2nd Corinthians Chapter 10

From The Open Bible Project

10:1 Now I Paul, myself, entreat you by the humility and gentleness of Christ; I who in your presence am lowly among you, but being absent am of good courage toward you.

• (1) He returns to the defence of his apostleship, but in such a way that he uses his authority in his defence: for he warns them earnestly and gravely, using also terrible threatenings, to show themselves to be those who are able to be instructed. And he reviles certain proud men who made no better account of him, than of a bragging proud man, in that he used to be sharp against them when he was absent, because they saw no great majesty in him after the manner of men; and besides, he had proved his gentleness, even though in his absence he had written to them sharply. Therefore first of all he professes that he was gentle and moderate, but after the example of Christ: but if they continue still to despise his gentleness, he protests to them that he will show indeed how far they are deceived, who judge the office of an apostle in the same way that they judge worldly offices, that is, according to the outward appearance.
• (a) That nature which is inclined to mercy, rather than to rigor of justice.

10:2 Yes, I beg you that I may not, when present, show courage with the confidence with which I intend to be bold against some, who consider us to be walking according to the flesh.

• (b) As though I had no other aid and help than that which outwardly I seem to have: and therefore Paul contrasts his flesh, that is, his weak condition and state, with his spiritual and apostolic dignity.

10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we don't wage war according to the flesh;

• (2) Secondly, he witnesses that although he is similar to other men, yet he comes furnished with that strength which no defence of man can match, whether they resist by craft and deceit, or by force and might, because he battles with divine weapons.

10:4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the throwing down of strongholds,

• (c) Are not those weapons that men get authority over one another with, and do great acts.
• (d) Stand upon the foundation of God’s infinite power.

10:5 throwing down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ;

• (3) An amplification of this spiritual power, which conquers the enemies in such a way, be they ever so crafty and mighty, that it brings some of them by repentance to Christ, and justly avenges others that are stubbornly obstinate, separating them from the others who allow themselves to be ruled.

10:6 and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience will be made full.

10:7 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 also we are Christ's.

• (4) He emphasises the same matter with very weighty words and sentences.
• (e) Do you judge things according to the outward appearance?
• (f) Not being told about it by me.

10:8 For though I should boast somewhat abundantly concerning our authority, (which the Lord gave for building you up, and not for casting you down) I will not be disappointed,

• (g) He notes out those who were the cause of these words.

10:9 that I may not seem as if I desire to terrify you by my letters.

10:10 For, "His letters," they say, "are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech is despised."

10:11 Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such are we also in deed when we are present.

10:12 For we are not bold to number or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves. But they themselves, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are without understanding.

• (5) Being forced to refute the foolish braggings of certain ambitious men, he witnesses that they are able to bring nothing, but that they falsely think highly of themselves. And as for himself, although he brags of excellent things, yet he will not pass the bounds which God has measured him out. And according to these bounds he came even to them in preaching the Gospel of Christ, and trusts that he will go further, when they have so profited that he will not need to remain any longer among them to instruct them. And to this is added an amplification, in that he never followed the labours of other men.
• (h) This is spoken in a taunting manner.
• (i) Upon a vain persuasion that they have of themselves, they attribute to themselves anything at all.
• (k) They condemn others, and measure all their doings only by themselves.

10:13 But we will not boast beyond proper limits, but within the boundaries with which God appointed to us, which reach even to you.

• (l) Of those things which God has not measured to me.

10:14 For we don't stretch ourselves too much, as though we didn't reach to you. For we came even as far as to you with the Good News of Christ,

10:15 not boasting beyond proper limits in other men's labors, but having hope that as your faith grows, we will be abundantly enlarged by you in our sphere of influence,

• (m) As though God had divided the whole world among the apostles to be governed.

10:16 so as to preach the Good News even to the parts beyond you, not to boast in what someone else has already done.

• (n) In countries which other men have prepared and cultivated with the preaching of the Gospel.

10:17 But "he who boasts, let him boast in the Lord."[10]

• (6) He somewhat moderates that which he spoke of himself, and in so doing also prepares the Corinthians to hear other things, witnessing that he seeks nothing else but to approve himself to God, whose glory alone he seeks.

10:18 For it isn't he who commends himself who is approved, but whom the Lord commends.