2 Corinthians 10
18 verses
Paul shifts tone and topic, addressing directly the criticisms of his apostolic authority lodged by false apostles: he is 'meek and gentle when present but bold when absent in letters,' a charge he turns into occasion for theological reflection on the nature of apostolic power. The weapons of apostolic warfare 'are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds'—a military metaphor applied to spiritual combat wherein apostolic authority operates not through physical coercion or rhetorical display but through the power of truth and the Spirit to demolish ideological fortifications. The call to 'take every thought captive to obey Christ'—to capture disobedient reasoning and subject it to Christ's lordship—establishes that the warfare is epistemological and theological, a battle for the mind and its orientation toward truth. Paul's boasting principle—'we do not boast beyond our measure, but within the field God assigned to us'—insists that his authority extends precisely to the Corinthians (whom he founded) and reflects divine appointment rather than self-assertion or competitive claiming of status. The principle 'whoever boasts, let him boast in the Lord'—echoing Jeremiah 9:23-24—redirects boasting away from human achievement and toward God's work and choice. Paul's criticism of the false apostles—'we do not dare to classify ourselves with those who commend themselves; self-commendation is worthless'—emphasizes that apostolic legitimacy cannot be self-awarded or measured by human standards (the false apostles' ostensible qualifications in rhetoric and charisma), but must be affirmed by God and evidenced in the community's transformation and obedience. This chapter sets up the fool's speech of chapters 11-12 as a sarcastic inversion of the false apostles' boasting.
VERSES IN THIS CHAPTER
1
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:
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2
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.
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3
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
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4
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
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5
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;
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6
And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
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7
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.
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8
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:
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9
That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters.
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Reading the Psalms alongside this gives a fuller picture of what the author was experiencing — both the anguish and the ...
10
For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.
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11
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.
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12
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.
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The thread of covenant runs through every book of the Bible.. Their context of persecution gives these words a weight we...
13
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.
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The thread of covenant runs through every book of the Bible.. This is one of those passages that reads differently in ev...
14
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:
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15
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,
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16
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.
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17
But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
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18
For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.
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