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 strengthens me.
• 2 Cor 12:10Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong.
• Isa 40:29–31He gives power to the weak. He increases the strength of him who has no might.
• Eph 3:16that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that you may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man;
• Josh 1:9Haven’t I commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be dismayed, for Yahweh your God is with you wherever you go.”
• Isa 43:2When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, and flame will not scorch you.
• Heb 4:16Let us therefore draw near with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace for help in time of need.
• 1 Cor 10:13No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
• 2 Cor 3:5–6not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God;
• 2 Cor 12:5On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in my weaknesses.
• 1 Cor 15:10But by the grace of God I am what I am. His grace which was given to me was not futile, but I worked more than all of them; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
• 1 Cor 2:5that your faith wouldn’t stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
• Col 1:11strengthened with all power, according to the might of his glory, for all endurance and perseverance with joy;
• Isa 35:3–4Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees.
• 1 Pet 4:13–14But because you are partakers of Christ’s sufferings, rejoice; that at the revelation of his glory you also may rejoice with exceeding joy.
• Luke 21:15for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to withstand or to contradict.
• Exod 4:10–15Moses said to Yahweh, “O Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before now, nor since you have spoken to your servant; for I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.”
• 2 Cor 11:30If I must boast, I will boast of the things that concern my weakness.
• 1 Tim 1:14The grace of our Lord abounded exceedingly with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
• Matt 10:19–20But when they deliver you up, don’t be anxious how or what you will say, for it will be given you in that hour what you will say.
• Heb 11:34quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, grew mighty in war, and caused foreign armies to flee.
• Zeph 3:17Yahweh, your God, is among you, a mighty one who will save. He will rejoice over you with joy. He will calm you in his love. He will rejoice over you with singing.
• Deut 33:25–27Your bars will be iron and brass. As your days, so your strength will be.
• Dan 10:16–19Behold, one in the likeness of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spoke and said to him who stood before me, my lord, by reason of the vision my sorrows are turned on me, and I retain no strength.
• Ps 8:2From the lips of babes and infants you have established strength, because of your adversaries, that you might silence the enemy and the avenger.
• Col 1:28–29whom we proclaim, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus;
• Matt 5:11–12“Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
• Matt 28:20teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
• Jer 1:6–9Then I said, “Ah, Lord Yahweh! Behold, I don’t know how to speak; for I am a child.”
• Matt 28:18Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.
• Isa 41:13–16For I, Yahweh your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, ‘Don’t be afraid. I will help you.’
• Isa 4:5–6Yahweh will create over the whole habitation of Mount Zion, and over her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory will be a canopy.
• Exod 3:11–12Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”
• Isa 11:2Yahweh’s Spirit will rest on him: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of Yahweh.
• 2 Cor 12:15I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I loved the less?
• 2 Kgs 2:15When the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho over against him saw him, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” They came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.

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