Lectionary Calendar
Monday, May 5th, 2025
the Third Week after Easter
Attention!
Take your personal ministry to the Next Level by helping StudyLight build churches and supporting pastors in Uganda.
Click here to join the effort!

Read the Bible

Simplified Cowboy Version

2 Corinthians 12:12

When I was with y'all, I showed y'all how handy I was. I proved I was a cowboy with signs, wonders, and miracles that could only come from God.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Apostles;   Humility;   Minister, Christian;   Miracles;   Patience;   Thompson Chain Reference - Paul;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Miracles;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Apostle;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Gifts of the spirit;   Miracles;   Signs;   Suffering;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Apostle;   Leadership;   Mission;   Perseverance;   Weakness;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Apostle;   Miracles;   Paul;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Apostles;   Disciples;   Miracles, Signs, Wonders;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Apostles;   Miracles;   Person of Christ;   Sign;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Epaphroditus ;   Grace;   Holy Spirit;   Mercy;   Miracles;   Organization (2);   Patience;   Sign ;   Wonders;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Miracles;   33 Patience Long-Suffering Forbearance;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Apostle;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Acts of the Apostles;   Apostle;   Church Government;   Corinthians, Second Epistle to the;   Miracle;   Pauline Theology;   Sign;   Spiritual Gifts;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Apostle;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
The signs of an apostle were performed with unfailing endurance among you, including signs and wonders and miracles.
King James Version (1611)
Truely the signes of an Apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signes and wonders, and mightie deeds.
King James Version
Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
English Standard Version
The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works.
New American Standard Bible
The distinguishing marks of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs, wonders, and miracles.
New Century Version
When I was with you, I patiently did the things that prove I am an apostle—signs, wonders, and miracles.
Amplified Bible
The signs that indicate a genuine apostle were performed among you fully and most patiently—signs and wonders and miracles.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles.
Legacy Standard Bible
The signs of a true apostle were worked out among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles.
Berean Standard Bible
The true marks of an apostle-signs, wonders, and miracles-were performed among you with great perseverance.
Contemporary English Version
When I was with you, I was patient and worked all the powerful miracles and signs and wonders of a true apostle.
Complete Jewish Bible
The things that prove I am an emissary — signs, wonders and miracles — were done in your presence, despite what I had to endure.
Darby Translation
The signs indeed of the apostle were wrought among you in all endurance, signs, and wonders, and works of power.
Easy-to-Read Version
When I was with you, I patiently did the things that prove I am an apostle—signs, wonders, and miracles.
Geneva Bible (1587)
The signes of an Apostle were wrought among you with all patience, with signes, and wonders, and great workes.
George Lamsa Translation
The miracles which the apostles have wrought I have wrought among you also in all patience, in signs, in wonders, and mighty deeds.
Good News Translation
The many miracles and wonders that prove that I am an apostle were performed among you with much patience.
Lexham English Bible
Indeed, the signs of an apostle have been done among you with all patient endurance, both signs and wonders and deeds of power.
Literal Translation
Truly the signs of the apostle were worked out among you in all patience, in miraculous signs, and in wonders, and by works of power.
American Standard Version
Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, by signs and wonders and mighty works.
Bible in Basic English
Truly the signs of an Apostle were done among you in quiet strength, with wonders and acts of power.
Hebrew Names Version
Truly the signs of an apostle were worked among you in all patience, in signs and wonders and mighty works.
International Standard Version
The signs of an apostle were performed among you with utmost patience - signs, wonders, and works of power.Romans 15:18-19; 1 Corinthians 9:2; 2 Corinthians 4:2; 6:4; 11:6;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
The signs of the apostles I have wrought among you in all patience, and with mighty acts and miracles and with powers.
Murdock Translation
I wrought among you the signs of the legates, with all patience; and in prodigies, and in wonders, and in mighty deeds.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Truely the signes of an Apostle were wrought among you, in all patience, and signes, and wonders, and myghtie deedes.
English Revised Version
Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, by signs and wonders and mighty works.
World English Bible
Truly the signs of an apostle were worked among you in all patience, in signs and wonders and mighty works.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you, in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
Weymouth's New Testament
The signs that characterize the true Apostle have been done among you, accompanied by unwearied fortitude, and by tokens and marvels and displays of power.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Thouy Y am nouyt, netheles the signes of myn apostilhed ben maad on you, in al pacience, and signes, and grete wondris, and vertues.
Update Bible Version
Truly the signs of an apostle were worked among you in all patience, both by signs and wonders, and mighty works.
Webster's Bible Translation
Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
New English Translation
Indeed, the signs of an apostle were performed among you with great perseverance by signs and wonders and powerful deeds.
New King James Version
Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds.
New Living Translation
When I was with you, I certainly gave you proof that I am an apostle. For I patiently did many signs and wonders and miracles among you.
New Life Bible
When I was with you, I proved to you that I was a true missionary. I did powerful works and there were special things to see. These things were done in the strength and power from God.
New Revised Standard
The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, signs and wonders and mighty works.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
The signs, indeed, of an apostle, were wrought out among you, in all endurance, - bothin signs, and wonders, and mighty works:
Douay-Rheims Bible
Yet the signs of my apostleship have been wrought on you, in all patience, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds.
Revised Standard Version
The signs of a true apostle were performed among you in all patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
yet ye tokes of an apostle were wrought amoge you with all pacience: with signes and wonders and myghty dedes.
Young's Literal Translation
The signs, indeed, of the apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
yet are ye tokens of an Apostle wrought amoge you, with all paciece, with signes, & with woders & with mightie dedes.
Mace New Testament (1729)
the marks indeed of an apostle I have shown among you by my extreme patience, by signs, and prodigies, and miracles.

Contextual Overview

11I know I've been talking foolish, but y'all made me do it. Y'all are the ones who should be bragging about me, not me having to brag about myself. I know I am nothing, but those "super cowboys" aren't any handier than I am. 12When I was with y'all, I showed y'all how handy I was. I proved I was a cowboy with signs, wonders, and miracles that could only come from God. 13The only thing I didn't give y'all was the opportunity to support me financially. I think this is the only way I've wronged y'all. Please forgive me for not allowing y'all to help me. 14I'm going to come see y'all for the third time. And like the last times, I will not be a burden. I don't want what you have—I just want you riding for the brand. Children shouldn't be the ones providing for the parent when they are able to provide for themselves. It's the other way around. 15I'll give everything I have for y'all. But I'll be honest, it seems like the more I care for y'all, the less you care about me. 16Y'all know I didn't ask for anything while I was there. Yet, some of you still think I somehow tricked y'all into doing something you didn't want to do. 17Do y'all think I cheated you? Did the cowboys I send to y'all take advantage of you somehow? 18Did Titus pull a fast one over on you? I know that's not true! He's my pard and we ride the same trail and do things the exact same way. 19Do you think we are just being defensive? No, we are talking plain to y'all and we'd say the same things if Jesus was standing right here. We care about y'all and push y'all every day to be better cowboys. 20I'm pushing y'all hard because I'm afraid that when I get there, y'all won't even be able to swing a rope. I'm afraid all my work has been for nothing and y'all haven't practiced or taken anything seriously. I'm worried that when I get there I'm going to find bickering, jealousy, anger, gossip, arrogance, and wrong living.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

2 Corinthians 4:2, 2 Corinthians 6:4-10, 2 Corinthians 11:4, 2 Corinthians 11:6, Romans 15:18, Romans 15:19, 1 Corinthians 1:5-7, 1 Corinthians 9:2, 1 Corinthians 14:18

Reciprocal: Acts 5:12 - by Acts 21:19 - by 1 Corinthians 1:1 - an 1 Corinthians 1:6 - was 1 Corinthians 9:1 - I not an 2 Corinthians 11:5 - I was not 2 Corinthians 11:23 - I am 2 Corinthians 12:11 - for in 2 Corinthians 13:3 - which Galatians 3:5 - worketh

Cross-References

Matthew 10:28
Don't be scared of people who can kill your body. They can't kill your soul. Instead, be afraid of the one who can kill your body and soul in hell.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you,.... Not only the doctrine which he preached, the power that attended it, and the success it met with among them, were clear signs and evident proofs of his being sent by Christ; not only they themselves, who were converted under his ministry, were testimonials and seals of his apostleship, but also the many other wonderful works done by him confirmed the same, and showed him to be an apostle, and that he was not a whit behind, but equal to the chiefest of them: nor does he refer them to signs that were wrought by him, among others, and in other places, which were many; but to those which they themselves were witnesses of, and therefore might and ought to have spoken of them in defence of him; and in order to stop the mouths of the false apostles, a particular enumeration of these signs follows:

in all patience; it is one sign, and what is here mentioned in the first place of an apostle and minister of Christ, that he patiently bears all injuries and indignities, reproaches, persecutions, and all manner of afflictions, for Christ's sake and the Gospel's; and this the apostle did; and had he not been sent by Christ, it is not reasonable to imagine that he would have exposed himself to so many evils and dangers; or would have bore with so much patience the ill usage of men, and particularly the unkindness and ingratitude he met with at Corinth; but he took all patiently, having their good and the glory of Christ at heart:

in signs and wonders, and mighty deeds; meaning preternatural and miraculous performances; such as raising the dead, healing the sick, cleansing lepers, casting out devils, speaking with divers tongues, and the like, which were confirming evidences of apostleship; so

נסין וגבורין, "wonders and powers", or "mighty deeds", are mentioned together by the Jews i, as the same things.

i Zohar in Exod. fol. 96. 2. & 97. 1.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Truly the signs of an apostle - Such miracles as the acknowledged apostles worked. Such “signs” or evidences that they were divinely commissioned; see the Mark 16:17 note; Acts 2:22 note; Romans 15:19 note.

Were wrought among you - That is, by me; see the note, 1 Corinthians 9:2.

In all patience - I performed those works notwithstanding the opposition which I met with. I patiently persevered in furnishing the evidence of my divine commission. There was a succession of miracles demonstrating that I was from God, notwithstanding the unreasonable opposition which I met with, until I convinced you that I was called to the office of an apostle.

In signs and wonders - In working miracles; compare note, Acts 2:22. What these miracles at Corinth were, we are not distinctly informed. They probably, however, were similar to those performed in other places, in healing the sick, etc.; the most benevolent as it was one of the most decisive proofs of the divine power.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Corinthians 12:12. The signs of an apostle were wrought among you — Though I have been reputed as nothing, I have given the fullest proof of my Divine mission by various signs, wonders, and miracles, and by that patience which I have manifested towards you: though I had power from God to inflict punishment on the transgressors, I have in every case forborne to do it. Is the man nothing who wrought such miracles among you?


 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile