2 Corinthians 10:7

5 We tear down arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

6 And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, as soon as your obedience is complete.

You 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.

8 For even if I boast somewhat excessively about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than tearing you down, I will not be ashamed.

9 I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you by my letters.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
You 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.
KJV
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.
WEB
Do 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.
ASV
Ye 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.
DARBY
Do 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.
BLB
You⁺ are looking at things according to appearance. If anyone has been persuaded in himself to be of Christ, let him reckon this upon himself again, that as he [is] of Christ, so also [are] we.
ÅB
Dere ser bare på det utvendige! Om noen vet med seg selv at han hører Kristus til, la han erkjenne igjen for seg selv at slik som han hører Kristus til, så gjør også vi det.
OTB
Dere gjør vurderinger basert på utseende. Hvis noen er sikre på at de tilhører Kristus, bør de revurdere at vi tilhører Kristus like mye som de gjør.
B1930
I ser bare på det utvortes! Om nogen er viss med sig selv at han hører Kristus til, han dømme atter hos sig selv at likesom han hører Kristus til, således og vi.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • John 7:24

    Stop judging by outward appearances, and start judging justly.”

    Read in context
  • 1 Corinthians 14:37

    If anyone considers himself a prophet or spiritual person, let him acknowledge that what I am writing you is the Lord’s command.

    Read in context
  • 2 Corinthians 5:12

    We are not commending ourselves to you again. Instead, we are giving you an occasion to be proud of us, so that you can answer those who take pride in appearances rather than in the heart.

    Read in context
  • 2 Corinthians 11:23

    Are they servants of Christ? I am speaking like I am out of my mind, but I am so much more: in harder labor, in more imprisonments, in worse beatings, in frequent danger of death.

    Read in context
  • 1 John 4:6

    We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. That is how we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deception.

    Read in context
  • 1 Corinthians 9:1

    Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you yourselves not my workmanship in the Lord?

    Read in context
  • 1 Corinthians 3:23

    and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.

    Read in context
  • 2 Corinthians 10:1

    Now by the mildness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am humble when face to face with you, but bold when away.

    Read in context