2 Corinthians 12 10

2 Corinthians 12:10 kjv

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

2 Corinthians 12:10 nkjv

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:10 niv

That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:10 esv

For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:10 nlt

That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12 verses

2 Corinthians 12 10 Meaning

2 Corinthians 12:10 conveys a profound paradox at the heart of Christian experience: the believer's contentment in severe trials and the dynamic interplay between human weakness and divine strength. Paul expresses his active acceptance, even pleasure, in various forms of suffering endured for the sake of Christ. He understands that it is precisely when he is at his weakest, most vulnerable, and most reliant on God that Christ's power becomes most evident and perfected through him. This verse encapsulates the principle that our insufficiency creates room for God's all-sufficiency.

2 Corinthians 12 10 Context

2 Corinthians 12:10 is found within a deeply personal and polemical section of Paul's letter where he defends his apostolic authority against opponents who challenged his legitimacy by boasting in their own perceived strengths and spiritual experiences. The preceding verses (2 Cor 12:1-4) describe Paul's unparalleled ecstatic visions, yet he quickly redirects the focus away from his extraordinary experiences. Instead, he speaks of a "thorn in the flesh" (2 Cor 12:7-8) – an undisclosed, painful affliction – that was given to him to keep him from becoming conceited due to the abundance of revelations.

Paul prayed earnestly for its removal, but Christ's definitive answer came in 2 Cor 12:9: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Verse 10 is Paul's enthusiastic endorsement and lived out application of this divine principle. He embraces his vulnerabilities, not in spite of them, but because they are the very channels through which Christ's power flows most perfectly. This immediately follows his justification for not boasting in his visions, instead preferring to boast in his weaknesses, which authenticated his ministry as one utterly dependent on God.

2 Corinthians 12 10 Word analysis

• For the sake of Christ, then, I am content:

  • "For the sake of Christ" (διὰ Χριστόν, dia Christon): This phrase highlights the ultimate motivation and purpose behind Paul's contentment. His suffering is not meaningless stoicism, but an intentional act of devotion, service, and identification with Jesus. It's not suffering for suffering's sake, but for the one in whom all life and meaning are found.
  • "then": Introduces a logical consequence derived from the previous divine declaration (2 Cor 12:9). Because God's power is perfected in weakness, Paul's response naturally follows.
  • "I am content" (εὐδοκῶ, eudokō): This is a strong verb, often translated as "I am well pleased," "I find pleasure," or "I delight in." It goes beyond mere toleration or endurance. Paul actively, cheerfully, and intentionally accepts these trials. It signifies a profound spiritual agreement and approval, rather than passive resignation. This contentment is not born of a lack of suffering, but of understanding its divine purpose.

• with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities:

  • This is a list of various afflictions Paul faced, demonstrating the comprehensive nature of his trials. Each word depicts a different facet of suffering that authenticates his reliance on God's strength.
  • "weaknesses" (ἀσθένειαι, astheneiai): Refers to physical infirmities, illnesses, feebleness, and human limitations. This broad term encompasses the "thorn in the flesh" and general human fragility (as used in 2 Cor 11:29 for being weak with the weak). It's a foundational condition for God's power.
  • "insults" (ὕβρεσιν, hybresin): Implies scorn, abusive treatment, arrogant contempt, or deliberate verbal mistreatment. These were personal attacks on his character and authority.
  • "hardships" (ἀνάγκαις, anankais): Signifies necessities, constraints, distresses, or tribulation – unavoidable, difficult circumstances that impose severe pressure.
  • "persecutions" (διωγμοῖς, diōgmois): Involves active ill-treatment, harassment, and severe oppression specifically directed against him because of his faith and ministry. This relates to official or societal opposition.
  • "calamities" (στενοχωρίαις, stenochōriais): Literally "narrow spaces," indicating intense distress, overwhelming predicaments, anguish, and a feeling of being hemmed in with no escape. This speaks to the severe emotional and mental pressure accompanying external trials.
  • Words-group analysis: This cluster of terms showcases the multifaceted and intense nature of apostolic suffering. They move from internal vulnerability ("weaknesses") to external, often personal and deliberate attacks ("insults," "persecutions"), and then to general dire circumstances ("hardships," "calamities"). Paul is not content with a vague, singular type of trial, but specifically with this extensive, exhaustive list of painful experiences, each endured for the sake of Christ.

• For when I am weak, then I am strong.

  • This is the summary and theological climax of the verse, a stark paradox that forms the core message.
  • "when I am weak" (ὅταν γὰρ ἀσθενῶ, hotan gar asthenō): Emphasizes that this is an ongoing condition or recurring experience. The Greek implies "whenever I am weak." This refers not just to personal physical or emotional frailty but specifically to the state where Paul acknowledges his utter dependence and incapacity.
  • "then I am strong" (τότε δυνατός εἰμι, tote dynatos eimi): "Strong" here does not refer to human resolve or self-sufficiency, but to being divinely empowered. The strength is Christ's, perfected through the vessel of Paul's weakness. It is precisely at the point of human emptiness that divine fullness rushes in. This strength enables him to endure, to minister effectively, and to manifest God's glory, reversing conventional human logic that equates strength with capability and self-reliance. This strength allows him to preach with boldness and live victoriously amidst affliction.

2 Corinthians 12 10 Bonus section

The paradox of strength in weakness, championed by Paul in this verse, stands in direct contrast to pagan Greek ideals of arete (virtue or excellence) which often celebrated physical prowess, rhetorical skill, and self-sufficiency. It also rebukes the boasts of false apostles in Corinth who likely presented themselves with outward displays of strength and success, implying their superiority and God's greater favor upon them. Paul here deconstructs these worldly standards, demonstrating that the truest measure of divine endorsement for a minister is not their personal greatness but their willingness to be broken and used by a great God.

Furthermore, this passage profoundly impacts the understanding of Christian suffering, differentiating it from mere pain. "Suffering for the sake of Christ" elevates mundane hardship to sacred purpose, integrating it into the narrative of redemption. It transforms the experience from one of passive victimhood into one of active participation in Christ's ongoing work, where every tear, every insult, and every moment of feebleness becomes a testimony to God's all-surpassing power.

2 Corinthians 12 10 Commentary

2 Corinthians 12:10 distills the counter-cultural essence of the gospel regarding suffering and power. In a world, and particularly within certain factions of the early church, that esteemed human strength, eloquence, and prosperity as signs of divine favor, Paul presents a radical inversion. His "contentment" in a litany of personal and external adversities is not masochism or passive resignation but a conscious embrace of divine pedagogy. He understands that his own incapacities—his astheneiai, his hybresin, his anankais, his diōgmois, and his stenochōriais—serve as crucibles.

These are the precise points where Christ's infinite grace (as declared in v.9) intercepts human limitations, manifesting as unparalleled divine power. The declaration, "when I am weak, then I am strong," is not a feel-good slogan but a foundational theological principle forged in the fires of personal experience. It means that the authentic strength for Christian life and ministry is not found in human aptitude or impressive resumes, but in the transparent and humble reliance on the Risen Lord. It is an emptying of self so that the fullness of Christ might reside and operate, turning potential stumbling blocks into conduits for God's glory.

Examples for practical usage:

• A leader facing overwhelming opposition or personal shortcomings recognizes that this very weakness can highlight God's wisdom and power when His provision breaks through.
• Someone suffering chronic illness can find contentment by understanding their physical limitations are opportunities for God to demonstrate His sustaining grace and peace within them.
• In times of severe personal insult or persecution for faith, the believer can rejoice knowing these moments bring them into closer identification with Christ's own suffering, thereby enabling His strength to be revealed.