Introduction Paul s attention turns from the subject of giving and Paul returns to the issue of his apostolic calling. In the next few chapters Paul will address some of the accusations that have been made against him. Paul s reply gives us clues; there were some in Corinth who did not believe that Paul was a genuine apostle. Paul had no credentials from Jerusalem, people accused Paul of insincerity and his physical appearance was not all that impressive. Some accused Paul of resorting to worldly means and methods in his ministry. Paul is not paranoid or insecure. Paul is really defending the apostolic office and the message of Jesus. In Corinth there were false teachers who insisted on mixing Judaism and the Gospel. In answering his critics Paul is not simply defending himself he is answering Satan (vv.13-15). In this short chapter Paul will encourage the reader to follow Christ s example (v.1); use spiritual weapons (vv.2-6); refuse to judge by appearance only (vv.7-11); and let God both commend and defend your ministry (vv.12-18). Paul speaks of the Christian s attitude (vv.1-6); authority (vv. 7-11) and approval (vv.12-18). The theme of the chapter and point of Paul s argument may be found in the last verse; in the end the measure of approval must come from Christ rather than self (v.18). Criticism And Accusation (vv.1-2) 2 Corinthians 10:1 (NKJV)1Now 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. Paul speaks for himself. He pleads rather than dictates. Paul bases his appeal upon the meekness and gentleness of Jesus (Weymouth: gentleness and reasonableness of Christ). By the way--this is one of the few places were Paul points to the earthly ministry of Jesus rather than his risen and ascended ministry. Paul describes his ministry as lowly in your presence--but being absent exercising courage. who in presence am lowly (base the adjective tapeinos--meant low--lowly undistinguished--and in a bad sense subservient abject AG p.811). Paul s critics accuse Paul of being timid (lowly). Paul of course is being using irony with just the slightest hint of sarcasm. The critics accused Paul of being a coward in their presence but now in absence bold (tharreo--bold courageous). Human beings love celebrity. The Corinthians were taken in by the Preachers from Palestine even though they were preaching a message that mixed law and grace--a message that the true Christian must observe and keep the Jewish law. These Judaizers preached a false gospel (11:4) and were taking unfair advantage of the Christians (11:18-20). 1
Wiersbe:...they were welcomed by the church and honored above Paul, who had founded the church and risked his life for it. Paul is so weak! these teachers said, as they lorded it over the church. Follow us, because we display real power! If I am weak, Paul replied, it is not weakness--it is the meekness of Christ (see v.1). Christ never lorded it over people; His power was exercised in meekness and humility. Meekness is not weakness; meekness is power under control, the ability to be angry at sin, yet willing to suffer abuse for the sake of Christ (see Wiersbe s Outlines; p. 502). 2But 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. Some accused Paul of carnality; of walking after the flesh. This could mean several things. That Paul wasn t really saved--born again. That Paul was preaching and ministering in the flesh--not really called by God. Perhaps Paul was ungodly or immoral seeking only to please himself. Was Paul simply looking for a personal following--in order to sell his ideas or position--looking for personal recognition or honor. Paul promises to confront his accusers. I intend to be bold against some. Was Paul the object and subject of unjust criticism, injustice, ill-treatment, false report, personal abuse? I think so. What generated this attack? His labors in the gospel. For over a year and a half Paul had given himself to prayer and teaching in the region. When the churches attained some level of maturity and self-sufficiency Paul would move on. Since Paul left he heard of local enemies who were sent by Satan to sabotage his character and reputation. The false teachers had succeeded in seducing some in turning Paul s converts away from Paul and the gospel and hinder his usefulness and service. Paul moved out and others moved in--who had neither Paul s stature--or character--and worse-- they sought to build their reputations by destroying Paul s reputation. The false teachers sought to cement the people s affections--by destroying their affection for Paul. In order to be loved they insisted that Paul be hated; in order to be held in esteem--they felt Paul must be held in contempt. Still Paul s boldness is bathed in meekness and gentleness; Paul pleads with them twice in two verses to turn to the Lord--to turn away and repent of their unfounded attacks and false teaching so that Paul will not have to confront them! Paul s heart was that each member of the Church trust Jesus as Savior; hold to the truth of the gospel; stand fast in one spirit, in one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel (Phil. 1:27). Our Spiritual Battle (vv.3-5) 2
3For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. We are human. In the Bible the flesh is sometimes used to describe our human existence. The apostles were living in human bodies of flesh but did not wage warfare according to human or fleshly motives or methods. 4For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, The Christian does not use guns, swords, knives, modern weapons or the strategies of modern warfare in presenting and declaring and spreading the gospel. But those are not the only carnal methods the apostles suggest we not use. What do you mean? We may think that wealth or power or glory or fluency or influence or being clever can accomplish the goals of the gospel. Our methods are not carnal... Carnal methods are weak...empty really. Carnal methods are those methods approved by and used by carnal people. Paul was surrounded by all sorts of sinful philosophies and systems of thought and religion whose origins rested in the rebellion and disobedience of Satan and sinful men. Do you know what they all had in common? The failure to save sinners and solve the problem of sin! Human philosophy and religion cannot save a single sinner. Our weapons of warfare are...mighty in God... What are the methods that are mighty through God for the pulling down of strongholds? Faith in the living God. Prayer. Obedience to the Word of God. These are the effective weapons of every true soldier of the Lord Jesus Christ. Matthew Henry wrote; The Bible is a letter God has sent to us; prayer is a letter we send to him. We have failed to appreciate just how powerful our weapons are...faith in the living God. Prayer. Obedience to the Word of God. We contrast them with the weak and pitiful weapons of mankind. Rebellion, unbelief...doubt...disobedience. We look at the character of our weapons--spiritual through God. They connect the Christian with the invisible power of God. Our weapons link us with divine energy. We are united with irresistible power and might. Paul will elaborate on strongholds in the next verse. The word meant fortress...and here as a metaphor--for the thoughts and reasons people use to fortify opinion or defend suppositions or assertions. 3
5casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, Arthur S. Way renders this verse: I can batter down bulwarks of human reason, I can scale every crag-fortress that towers up, bidding defiance to the true knowledge of God. I can make each rebel purpose my prisoner-of war, and bow it into submission to Messiah. We belong to Jesus. We conquer by love rather than hate; by faith not flesh; by prayer and not by propaganda. How are we to conquer evil? Paul gives three strategies: 1. We cast down imaginations. 2. We cast down every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. 3. We capture our thoughts and bring them into obedience to Christ. The word translated arguments or imaginations (logismos) can mean reasonings or thoughts-- and here is used to mean the kind of thinking aimed at excluding God and revelation. Paul saw himself as a soldier warring against the proud reasonings of sinful human beings-- reasonings which look for explanations apart from God and apart from Christ. Reason is not the Christians enemy. Our opposition comes from scientists, evolutionists, philosophers, and religionists, who have no room for God or for the God of the Bible. We are not opposed to science or philosophy or religion. The Apostle did not feel the need to simply agree to disagree agreeably. The Apostle Paul does not leave reasonings and speculations that leave out God and Christ and the gospel to the idle speculations of mere men. Paul includes the word of God and the revelation of God and the gospel of Christ to inform our teachings, ideas, thoughts, and speculations. Paul does not condemn human reason or human reasoning. But there is a warning for those who exercise reason in defiance of God and Christ and disobedience to God and Christ. Our spiritual weapons include the promises of God and commands of God and the Word of God. The Bible is a book of divine power. The Word of God has survived all its enemies. The empire of Caesar is gone; the legions of Rome are moldering in the dust; the avanlanches that Napoleon hurled upon Europe have melted away; the pride of the Pharaohs has fallen; the pyramids they have raised to be their tombs are sinking every day in desert sands; Tyre is the rock for bleaching fishermen s nets; Sidon has scarcely left a wreck behind but the Word of God still survives. All things that threatened to extinguish it have only aided it; and only proves every 4
day how transient the noblest monument that man can build, how enduring is the least word God has spoken. Tradition has dug for it a grace; intolerance has served as a match to attempt to set it on fire; many a Judas has betrayed it with a kiss; many a Demas has forsaken it; but the Word of God still endures (see LIFE ENDURES Roy Laurin; p.191). Careful Discipline (v.6) 6and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. How does the minister deal with rebellion, disobedience, criticism? The genuine believer is given the opportunity to come forward. Paul is not afraid to punish disobedience. The Corinthians who were willing to come forward and submit to the truth were being given an opportunity to withdraw the challenge. Paul never acts in severity until he knew for sure--who stood in the truth--and who stands against the truth. Paul wants to make sure every means of repentance and correction had been exhausted. In what sense? This letter--in part should serve as a warning! What was the corrective action available to the church? Church discipline was discussed by Paul in 1 Corinthians 5:1-5; 6-13; and Matthew 18:15-20. How are we to think about church discipline? Paul wrote to Timothy (1 Tim.5:20); Them that sin rebuke before all, that others may fear. Titus 3:10; Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, (11) knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned. President Lincoln was once asked about his attitude toward his enemies. Why do you try to make friends of them? You should try to destroy them. Am I not destroying my enemies, Lincoln replied gently, when I make them my friends? Conclusion George Washington said, To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace. How does the Christian prepare for war? 5
We as Christians are citizens of two worlds. Earth and heaven. William Temple wrote; We (Christians at war) are called to the hardest of all tasks; to fight without hatred, to resist without bitterness, and in the end, if God grant it so, to triumph without vindictiveness. Winston Churchill once referred to his opponents in the British Parliament as those who were decided only to be undecided, resolved to be irresolute, adamant for drift, solid for fluidity, all powerful to be impotent. Paul is determined to be meek not weak. Paul refuses to resort to Satanic tactics. Paul will use God s mighty weapons to knock down Satan s strongholds. Later in this chapter Paul s enemies will say that Paul possesses no power or authority; he writes like a lion but in person is as weak as a lamb. Paul s response will surprise you. He possesses both the power and the authority of Jesus (7b) and they will soon discover that he is both a lion in pen and person. He will not compare himself with other men--but seek to conform himself to Christ (v.13). In the end Paul prays that the Corinthians faith will grow (vv.14-15); and that he be given the opportunity to preach the gospel to the regions beyond (vv.16-17) and that he be approved by God himself (v.18). 6