2 Corinthians 10:6

New Testament Epistle (Pauline) ASV (1901)

What does 2 Corinthians 10:6 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience shall be made full.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience shall be made full.
2 Corinthians 10:6 — American Standard Version

Context — 2 Corinthians 10

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
6and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience shall be made full.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, etc..] Not with the temporal sword, as the civil magistrate, but with the spiritual one; meaning either censures and excommunication, which a faithful minister of the Gospel, with the suffrage of the church, has at hand, and a power to make use of, for the reclaiming of disobedient persons; or rather that extraordinary power which was peculiar to the apostles, of inflicting punishments on delinquents, such as what was exercised by Peter upon Ananias and Sapphira, by the Apostle Paul on Elymas the sorcerer, the incestuous person, and Hymenaeus and Philetus, and which still continued with him; it was ready at hand, he could exercise it…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Translate, "Having ourselves (that is, being) in readiness to exact punishment for all disobedience," &c. We have this in store for the disobedient: it will be brought into action in due time. when your obedience, &c.--He charitably assumes that most of the Corinthian Church will act obediently; therefore he says "YOUR obedience." But perhaps some will act otherwise; in order, therefore, to give all an opportunity of joining the obedient, he will not prematurely exact punishment, but wait until the full number of those gathered out to Christ has been "completed," and the remainder have been proved incorrigible. He had acted already so at Corinth (Act 18:6-11; compare Exo 32:34; Mat…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“And having in a readiness ... - I am ready to punish all disobedience, notwithstanding all that is said to the contrary; see the notes on 2 Corinthians 10:1-2. Clothed as I am with this power; aiming to subdue all things to Christ, though the weapons of my warfare are not carnal, and though I am modest or timid 2 Corinthians 10:1 when I am with you, I am prepared to take any measures of severity required by my apostolic office, in order that I may inflict deserved punishment on those who have violated the laws of Christ. The design of this is, to meet the objection of his enemies, that he would not dare to execute his threatenings. When your obedience is fulfilled - Doddridge renders this:…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Being in readiness to avenge all disobedience - Not only by spiritual censure, but miraculous punishments. When your obedience is fulfilled - When the sound part of you have given proof of your obedience, so that I am in no danger of punishing the innocent with the guilty. 2 Corinthians 10:7”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“in: Co2 13:2, Co2 13:10; Num 16:26-30; Act 5:3-11, Act 13:10, Act 13:11; Co1 4:21, Co1 5:3-5; Ti1 1:20; Jo3 1:10 when: Co2 2:9, Co2 7:15 2 Corinthians 10:7”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification