People's New Testament Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you: 10:1 Judaizing False Teachers Rebuked
SUMMARY OF II CORINTHIANS 10: Paul's Personal Appeal. His Weapons Spiritual. What Was Said of His Bodily Presence. What He Will Be When Present. Concerning Boasting. The Saint May Glorify in the Lord Only. Now I Paul. Thus far in this epistle Paul has associated himself with Timothy and his fellow-laborers (2Co 1:1). He has spoken in the plural. Now he uses the singular, and there will be seen in the 10th and 11th chapters a tone of severity contrasted with the gentleness and love of those that precede. Those chapters are addressed to the church which had as a body cleared itself of fault. There was, however, a faction who opposed him, who disparaged his claims as an apostle, and he now speaks for the benefit of these. This accounts for the change of style and tone. Since the opposition was to him personally, he speaks in person. I repeat what has been before said, that this opposition came mainly from the Judaizing Christians who thought Paul had gone wrong in not requiring Gentile Christians to come under the bondage of the Jewish law. Who in presence am base among you. Lowly. His first letter had been stern. See 1Co 5:11-13. The opposers said that he was very gentle when present, but bold when absent. But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. 10:2 I beseech you. He asks that, when he comes, he may not have to exercise that boldness which he fears he will have to use in censuring some opposers. He desires that all may so act that he can be lowly and gentle when present.
As if we walked according to the flesh. Were led by worldly motives. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 10:3 We walk in the flesh. He is in the body, but though in the flesh does not use fleshly weapons in his warfare.
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare, etc. Since these were not carnal, the might was not in human strength, but in God who gave them power to overcome the strongholds of sin.
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 10:5 Casting down imaginations. The sophistries of philosophy. By these weapons the soul is rescued, delivered, and brought to the obedience of Christ.
And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. 10:6 To revenge all disobedience. These spiritual weapons are ready to punish all disobedience at Corinth, when time had been given for all who are disposed to be obedient to show it.
Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's. 10:7 Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? The Revised Version omits the question. Perhaps his opposers claimed some external advantages, that they were from Judea, had been disciples of Christ on earth, etc.
If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's. If such an one claimed to be Christ's on this, or any ground, Paul had equal claims. For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed: 10:8 Though I should boast... I should not be ashamed. A comparison of claims to privilege and authority would not put him to shame.
Not for your destruction. His power and authority were given to save men; he desires not to have to use them to fulminate censures. That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters. 10:9,10 That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters. His enemies said that his letters were weighty and stern, but his presence was very different. In other words, he terrified by empty threats.
For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible. 10:9,10 That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters. His enemies said that his letters were weighty and stern, but his presence was very different. In other words, he terrified by empty threats.
Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present. 10:11 Let such an one think this. Let all who make such statements know that when I come I will in presence do just as I have written.
For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. 10:12 We dare not make ourselves of the number. This no doubt ironically alludes to teachers who had come to Corinth making lofty claims, to whom repeated allusions are made.
They measuring themselves by themselves, etc. These set themselves up as the standard by which all Christian teachers were to be tried. But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you. 10:13 We will not boast of things without our measure. Will not, like those just alluded to, suffer our boasting to carry us beyond all bounds.
But according to the measure, etc. We confine ourselves simply to the line of action assigned to us by the Lord. To reach even unto you. The line assigned by the Lord sent Paul to the Gentiles (Ga 2:7-9). For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ: 10:14 For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure. This verse renders clearer the thought in those preceding. The Judaizers said that Paul had exceeded his commission in coming to Corinth, that he had no authority there. He asserts that not he, but they had gone beyond the measure. Others were apostles to the circumcision; he and Barnabas to the uncircumcision. When he came to Europe he was sent by the Spirit (Ac 16:9).
Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly, 10:15 Not boasting... of other men's labours. It was Paul's uniform course to preach where no one before him had preached the gospel.
Having hope, etc. The passage expresses the hope that his success at Corinth and the support of the church will enable him to carry the gospel beyond. That city, at this time, was the western limit of his work. The thought is made clear by the next verse. To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand. 10:16 To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. Where no man has yet preached.
But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. 10:17 But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. Quoted from Jer 11:23. It gives the true rule of boasting. Let the Lord be our boast, for we are nothing.
For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth. 10:18 Whom the Lord commandeth is the one who hath approval; not he who commends himself; a hint to every disciple and preacher. Let our works and life speak for us, not our lips. The People's New Testament by B.W. Johnson [1891] Bible Hub |
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