In Paul's Defense

A Pleading Apostle

Chapter 10 is a change in tone for the Apostle. We find him defending himself against the false teachers and those who had accused him of a variety of things. We will look into this more closely when we get to verses 9-11, but right now let’s focus on verses 1-2 and see how Paul chooses to respond...

Meekness and Boldness (2 Corinthians 10:1-2)

2 Corinthians 10:1–2 “Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you. But I beg you that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.”

This chapter begins by Paul PLEADING with the Corinthians, not in a haughty or derogatory way, but rather he pleads with them “by the meekness and gentleness of Christ.”

Some would look at meekness and gentleness as a liability, but Paul had embraced the meekness and gentleness of Christ in order to deal with the Corinthians and the issue at hand. We will find later that Paul’s critics pointed to this as one of Paul’s weaknesses, but if following Christ’s example is considered weakness by false teachers, so be it. Our marching orders come from Jesus not our critics!

Paul readily admitted that no one should interpret his meekness for weakness. He had been BOLD in his first letter and continues to be BOLD, and if necessary will be BOLD on his next visit. But he is BOLD because he loves and cares for them and cannot stand by while they are led astray by these wolves and false teachers.

He understands he may have to do battle against these false teachers, but doing battle is nothing new for the Apostle Paul. Notice the battle he speaks of in the next few verses...

The Weapons of Warfare (2 Corinthians 10:3-6)

2 Corinthians 10:3–6 “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.”

Verse 3: Paul begins this section by acknowledging something he has in common with the “human condition.” He is a man who walks in the “flesh” like everyone else. While the flesh can sometimes refer to our “corrupt, sinful nature”, the idea here is just the fact that he lives and works in and through a human body, with all its limitations just like everyone else. Even though he lives in a frail, human body, he has learned that his battle is not with FLESH and BLOOD and he doesn’t battle through the POWER of flesh and blood. Notice...

Verse 4: Paul does not use “carnal” (fleshly) weapons to fight spiritual battles. Fleshly weapons that were being used by his opponents may have included: human cleverness, eloquence of speech, personal charisma, psychological manipulation, and intimidation.

In contrast to these, Paul says the weapons that he uses in this spiritual battle are weapons that are “mighty in God” and are used to pull down strongholds. He may have been thinking about the defensive armor he lists in Ephesians 6 and the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.

Paul reminds the Corinthians that the spiritual weapons he is referring to are capable of “pulling down strongholds.” The teacher’s guide suggests that “strongholds” refer to a fortified position within a walled city...Spiritual weapons have the ability to even pull down these fortified places.

Notice what else he talks about in 2 Corinthians 10:5 “casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,”

These spiritual weapons enable us to “cast down” arguments and high things. Arguments refer to: theories, human opinions, and sophisticated reasoning over the enemies of the Gospel. High things refer to elevated opinions that seek to keep God out of the conversation.

He also wants to bring thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ. He wants to bring people’s motives, judgments, and plans to the submissive will of Jesus.

Notice 2 Corinthians 10:6 “and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.”

As Paul concludes this section, He mentions once again those who are causing problems and living in disobedience. If necessary he is willing and able to bring strict discipline against them, but he’s hoping the Corinthian church will be obedient and deal with it themselves so he doesn’t have to.

Not only does Paul plead with the Corinthians, but he also...

Counters the Critics

A Question of Authority (2 Corinthians 10:7-8)

2 Corinthians 10:7–8 “Do you look at things according to the outward appearance? If anyone is convinced in himself that he is Christ’s, let him again consider this in himself, that just as he is Christ’s, even so we are Christ’s. For even if I should boast somewhat more about our authority, which the Lord gave us for edification and not for your destruction, I shall not be ashamed—”

Sadly these false teachers had influenced the Corinthians to make assumptions about people in regard to their “outward appearance.” Of course we know that Scripture reminds us that God does not look at the outward appearance, but the heart. One can have “external advantages” such as personal appearance, social standing, impressive resumes, and be consumed with “self-promotion.”

None of those things have anything to do with a person’s HEART! The Corinthians had become influenced by these false teachers to evaluate others and their spiritual leadership based on worldly standards, rather than spiritual discernment.

Paul makes it clear that being “in Christ” and being “servants of Christ” is not based upon one’s appearance or abilities. As we know it’s based on GRACE!

In verse 8 Paul reminds the Corinthians that his authority and apostleship was not given to him because of who he was, what he looked like, where he was from, etc, but rather it was given to Him by the Lord Himself and it was given to him for a purpose. It was not to exalt and elevate himself, but rather to EDIFY others! It was given to Paul to EDIFY the church. The false teachers were using the church to BUILD THEMSELVES, Paul was using his authority and apostleship to BIULD THE CHURCH!

Answering an Accusation (2 Corinthians 10:9-11)

2 Corinthians 10:9–11 “lest I seem to terrify you by letters. “For his letters,” they say, “are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.” Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such we will also be in deed when we are present.”

Another criticism Paul faced is that his letters came with a lot of “bark” but no “bite.” They had assumed because Paul, who may have been small in stature and in appearance was not impressive, and his oratory ability not the best, that somehow his spiritual state was a reflection of his physical state. However, that was not the case.

Not only that some commentators have suggested that the false teachers believed that Paul “roared like a lion” in his letters, but when he showed up he would be a docile “house cat.” Paul assures them that will not be the case. If necessary, he can “roar” when he arrives in Corinth, but of course he hopes he doesn’t have to.

A Standard of Comparison

In the next few verses we find that Paul has no desire to get trapped in the comparison game. That was a ploy of the false teachers, but it should not be common practice by followers of Christ. Notice verse 12...

Evaluation by Self (2 Corinthians 10:12)

2 Corinthians 10:12 “For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.”

Do you see the irony and biting sarcasm Paul has toward these false teachers? There is no way we would win a comparison game with them...

The problem is the false teachers were “measuring themselves by themselves.” In other words they had formed what Dr. Pic calls a “mutual admiration society.” They served as their own benchmark and used self-centered, worldly criteria to define what was acceptable. As a result the Apostle Paul “fell short” in their eyes.

Paul didn’t play their little game. He recognized the foolishness of it and realized that the only one he needed to be focused on pleasing was the LORD Himself!

Evaluation by Sphere (2 Corinthians 10:13-16)

In 2 Corinthians 10:13-14 notice what Paul says:

2 Corinthians 10:13–14 NKJV

We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us—a sphere which especially includes you. For we are not overextending ourselves (as though our authority did not extend to you), for it was to you that we came with the gospel of Christ;

He is not going to boast in the meaningless things he mentioned previously, but rather his focus is going to be on the “limits” that God has appointed.

Geographical Boundaries: Paul was primarily the Apostle to the Gentiles. He focus was taking the Gospel to unreached regions. One of these places was CORINTH!

God’s Standard not theirs: Paul is not going to waste his time focused on pleasing these false teachers. God had given him a sphere to focus on and that’s what he’s going to focus on!

In verse 14 Paul emphasizes that he hasn’t gone beyond his God given authority or overstepping his bounds.

Now notice 2 Corinthians 10:15–16 “not boasting of things beyond measure, that is, in other men’s labors, but having hope, that as your faith is increased, we shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere, to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s sphere of accomplishment.”

Another thing that Paul is not interested in is taking credit for other people’s labors and accomplishments. We can assume he mentions this because some of his critics were doing exactly that. For that matter, since they were false teachers, they really had NO DIVINE JURISDICTION or CALLING for that matter.

Paul also mentions in this text that he wants the Corinthian’s faith to be “increased.” Sadly, because of all the problems mentioned in 1 Corinthians and the trouble caused by these false-teachers, the spiritual growth that the Corinthians should have experienced has been stymied.

Hopefully as they move past this and grow themselves, they can be tools to enable Paul’s ministry to expand even further...the preach the Gospel in the regions beyond them. (v. 16)

Evaluation by the Lord (2 Corinthians 10:17-18)

2 Corinthians 10:17–18 “But “he who glories, let him glory in the Lord.” For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.”

As this chapter concludes Paul encourages the Corinthians that it’s ok to glory, as long as the glory is directed to the proper One!

This is similar to the challenge the Prophet Jeremiah gave:

Jeremiah 9:23–24 “Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the Lord.”

Tony Evans said:

Self-approval carries no weight, no legitimacy. But when you boast in God rather than in yourself, you will align yourself with God’s kingdom agenda. And when you do, you’ll obtain the only approval that matters, the approval of the King.