Bible Strands
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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Paul writes to the Corinthian church, recounting his third plea to the Lord to remove his "thorn in the flesh" (v. 8) and the answer he received instead.
The words — arkei (suffices) is a present-tense finite verb: grace doesn't merely exist but actively holds the line, ongoing and sufficient.
The thread — Paul's own summary in 2 Corinthians 12:10 ("when I am weak, then I am strong") is the operational restatement of this verse; Isaiah 40:29 supplies the same principle from the prophet's side, God giving strength to the weak.
Why it lands — It removes the expectation that God will fix the problem and replaces it with the expectation that He will be enough inside the problem, which requires the reader to stop negotiating and start relying.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
- 2 Corinthians 12:10 That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
- Isaiah 40:29 He gives power to the faint and increases the strength of the weak.
- Ephesians 3:16 I ask that out of the riches of His glory He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being,
- 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.”
- Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you go through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched; the flames will not set you ablaze.
- 1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide an escape, so that you can stand up under it.
- Hebrews 4:16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
- 2 Corinthians 3:5 Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim that anything comes from us, but our competence comes from God.
- 2 Corinthians 12:5 I will boast about such a man, but I will not boast about myself, except in my weaknesses.