OET interlinear 2 COR 10:13

10:13–b

We, however, will not boast beyond our limits, but only within the field of influence that God has assigned to us: The Greek words are literally “now we do not boast in unmeasured (amounts) but according to the measure of the sphere that God measured to us with a measure.” Here Paul used the same idea, “measure,” in four different ways:

1. As its negated or opposite idea (“unmeasured”).

2. As a calculation (“the measure [of the sphere]”).

3. As the action of marking something out (“measured to us”).

4. As the means of making a measurement (“[with] a measure”).

He first denied that he boasts without limits. He then described what was acceptable as boasting. They could boast only about work that God had given responsibility to them for.

Generally, English versions do not try to use the word “measure” or a similar word four times, since that would not be natural English. But some versions use the word three times to try to mimic Paul’s repeated use of the word. For example:

But we will not boast beyond our measure, but within the measure of the domain which God assigned to us as a measure (NASB)

10:13a

We, however, will not boast beyond our limits: The limits for boasting are explained in 10:13b–16. Paul would boast about what God had done through him. He had been the first to preach in Corinth (10:13c). He would not boast about what others had done, as if he had done those things himself (10:15–16). Other ways to translate this clause are:

But we will not boast beyond our measure (NASB)

We will not boast about things done outside our area of authority (NLT)

We won’t brag about something we don’t have a right to brag about (CEV)

We will not boast about changed lives in places that result from someone else’s preaching

We: This pronoun is emphasized in the Greek. It emphasizes the contrast between the false teachers (“they” in 10:12) and Paul and his coworkers. For example:

As for us (GNT)

boast: The word boast refers to talking proudly about something. Here it refers to the things that God had done through Paul and the other evangelists. Paul felt he needed to boast to encourage the believers in Corinth. He did not boast for selfish reasons. See how you translated this word in 10:8.

10:13b

but only within the field of influence: This phrase refers to limiting what they boasted about. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

but within the measure of the domain (NASB)

We will boast only about what has happened within the boundaries of the work (NLT)

We will only brag about the work (CEV)

the field of influence: The Greek words are literally “the measure/limit of the sphere/region.” The Greek word “of” indicates here that “sphere” explains what is “limited.” The word “sphere” refers here to all of Paul’s ministry. For example:

the limits of the work (GNT)

field: The Greek word is literally “sphere/region.” The Greek word and the English word field refer here to all of Paul’s ministry. This includes the people groups and places where God had sent them to preach and evangelize. Acts 13:1–21:16 tells about the cities where Paul and his coworkers went, preached, and evangelized. They preached mainly to non-Jews, but they usually offered the opportunity to believe in Jesus to the Jews in those cities first. For example:

regions/peoples

the area (ESV)

In some languages it is more natural to refer to the ministry done in those places rather than the places themselves. For example:

work (CEV)

10:13c

a field that reaches even to you: Corinth was one of the places where God had sent Paul to preach and evangelize. So this phrase indicates that Corinth and the believers there were included in that field. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

a field that even includes you

this includes our work among you (GNT)

you are part of that work (CEV)

field: This word refers figuratively to the places where God had sent them to preach and evangelize, as in 10:13b.

even: This word emphasizes that God had authorized Paul to preach and evangelize in Corinth. So the believers in Corinth were a part of Paul’s ministry.