2 Corinthians 10

Now I Paul, myself, entreat you by the humility and gentleness of AL-MASIH1; I who in your presence am lowly among you, but being absent am of good courage toward you. 2Yes, I beg you that I may not, when present, show courage with the confidence with which I intend to be bold against some, who consider us to be walking according to the flesh. 3For though we walk in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh; 4for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God2 to the throwing down of strongholds, 5throwing down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of AL-MASIH; 6and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience will be made full. 

7Do you look at things only as they appear in front of your face? If anyone trusts in himself that he is AL-MASIH’s, let him consider this again with himself, that, even as he is AL-MASIH’s, so also we are AL-MASIH’s. 8For though I should boast somewhat abundantly concerning our authority, (which the Lord gave for building you up, and not for casting you down) I will not be disappointed, 9that I may not seem as if I desire to terrify you by my letters. 10For, “His letters,” they say, “are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech is despised.” 11Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such are we also in deed when we are present. 

12For we are not bold to number or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves. But they themselves, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are without understanding. 13But we will not boast beyond proper limits, but within the boundaries with which God appointed to us, which reach even to you. 14For we do not stretch ourselves too much, as though we didn’t reach to you. For we came even as far as to you with the Injil3 of AL-MASIH, 15not boasting beyond proper limits in other men’s labours, but having hope that as your faith grows, we will be abundantly enlarged by you in our sphere of influence, 16so as to preach the Injil even to the parts beyond you, not to boast in what someone else has already done. 

17“But let him who boasts, boast in the LORD4.” 5

18For it isn’t he who commends himself who is approved, but whom the Lord6 commends.

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  1. 10:1 AL-MASIH – an Arabic title equivalent to the Messiah (Hebrew) or Christ (Greek), all of which mean the Anointed One, that is, God’s Chosen One. In ancient times, divinely-appointed kings, priests and prophets were anointed with oil to signify their appointment to office. All of them point ahead to God’s ultimate Anointed One, the Messiah, AL-MASIH.  Al-Kitab unanimously points to ‘ISA Ibn Maryam as the only person worthy to bear the title AL-MASIH. He is the one whom God sent into this world to save people from sin, and to usher in God’s Kingdom at his Second Coming. ↩︎
  2. 10:4 God, English translation of theos. It is the Greek equivalent of elohim and eloah (Hebrew) which are related to allah (Arabic) and alaha (Syriac), all of which translate as “God,” and refer to the one true God. ↩︎
  3. 10:14 Injil, this Arabic word is derived from Euangel (Greek) and means “good news” or “Gospel” (old English for ‘good news’). Depending on context, Injil can refer to, 
    1. the whole Christian New Testament containing 27 books, 
    2. the first 4 books of the New Testament, that is, the Injil according to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, or,
    3. the message or “good news” of forgiveness of sins through ‘ISA AL-MASIH, revealed in the holy Injil (or New Testament). ↩︎
  4. 10:17 LORD, the use of all capital letters means that the original Hebrew text quoted here uses God’s Name, YAHWEH, which God-fearing Jews to this day do not say out of respect. YAHWEH is the Name God revealed to Prophet Musa in the Taurat, Exodus 3:15 – God said moreover to Musa, “You shall tell Bani-Israel this, ‘YAHWEH, the God of your fathers, the God of Ibrahim, the God of Ishaq, and the God of Yaqub, has sent me to you.’ This is my Name forever, and this is how I am to be remembered to all generations.” ↩︎
  5. 10:17 Quoting the Taurat, Armiya 9:24. The full context is given by Armiya 9:23-24 which says: Thus says YAHWEH, “Do not let the wise man boast about his wisdom, neither let the mighty man boast about his might, do not let the rich man boast about his riches; but let him who boasts, boast in this, that he has understanding, and knows me, that I am YAHWEH who exercises loving kindness, justice, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight,” says YAHWEH. ↩︎
  6. 10:18 Lord, translated from the Greek kurios. Depending on context, it can refer to: 1. God, 2. ’ISA AL-MASIH, 3. men in authority, such as kings, landlords, etc., 4. a respectful salutation meaning, “sir.” ↩︎