matt 28:18Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.
• Isa 41:13–16For I am the LORD your God, who takes hold of your right hand and tells you: Do not fear, I will help you.
• Isa 4:5–6Then the LORD will create over all of Mount Zion and over her assemblies a cloud of smoke by day and a glowing flame of fire by night. For over all the glory there will be a canopy,
• Exod 3:11–12But Moses asked God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”
• Isa 11:2The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the LORD.
• 2 Cor 12:15And for the sake of your souls, I will most gladly spend my money and myself. If I love you more, will you love me less?
• 2 Kgs 2:15When the sons of the prophets who were facing him from Jericho saw what had happened, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they went to meet him and bowed down to the ground before him.

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