2 Corinthians 10 · Verse 7

2 Corinthians 10:7

Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ’s, even so are we Christ’s.
2 Corinthians 10:7, King James Version

2 Corinthians 10:7 in other translations

BSBYou are looking at outward appearances. If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should remind himself that we belong to Christ just as much as he does.
WEBDo you look at things only as they appear in front of your face? If anyone trusts in himself that he is Christ’s, let him consider this again with himself, that even as he is Christ’s, so we also are Christ’s.
ASVYe look at the things that are before your face. If any man trusteth in himself that he is Christ’s, let him consider this again with himself, that, even as he is Christ’s, so also are we.
YLTThe things in presence do ye see? if any one hath trusted in himself to be Christ's, this let him reckon again from himself, that according as he is Christ's, so also we are Christ's;
DARBYDo ye look at what concerns appearance? If any one has confidence in himself that he is of Christ, let him think this again in himself, that even as he is of Christ, so also are we.
BBEGive attention to the things which are before you. If any man seems to himself to be Christ's, let him keep in mind that we are as much Christ's as he is.
WebsterDo ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trusteth to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's.

What does 2 Corinthians 10:7 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
7. Do ye regard mere outward appearance (mere external recommendations, personal appearance, voice, manner, oratory of teachers present face to face, such as they admired in the false teachers to the disparagement of Paul, 2Co 10:10; see on 2Co 5:12)? Even in outward bearing when I shall be present with you (in contrast to "by letters," 2Co 10:9) I will show that I am more really armed with the authority of Christ, than those who arrogate to themselves the title of being peculiarly "Christ's" (1Co 1:12). A Jewish emissary seems to have led this party. let him of himself think this again--He may "of himself," without needing to be taught it in a more severe manner, by "thinking again," arrive at "this" conclusion, "that even as," &c. Paul modestly demands for himself only an equal place with those whom he had begotten in the Gospel [Bengel].

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 7. Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? This is addressed evidently to the members of the church, and with reference to the claims which had been set up by the false teachers. There can be no doubt that they valued themselves on their external advantages, and laid claim to peculiar honour in the work of the ministry, because they were superior in personal appearance, in rank, manners, or eloquence to Paul. Paul reproves them for thus judging, and assures them that this was not a proper criterion by which to determine on qualifications for the apostolic office. Such things were highly valued among the Greeks, and a considerable part of the effort of Paul in these letters is to show that these things constitute no evidence that those who possessed them were sent from God.

If any man trust to himself, etc. This refers to the false teachers who laid claims to be the followers of Christ by way of eminence. Whoever these teachers were, it is evident that they claimed to be on the side of Christ, and to be appointed by him. They were probably Jews, and they boasted of their talents and eloquence, and possibly that they had seen the Saviour. The phrase, "trust to himself," seems to imply that they relied on some special merit of their own, or some special advantage which they had.-- Bloomfield. It may have been that they were of the same tribe that he was, or that they had seen him, or that they confided in their own talents or endowments as proof that they had been sent by him. It is not an uncommon thing for men. to have such confidence in their own gifts, and particularly in a power of fluent speaking, as to suppose that this is a sufficient evidence that they are sent to preach the gospel.

Let him of himself think this again. Since he relies so much on himself; since he has such confidence in his own powers, let him look at the evidence that I also am of Christ.

That, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's. That I have given as much evidence that I am commissioned by Christ as they can produce. It may be of a different kind. It is not in eloquence, and rank, and the gift of a rapid and ready elocution, but it may be superior to what they are able to produce. Probably Paul refers here to the fact that he had seen the Lord Jesus, and that he had been directly commissioned by him. The sense is, that no one could produce more proofs of being called to the ministry than he could.

(a) "appearance" Jn 7:24

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 7 Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? - Do not be carried away with appearances; do not be satisfied with show and parade. If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's - Here, as in several other places of this and the preceding epistle, the τις, any or certain, person, most evidently refers to the false apostle who made so much disturbance in the Church. And this man trusted to himself - assumed to himself that he was Christ's messenger: it would not do to attempt to subvert Christianity at once; it had got too strong a hold of Corinth to be easily dislodged; he therefore pretended to be on Christ's side, and to derive his authority from him. Let him of himself - Without any authority, certainly, from God; but, as he arrogates to himself the character of a minister of Christ, let him acknowledge that even so we are Christ's ministers; and that I have, by my preaching, and the miracles which I have wrought, given the fullest proof that I am especially commissioned by him.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Corinthians 10:7-11
In outward appearance, Paul was mean and despised in the eyes of some, but this was a false rule to judge by. We must not think that none outward appearance, as if the want of such things proved a man not to be a real Christian, or an able, faithful minister of the lowly Saviour.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

2 Corinthians 10:7 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΤὰTaThe [things]G3588
κατὰkataaccording toG2596
πρόσωπονprosōponappearanceG4383
βλέπετε.blepeteare you looking.G991
εἴeiIfG1487
τιςtisanyoneG5100
πέποιθενpepoithenis persuadedG3982
ἑαυτῷhe'autōin himselfG1438
ΧριστοῦChristouof ChristG5547
εἶναι,einaito be,G1511
τοῦτοtoutothisG3778
λογιζέσθωlogizesthōhe should reckonG3049
πάλινpalinagainG3825
ἐφ᾽eph᾽withinG1909
ἑαυτοῦhe'autouhimselfG1438
ὅτιhotithatG3754
καθὼςkathōseven asG2531
αὐτὸςautosheG846
Χριστοῦ,Christou[is] of Christ,G5547
οὕτωςhoutōssoG3779
καὶkaialso [are]G2532
ἡμεῖςhēmeiswe ourselvesG3165

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 Corinthians 10:7

  • John 7:24

    Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

  • 1 Corinthians 14:37

    If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

  • 2 Corinthians 5:12

    For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.

  • 2 Corinthians 11:23

    Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.

  • 1 John 4:6

    We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

  • 1 Corinthians 9:1

    Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?

  • 1 Corinthians 3:23

    And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.

  • 2 Corinthians 10:1

    Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:

  • 1 Corinthians 1:12

    Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.

  • Galatians 3:29

    And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

  • 1 Samuel 16:7

    But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:23

    But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
ye look.
1; *marg:
5:12; 1Sa 16:7; Mt 23:5; Lu 16:15; Joh 7:24; Ro 2:28,29
If.
1Co 3:23; 14:37; 15:23; Ga 3:29
even.
5:12; 11:4,18,23; 12:11; 13:3; 1Co 9:1; Ga 1:11-13; 2:5-9; 1Jo 4:6

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 2 Corinthians 10:6

    And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

  • 2 Corinthians 10:7

    Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ’s, even so are we Christ’s.

  • 2 Corinthians 10:8

    For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:

Read all of 2 Corinthians 10

2 Corinthians 10:7 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Miráis las cosas según la apariencia. Si alguno está confiado en sí mismo que es de Cristo, esto también piense por sí mismo, que como él es de Cristo, así también nosotros somos de Cristo.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Considérez-vous les choses selon l’apparence? Si quelqu’un a la confiance en lui-même d’être à Christ, qu’il pense encore ceci en lui-même, que, comme lui-même est à Christ, ainsi nous aussi nous sommes à Christ.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Sehet ihr auf das, was vor Augen ist? Wenn jemand sich selbst zutraut, daß er Christi sei, so denke er dies wiederum bei sich selbst, daß, gleichwie er Christi ist, also auch wir.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Quæ secundum faciem sunt, videte. Si quis confidit sibi Christi se esse, hoc cogitet iterum apud se: quia sicut ipse Christi est, ita et nos.