2 Corinthians 12:9 BSB

2 Corinthians 12:9

But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

And he hath said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

KJV

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

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Commentary

5 voices

Irenaeus

Against Heresies Book III (202)

Long-suffering therefore was God, when man became a defaulter, as foreseeing that victory which should be granted to him through the Word. For, when strength was made perfect in weakness, it showed the kindness and transcendent power of God.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

John Bunyan

Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners (1666)

I have felt this thorn in the flesh, 2 Cor. xii. 8, 9, the very mercy of God to me.

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

We see there may be grace where there is the quickest sense of pain. My strength is more illustriously displayed by the weakness of the instrument. Therefore I will glory in my weaknesses rather than my Revelations, that the strength of Christ may rest upon me - The Greek word properly means, may cover me all over like a tent.

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

Charles Spurgeon

1834–1892

The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 1287: “Strengthening Words from the Savior's Lips” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) (1876)

PAUL, when buffeted by the messenger of Satan, addressed his prayer to the Lord Jesus Christ and not, as he usually did, to the heavenly Father. This is a somewhat remarkable fact, but it is clear from the passage before us. He says, "For this thing I besought the Lord thrice," and that the Lord, here, is the Lord Jesus is pretty clear from the fact that he says in the next verse, "that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

30 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
καὶ	kai	And	G2532 →
εἴρηκέν	eirēken	He has said	G2046 →
μοι·	moi	to me;	G3165 →
ἀρκεῖ	arkei	Suffices	G714 →
σοι	soi	you	G4771 →
ἡ	hē	the	G3588 →
χάρις	charis	grace	G5485 →
μου·	mou	of Mine;	G3165 →
ἡ	hē	the	G3588 →
γὰρ	gar	for	G1063 →
δύναμις	dunamis	power	G1411 →
ἐν	en	in	G1722 →
ἀσθενείᾳ	astheneia	weakness	G769 →
τελεῖται.	teleitai	is finished.	G5055 →
ἥδιστα	hēdista	Most gladly	G2236 →
οὖν	oun	therefore	G3767 →
μᾶλλον	mallon	rather	G3123 →
καυχήσομαι	kauchēsomai	will I boast	G2744 →
ἐν	en	in	G1722 →
ταῖς	tais	the	G3588 →
ἀσθενείαις	astheneiais	weaknesses	G769 →
μου,	mou	of mine,	G3165 →
ἵνα	ina	so that	G2443 →
ἐπισκηνώσῃ	episkēnōsē	may rest	G1981 →
ἐπ᾽	ep᾽	upon	G1909 →
ἐμὲ	eme	me myself	G1473 →
ἡ	hē	the	G3588 →
δύναμις	dunamis	power	G1411 →
τοῦ	tou	<the>	G3588 →
Χριστοῦ.	Christou	of Christ.	G5547 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
leads to
- Isaiah 41:10
  Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand…
  Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
- Colossians 1:11
  being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have full endurance and patience, and joyfully
  Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
- Ephesians 6:10
  Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.
  Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
- Isaiah 40:29–31
  He gives power to the faint and increases the strength of the weak.
  Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
- 2 Corinthians 12:9–10
  But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of…
Through
Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
leads to
- Genesis 28:15
  Look, I am with you, and I will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what…
- Jeremiah 1:7–8
  But the LORD told me: “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’ For to everyone I send you, you must go, and all that I command you, you must speak.
- Psalms 27:1–2
  The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— whom shall I dread?

Featured studies on this passage

On 2 Corinthians 12:9

2 Corinthians: the Study Guide

Open the study →

The Ecstasy of Saint Paul — Nicolas Poussin

Walks through 2 Corinthians 12

Power Made Perfect in Weakness — 2 Corinthians 12:7–10

Open the study →

About 2 Corinthians

The Crown of Thorns — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)

2 Corinthians: the study guide →Read chapter 12 →The featured study →

Grace
Grace as sufficient in weakness rather than removing it
Suffering
Paul's unresolved thorn: grace proven sufficient precisely where strength runs out

Continue: 2 Corinthians 12 →

01Commentary

The record, by era

Voices on this verse

02Original language & word study

03The walk

Where the connections lead

04Related verses

05Featured studies on this passage

06About 2 Corinthians

The record, by era

Where the connections lead

Commentary

Original language & word study

The walk

Related verses

Featured studies on this passage

About 2 Corinthians