2 Corinthians 10 10

2 Corinthians 10:10 kjv

For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.

2 Corinthians 10:10 nkjv

"For his letters," they say, "are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible."

2 Corinthians 10:10 niv

For some say, "His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing."

2 Corinthians 10:10 esv

For they say, "His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account."

2 Corinthians 10:10 nlt

For some say, "Paul's letters are demanding and forceful, but in person he is weak, and his speeches are worthless!"

2 Corinthians 10 verses

2 Corinthians 10 10 Meaning

This verse states a common criticism leveled against the Apostle Paul by some in the Corinthian church or his opponents: that while his written letters possessed significant authority and impact, his physical presence and speaking ability in person were perceived as unimpressive and utterly insignificant. It highlights a tension between the powerful spiritual truth conveyed through his epistles and the seemingly uncharismatic nature of his personal appearance and verbal delivery.

2 Corinthians 10 10 Context

Chapter 10 begins Paul's defense of his apostolic authority, addressing criticisms and preparing for a potentially challenging visit to Corinth. He contrasts his opponents' "worldly" methods with the "divine power" of the spiritual weapons he employs for pulling down strongholds (v. 4). This verse (v. 10) provides a specific instance of the accusations against him, revealing the perception held by some that his letters were forceful and impactful, but his personal presence and speaking style were quite the opposite, lacking impressive authority or charisma. This criticism directly sets up Paul's subsequent affirmation that he will prove to be as powerful in action when present as he is in writing (v. 11), thereby refuting the idea that his absence gives his words more weight. The Corinthian culture, valuing eloquent oratory and impressive physical presence, made Paul's humble demeanor and simple speech a target for opponents, who likely presented themselves with much more outward display.

2 Corinthians 10 10 Word analysis

• For, (γάρ - gar) - This conjunction serves to connect the verse directly to Paul's preceding argument. It indicates that the statement following provides the reason or explanation for his defensive stance regarding his apostolic authority in previous verses.
• ‘His letters,’ (αἱ ἐπιστολαὶ αὐτοῦ - hai epistolai autou) - This phrase refers specifically to Paul's written correspondence, his epistles. The use of "his" indicates ownership by Paul. It confirms that his letters were known and circulating among the Corinthian believers.
• they say, (φησίν - phēsin, although some MSS read lego 'I say', and others imply phāsin 'they say') - While the Greek is singular (phēsin - "he says"), the context strongly suggests a general, widespread opinion or a collective group of critics ("they say"). This shows Paul quoting external, negative observations, not his own assessment.
• ‘are weighty’ (βαρεῖαι - bareiai) - From barus, meaning heavy, burdensome, serious, severe. Here, it conveys significant moral or intellectual gravity, impact, and force. His letters carried substantial content and consequence.
• ‘and strong,’ (ἰσχυραί - ischyrai) - From ischyros, meaning strong, powerful, forceful. This describes the letters' effective power, their ability to influence, compel, or command, demonstrating true spiritual authority.
• but (δὲ - de) - A conjunction indicating a strong contrast or opposition. It pivots from the positive appraisal of his letters to the negative appraisal of his person.
• his bodily presence (ἡ δὲ παρουσία τοῦ σώματος - hē de parousia tou sōmatos) - Parousia denotes presence or arrival. Sōmatos specifies it as his physical body. This refers to Paul's actual physical appearance, demeanor, and deportment when he was personally in Corinth, rather than absent and writing.
• is weak, (ἀσθενής - asthenes) - Meaning weak, feeble, frail, sickly. This could imply a lack of imposing stature, charisma, physical strength, or even suggest illness. It stands in direct contrast to the "weighty and strong" nature of his letters.
• and his speech (καὶ ὁ λόγος - kai ho logos) - Logos here specifically means his oral address, public speaking, or preaching. It refers to the manner and content of his verbal communication in person.
• of no account.’ (ἐξουθενημένος - exouthenēmenos) - This is a participle from exoudeneō (also exoutheneō), meaning to treat as nothing, despise, scorn, set at naught, or make contemptible. It conveys profound disregard and utter insignificance. It's a very strong dismissal, implying that his spoken word lacked power, persuasive ability, or gravitas in the eyes of his critics.

• 'His letters...are weighty and strong,': This phrase acknowledges the powerful, authoritative, and compelling nature of Paul's written communications. Even his detractors recognized the substantial spiritual authority embedded in his epistles.
• 'but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.': This directly contrasting statement encapsulates the core criticism. It highlights the perceived disparity between the spiritual force of his writings and the physical, oratorical presentation of the author in person. The opponents viewed his physical presence as uncommanding and his spoken word as contemptible, indicating a failure to meet cultural expectations for eloquent public speakers in Corinth.

2 Corinthians 10 10 Bonus section

The strong contrast drawn by Paul's opponents in 2 Corinthians 10:10 reflects a significant tension throughout Paul's ministry: the collision between worldly standards of leadership and spiritual authenticity. The sophisticated Greek-Roman culture of Corinth, steeped in the art of rhetoric and philosophy, placed a high value on oratorical skill (logos) and an imposing physical presence (parousia) as hallmarks of a persuasive leader. Paul's deliberate rejection of these worldly tools, choosing instead to preach Christ crucified, a message considered "foolishness" (1 Cor 1:23), made him vulnerable to such scornful comparison. The "weakness" they perceived in Paul could be multifaceted: perhaps his actual physical stature was small or uncommanding, or he may have had some chronic illness (like his "thorn in the flesh," 2 Cor 12:7-10) that diminished his vitality. However, it more fundamentally implies a lack of the eloquent, dramatic presentation and magnetic personal charm that his rivals likely employed to win adherents. Paul, in quoting this criticism, does not deny his apparent lack of conventional oratorical gifts, but he redefines the source of true apostolic authority, placing it in God's power, not human excellence, consistently challenging the Corinthians to see past superficial appearances to discern spiritual truth.

2 Corinthians 10 10 Commentary

2 Corinthians 10:10 reveals a painful and pivotal criticism Paul faced in Corinth. His opponents conceded the spiritual power evident in his letters, acknowledging them as "weighty and strong," demonstrating the inherent authority of the divine message Paul penned. Yet, they cruelly undermined his personal credibility by dismissing his physical presence as "weak" and his speaking as "of no account" (despised, treated as worthless). This attack was particularly cutting in Corinth, a city that prized rhetorical skill, eloquence, and charismatic personal demeanor. Paul deliberately chose to preach not with "wise and persuasive words" but in dependence on the Spirit's power (1 Cor 2:4), making him appear less impressive than the eloquent false apostles. The verse underscores that genuine spiritual authority, for Paul, did not rely on human charisma, outward appearance, or oratorical flourish but on the manifest power of God working through humble, even weak, instruments. Paul is preparing to counter this specific accusation, asserting that his actions in person will match the forcefulness of his letters, demonstrating that his perceived physical weakness is actually a conduit for God's perfect power.

• Example: Imagine a powerful executive's written directives command absolute respect, but in a live presentation, their quiet voice and unassuming demeanor lead some to question their real-world authority, unaware their influence is from God and not human bravado.
• Example: A scholar publishes groundbreaking theories, yet in public, appears nervous or lacks charisma, causing some to devalue their genius based on outward display.