Ὅτι αἱ μὲν ἐπιστολαὶ, φησί, βαρεῖαι καὶ ἰσχυραί, ἡ δὲ παρουσία τοῦ σώματος ἀσθενὴς καὶ ὁ λόγος ἐξουθενημένος. (2 Corinthians 10:10)
For “his letters,” they say, “are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech is of no account.”
ὅτι…φησί: Introducing Reported Accusation
The verse begins with the subordinating conjunction ὅτι, introducing reported speech or a causal clause. The verb φησί (“he says” or “they say”) is present active indicative, third person singular, used impersonally or parenthetically in Koine Greek to introduce commonly held opinion or quotation. The usage here introduces a critical report or claim about Paul’s character — likely quoting his opponents. The structure that follows contains a classic μὲν…δὲ contrast, reflecting their accusations in balanced poetic style.
αἱ μὲν ἐπιστολαὶ…βαρεῖαι καὶ ἰσχυραί: Letters with Literary Force
The subject αἱ…ἐπιστολαὶ (“the letters”) is nominative plural feminine. The phrase is fronted for emphasis and followed by the correlative particle μὲν, indicating the first element of the contrast. The adjectives βαρεῖαι (“weighty”) and ἰσχυραί (“strong”) are also nominative plural feminine, agreeing in gender, number, and case with ἐπιστολαὶ. This portion of the clause presents how Paul’s writings are perceived — forceful, intellectually or theologically heavy, even intimidating. The grammar emphasizes the external impact of his written words.
ἡ δὲ παρουσία τοῦ σώματος: The Weakness of Presence
The contrast comes with ἡ δὲ παρουσία (“but the presence”), again using a nominative singular feminine subject, with δὲ marking contrast to μὲν. The noun παρουσία refers to physical presence or arrival, and is qualified by the genitive phrase τοῦ σώματος (“of the body”). This genitive construction shows possessive or descriptive relationship: “his bodily presence.” The adjective ἀσθενής (“weak”) is nominative singular feminine, agreeing with παρουσία. The accusation is clear: while Paul’s letters are strong, his physical appearance is underwhelming or frail.
καὶ ὁ λόγος ἐξουθενημένος: A Dismissed Speaking Style
The second part of the accusation targets Paul’s rhetorical delivery: ὁ λόγος (“the speech” or “the message”) is the nominative singular masculine subject, and ἐξουθενημένος is a perfect passive participle, meaning “despised,” “of no account,” or “treated with contempt.” The participle functions here as a predicate adjective, describing how Paul’s speech is evaluated. The use of the perfect tense implies that his speech is persistently and enduringly disregarded. The grammar paints a picture of someone whose physical and vocal presence is unimpressive, even laughable to his critics.
Stylistic Structure: Parallelism and Irony
This sentence is stylistically elegant despite its sharpness. The μὲν…δὲ construction balances two clauses:
• αἱ μὲν ἐπιστολαὶ…βαρεῖαι καὶ ἰσχυραί
• ἡ δὲ παρουσία…ἀσθενὴς καὶ ὁ λόγος ἐξουθενημένος
Both clauses contrast two dimensions of Paul’s ministry: written authority versus physical/verbal presence. The parallel structure of subject + predicate adjectives adds poetic force to the critique, which is likely sarcastic or dismissive in tone. Grammatically, the structure is tight, but the tone is caustic — a mark of rhetorical attack cloaked in formal symmetry.
Parsing Table
| Greek Word | Form | Parsing | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| φησί | Verb | Present Active Indicative, 3rd Singular | Impersonal reporting of accusation |
| ἐπιστολαὶ | Noun | Nominative Plural Feminine | Subject of clause (letters) |
| βαρεῖαι, ἰσχυραί | Adjectives | Nominative Plural Feminine | Predicate adjectives describing letters |
| παρουσία | Noun | Nominative Singular Feminine | Subject of contrast clause |
| ἀσθενής | Adjective | Nominative Singular Feminine | Describes παρουσία |
| ὁ λόγος | Noun | Nominative Singular Masculine | Subject of second clause |
| ἐξουθενημένος | Participle | Perfect Passive, Nom. Masc. Sing. | Predicate participle, describes speech |
The Accusation as a Window into Apostolic Suffering
2 Corinthians 10:10 records not Paul’s theology, but his opponents’ mockery. Yet through their words, we glimpse the apostolic tension: a man full of authority in writing, but mocked in presence. The grammar of the verse is ironically polished; the attackers use symmetry and parallelism to make their case. But the very structure that ridicules Paul also reveals their superficiality. Paul’s letters may be βαρεῖαι καὶ ἰσχυραί, but it is his so-called ἀσθενὴς παρουσία that bears the mark of Christlike humility. The grammar captures the paradox of divine power made perfect in weakness, even when mocked.
