2 Corinthians 10:14
in 2 Corinthians 10We are not overstepping our bounds, as if we had not come to you. Indeed, we were the first to reach you with the gospel of Christ.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For we stretch not ourselves overmuch, as though we reached not unto you: for we came even as far as unto you in the gospel of Christ:
KJV
For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ:
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This verse in 2 Corinthians 10
Commentary
12 notes on this verseProbably, the false apostles and those who went somewhere without any preaching boast of their mere arrival and ascribe everything to themselves. So the apostle says: we do not overextend ourselves, as though we had not reached you, for we reached you not merely, but …
This site's exposition
the field of influence that God has assigned
on 2 Corinthians 10:13-14
The field of influence that God has assigned to us renders kanon, a rule, originally a measuring reed. Corinth stands inside that field because Paul planted the church there: we were the first to reach you with the gospel of Christ.
This site's exposition
we were the first to reach you with the gospel of Christ
Paul's claim rests on what happened at Corinth. John Chrysostom reads the verse as saying Paul preached, persuaded and succeeded there, while his rivals arrived among disciples already made and took the credit. Adam Clarke traces Paul's route southward from Macedonia through Greece into Achaia.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
"For we stretch not ourselves overmuch, as though we reached not unto you: for we came even as far as unto you in preaching the Gospel of Christ." Not simply 'we came,' but, 'we announced, we preached, we persuaded, we succeeded.' For it is probable that they having merely come to the disciples of the Apostles, ascribed the whole to themselves, from their bare presence among them. 'But not so we: nor can any one say that we were not able to come as far as to you, and that we stretched our boasting as far as to you in words only; for we also preached the word to you.'
Paul did not go too far in what he was doing but stayed within the limits set for his task by God. He makes this explicit here so that the Corinthians will know that God has sent him to them and so they ought to …
The Medieval Church1 voice
That this is so, namely, that it reaches even to them, he proves when he says: For we are not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach you. As if to say: of course we glory, but we do not stretch beyond ourselves in …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
We are come even to you - By a gradual, regular process, having taken the intermediate places in our way, in preaching the gospel of Christ.
For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure,....
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
And, particularly, he acted according to this rule in preaching at Corinth, and in the exercise of his apostolical authority there; for he came thither by divine direction, and there he converted many to Christianity; and, therefore, in boasting of them as his charge, he acted not contrary to his rule, he boasted not of other men's labours,
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
For we stretch not ourselves beyond - We have not proceeded straight from Macedonia through Thessaly, and across the Adriatic Gulf into Italy, which would have led us beyond you westward; but knowing the mind of our God we left this direct path, and came southward through Greece, down into Achaia, and there we planted the Gospel. The false apostle has therefore got into our province, and entered into our labors, and there boasts as if the conversion of the heathen Achaians had been his own work.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
"We are not stretching ourselves beyond our measure, as (we should be) if we did not reach unto you: (but we do), for as far as even to you have we come in preaching the Gospel."
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — scripture-overlap:83%@v13-15
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure - In coming to preach to you we have not gone beyond the proper limits assigned us. We have not endeavored to enlarge the proper boundaries, to stretch the line which limited us, but have kept honestly within the proper limits. As though we reached not unto you - That is, as if our boundaries did not extend so far as to comprehend you. We have not overstepped the proper limits, as if Greece was not within the proper sphere of action. For we are come as far as to you ... - In the regular work of preaching the gospel we have come to you. We have gone from place to place preaching the gospel where we had opportunity; we have omitted no important places, until in the regular discharge of our duties in preaching we have reached you and have preached the gospel to you. We have not omitted other places in order to come to you and enter into the proper field of labor of others, but in the regular work of making the gospel known as far as possible to all people we have come to Corinth. Far as it is, therefore, from the place where we started, we have approached it in a regular manner, and have not gone out of our proper province in doing it.
The words behind it
19 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| οὐ | ou | Not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| ὡς | hos | as | G5613 → | 500 times |
| μὴ | me | not | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| ἐφικνούμενοι | ephiknoumenoi | reaching | G2185 → | |
| εἰς | eis | to | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| ὑμᾶς | humas | you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ὑπερεκτείνομεν | huperekteinomen | we are overextending | G5239 → | |
| ἑαυτούς· | he'autous | ourselves; | G1438 → | 322 times |
| ἄχρι | achri | as far as | G891 → | 48 times |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| καὶ | kai | also | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ὑμῶν | humon | you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ἐφθάσαμεν | ephthasamen | we came | G5348 → | |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| τῷ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| εὐαγγελίῳ | euangelio | gospel | G2098 → | 73 times |
| τοῦ | tou | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Χριστοῦ· | christou | of Christ; | G5547 → | 523 times |
οὐNot
ouG3756 →1664 times
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
ὡςas
hosG5613 →500 times
μὴnot
meG3361 →1066 times
ἐφικνούμενοιreaching
ephiknoumenoiG2185 →
εἰςto
eisG1519 →1755 times
ὑμᾶςyou
humasG4771 →2973 times
ὑπερεκτείνομενwe are overextending
huperekteinomenG5239 →
ἑαυτούς·ourselves;
he'autousG1438 →322 times
ἄχριas far as
achriG891 →48 times
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
καὶalso
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ὑμῶνyou
humonG4771 →2973 times
ἐφθάσαμενwe came
ephthasamenG5348 →
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
τῷthe
toG3588 →19766 times
εὐαγγελίῳgospel
euangelioG2098 →73 times
τοῦ<the>
touG3588 →19766 times
Χριστοῦ·of Christ;
christouG5547 →523 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Romans 1:16I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, then to the Greek.
it leads to
- Mark 8:38
If anyone is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in His Father’s glory with the…
- 2 Timothy 1:8
So do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me, His prisoner. Instead, join me in suffering for the gospel by the power of God.
- 1 Peter 4:16
But if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but glorify God that you bear that name.
- 2 Timothy 1:12
For this reason, even though I suffer as I do, I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have…
- Mark 8:38
Through
2 Corinthians 4:4The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
it leads to
- John 12:40
“He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so that they cannot see with their eyes, and understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.”
- Acts 26:18
to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified…
- 2 Corinthians 3:14
But their minds were closed. For to this day the same veil remains at the reading of the old covenant. It has not been lifted, because only in Christ can it be removed.
- Isaiah 6:10
Make the hearts of this people calloused; deafen their ears and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”
- John 12:40
Where this verse is studied
About 2 Corinthians
This page draws on 12 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Second Epistle to the Corinthians; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; Charles Hodge, An Exposition of the Second Epistle to the Corinthians; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily 22 on 2 Corinthians; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 2 Corinthians.