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Paul Defends His Ministry
10 I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!—I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of walking according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.
Look at what is before your eyes. If anyone is confident that he is Christ’s, let him remind himself that just as he is Christ’s, so also are we. For even if I boast a little too much of our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be ashamed. I do not want to appear to be frightening you with my letters. For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.” Let such a person understand that what we say by letter when absent, we do when present. Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.
But we will not boast beyond limits, but will boast only with regard to the area of influence God assigned to us, to reach even to you. For we are not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach you. For we were the first to come all the way to you with the gospel of Christ. We do not boast beyond limit in the labors of others. But our hope is that as your faith increases, our area of influence among you may be greatly enlarged, so that we may preach the gospel in lands beyond you, without boasting of work already done in another’s area of influence. “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.
(ESV)
2 Corinthians 10 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
Most likely, Paul was dealing with a false teacher or many false teachers who had infiltrated the Corinthian church and discredited his ministry and teaching. He pivots here in chapter 10 to bring correction to the false teacher(s). The topic of contention was Paul’s so-called two-faced persona. Some of the Corinthians believed that Paul was a poser because he was (in their opinion) meek in person but bold in his letters. They thought Paul was too meek to confront in person and that’s why he was so bold in his letters. We read this in verse 10.
For it is said, “His letters are weighty and powerful, but his physical presence is weak and his public speaking amounts to nothing.”
2 Corinthians 10:10 CSB
The problem facing the Corinthian church was that they didn’t understand servant leadership. They saw a contradiction between his gentleness and his boldness and labeled him a fake. People do this all the time today. Many naturally gravitate toward leaders who are arrogant and boastful, and if we sense even a tiny bit of meekness, that person is not fit to lead. The problem is that Paul was modeling Jesus Christ who was both meek and bold.
The weapons Paul fought with were spiritual by nature, not carnal. He was not concerned with being the most charismatic or popular pastor. His primary concern was building the church and God had given him the authority to do just that.
When we read all of Paul’s letters, it is clear that he refrained from talking about himself unless it was absolutely necessary. When you look at the disobedient justification and sinful questioning that was going on in Corinth, this was one of those times. What is ironic to consider is that the Corinthians were being critical of Paul because they believed he lacked something.
For we don’t dare classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. But in measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves to themselves, they lack understanding.
2 Corinthians 10:12 CSB
“They are not sent of God; they are not inspired by his Spirit; therefore they have no rule to think or act by. They are also full of pride and self-conceit; they look within themselves for accomplishments which their self-love will soon find out; for to it real and fictitious are the same.”
Adam Clarke
By their own statement of complaining and criticizing, the church at Corinth revealed their priorities were not aligned with God. Being without understanding, they were trying to bring themselves up while tearing Paul down. But he would not play their games.
So let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord. [18] For it is not the one commending himself who is approved, but the one the Lord commends.
2 Corinthians 10:17-18 CSB
Paul was confident the Lord had called Him. He was secure in who he was and what he was called to do. His identity was firmly planted in Christ.