2 Corinthians 10:18 - Easy To Read Version It is not the person who says that he is good who is accepted. It is the person that the Lord thinks is good who is accepted. Tuilleadh leaganachaKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth. Amplified Bible - Classic Edition For [it is] not [the man] who praises and commends himself who is approved and accepted, but [it is the person] whom the Lord accredits and commends. American Standard Version (1901) For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth. Common English Bible It isn’t the person who promotes himself or herself who is approved but the person whom the Lord commends. Catholic Public Domain Version For it is not he who commends himself who is approved, but rather he whom God commends. Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version For not he who commendeth himself, is approved, but he, whom God commendeth. |
A person thinks everything he does is right. But the Lord judges the real reasons people do things.
Jesus said to the Pharisees, “You make yourselves look good in front of people. But God knows what is really in your hearts. The things that people think are important are worth nothing to God.
“My Jewish brothers, listen to these words: Jesus from Nazareth was a very special man. God clearly showed this to you. God proved this by the powerful and amazing things he did through Jesus. You all saw these things. So you know this is true.
Any person who serves Christ by living this way is pleasing God. And that person will be accepted by other people.
Say hello to Apelles. He was tested and proved that he truly loves Christ. Say hello to all those people that are in the family of Aristobulus.
(It is necessary for there to be differences among you. That is the way to make it clear which ones of you are really doing right.)
So don’t judge before the right time; wait until the Lord comes. He will shine light on the things that are hidden in darkness. He will make known the secret purposes of people’s hearts. Then God will give every person the praise he should get.
We don’t dare to put ourselves in the same group with those people who think that they are very important. We don’t compare ourselves to them. They use themselves to measure themselves, and they judge themselves by what they themselves are. This shows that they know nothing.
We pray to God that you will not do anything wrong. It is not important that people see that we have passed the test. But it is important that you do what is right, even if \{people think\} that we have failed the test.
Are we starting to boast about ourselves again? Do we need letters of introduction to you or from you, like some other people?
We are not trying to prove ourselves to you again. But we are telling you about ourselves. We are giving you reasons to be proud of us. Then you will have an answer for those people who are proud about things that can be seen. Those people don’t care about what is in a person’s heart.
But in every way we show that we are servants of God: in accepting many hard things, in troubles, in difficulties, and in great problems.
Do the very best you can to be the kind of person that God will accept, and give yourself to him. Be a worker who is not ashamed of his work—a worker who uses the true teaching in the right way.
Why do these troubles happen? To prove that your faith is pure (true). This purity of faith is worth more than gold. Gold can be proved to be pure by fire, but gold will ruin. The purity of your faith will bring you praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ appears (comes).