Written ~ 09-06-2024
Read 2 Corinthians Chapter Ten
2 Corinthians 10
In our chapter today we will see a change in Paul’s narrative. The first nine chapters of 2 Corinthians were directed to the believers at the church of Corinth. But starting with chapter ten and on through chapter thirteen, Paul is speaking to a different crowd, these were intruders. The people who Paul was addressing now were throwing doubt on the authority Paul had been given by the Lord. They were questioning the boldness in his letters when he seemed to be just a timid and weak man in person. This was causing a lot of confusion within the church. Paul will show us that we are at constant war, not a human war, but a spiritual one. So, in the next few chapters, Paul will need to dispute the allegations being thrown at him from people who called themselves Christians but couldn’t see the authority given to Paul by the Lord.
2 Corinthians 10:1-2…
1 “Now I, Paul, appeal to you with the gentleness and kindness of Christ — though I realize you think I am timid in person and bold only when I write from far away. 2 Well, I am begging you now so that when I come I won’t have to be bold with those who think we act from human motives.”
So, what was Paul disputing? He was being accused of being bold in his letters, but timid in person. Whoever these people were, they didn’t understand why Paul’s letters were so stern and in person he was anything but. It’s obvious they knew him personally because they thought of him as only a weak, timid old man. They felt he was hiding behind his words written on paper, but they didn’t feel he could be bold like that when a face-to-face confrontation was warranted. What they probably had not experienced was his boldness and confidence when speaking a word of truth from the Scriptures. All throughout the Books of Acts, Paul is repeatedly described as bold, courageous and confident. Paul’s defense was that he could come to the people in stern boldness, just as they saw in his letters, but that was not how he wanted to conduct his upcoming visit. In verse 10:2 Paul says, “…I am begging you now so that when I come I won’t have to be bold…” Paul was not anticipating this kind of push back as he planned his visit to Corinth. His visit was to be filled with joy and encouragement. He did not want to go to Corinth with the air of sternness as expressed in his letter.
Paul knows this group of people are trying to discredit him, but he is not going to allow them to wage war on him and his companions. Paul is also making a point here, that the people he was addressing, only saw his actions as though he were doing everything by his own initiative, they did not understand that the authority Paul displayed, was from the Almighty God. Verse 10:2b continues by saying, “…those who think we act from human motives…” Back in 2 Corinthians 2:17 it says, “You see, we are not like the many “hucksters” (hagglers, peddlers) who preach for personal profit. We preach the Word of God with sincerity and with Christ’s authority.” Paul was making it very clear, he was not preaching the Word of God for profit, he was speaking the truth because that’s what the Holy Spirit compelled him to do.
2 Corinthians 10:3…
3 “We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do.”
One of Paul’s defense statements was, “…We are human…” Seems like such a strange thing to say. But the point Paul is making was that even though he is human, just like everyone else, he did not speak through his human intelligence, his actions weren’t coming from his own drive or ambition, no, he did everything through the Holy Spirit. Paul’s motives strictly came from the deep love he had for his Savior. So, when people came up against him with all sorts of opposition, this is what he says, “…but we don’t wage war as humans do…”
What war is Paul speaking of here? Was this in response to just those few people who didn’t believe Paul’s authority? Well, I believe it was everything. Everything Paul faced as an apostle of Jesus Christ was waging war against the Spirit of the Living God, Paul knew he was in opposition with the spirit of the world, not just the minds or the words or the actions of these people. Paul came against the god of this world who wanted to discredit Christ, he knew it wasn’t as simple as people wanting to discredit who he was.
As believers, when we stand up for the Word of God and we speak the truth with boldness and confidence, we will be met with opposition. It’s inevitable.
Even though Paul was responding to the attack from this particular crowd of people, verse 10:4 is something you and I need to be aware of and use in our defense as well…
2 Corinthians 10:4…
4 “We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.”
When we come up against any kind of opposition when speaking in the Name of Jesus, we are actually waging war with the enemy of God. What are the mighty weapons that God gives us? Knowing the Word of God, walking in the Truth of who Jesus Christ is, not backing down from the Truth when things get tough. Ephesians 6:10-18 lists every piece of the Armor of God, and it’s important to know how to use each piece. When we stand on the Truth and rely only on the Power of the Holy Spirit to work through us, we can be the instruments used by God that helps “to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.”
So, Paul’s accusers said that he didn’t look bold or confident, all they saw (from the outside, human view) was a man who was actually timid and weak. What they didn’t see was the army that stood with Paul. We may feel we walk only in timidity, shyness, weakness, fearfulness… but those are not the attributes God has given us… we walk with an army of angels, we draw our strength from the Holy Spirit, we have the breath of God flowing through our very souls and we have the blood of Jesus which marks us a warrior for the Kingdom of God.
2 Corinthians 10:5…
5 “We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.”
When Paul walks in a room, when you and I walk into a room, the Holy Spirit walks in with us… we have the Power of the Almighty God on our side! And look what Paul says that the Spirit of the Living God says we can do through Him!
- We destroy every proud obstacle
- We destroy those things that keep people from knowing God
- We capture their rebellious thoughts
- We teach them to obey Christ
We can’t do these things in our own strength or with our own human initiative behind our plans! No, it’s the Lord God Almighty!! He’s the One that (through us) does every one of those things. Paul knows this! When he comes to meet with his spiritual children, he comes in humility, timidity and weakness, he doesn’t welcome them with fury, boldness and sternness. When reprimand is needed, then it is done in such a way to get the best results. If Paul were to always go to believers in a whirlwind of severity, he wouldn’t get very far in his stern pleading for them to repent their sinful behaviors. Yes, his letters were harsh, but he needed to grab their attention in that way. But when he gets to see them in person, he wants to lavish them with encouragement, with love, with fellowship. And sure, it may look like, to some, that he is weak and timid, but believe me, he is not.
Paul goes on to say…
2 Corinthians 10:6…
6 “And after you have become fully obedient, we will punish everyone who remains disobedient.”
Paul’s whole ministry was based on one fact and one fact only… Jesus Christ is the Son of God and He rose again from the dead so we could have Eternal Life. Paul preached this news to everyone who would listen. He made it his life mission to spread the Gospel message, but not only that, he was a mentor, he made sure these new converts would be discipled. Paul wanted to make sure they grew in their knowledge of Scripture and yes, at times he had to bring heavy reprimand for those who would not obey the commands of the Lord, especially when they professed to be Christians.
The next part of our passage for today, Paul turns his attention on the entire crowd of people who were doubting his authority. He was going to turn the tables on them, he was going to throw some doubt their way and question if they truly belonged to the Lord.
2 Corinthians 10:7…
7 “Look at the obvious facts. Those who say they belong to Christ must recognize that we belong to Christ as much as they do.”
Have you ever been somewhere and just by sensing someone else’s countenance, you seem to just know they are a believer too? We may not realize, as we go about our day, that the Holy Spirit is moving… and if someone else standing nearby is a believer, your spirits can unite and give recognition to the fact that both of you are believers. This is why we need to keep our eyes and ears open to what the Lord wants to show us during the day! We must have our “Spidey Senses” clued into the Holy Spirit in order to watch and listen…
So, what Paul was saying in this statement, as another defense to his character being discredited, was if they truly belonged to Christ, they would know his authority came from the Lord and only from the Lord.
2 Corinthians 10:8…
8 “I may seem to be boasting too much about the authority given to us by the Lord. But our authority builds you up; it doesn’t tear you down. So I will not be ashamed of using my authority.”
As believers and FOLLOWERS of Jesus Christ we should never be ashamed of using the Name of Jesus, or shy away from using the authority given to us by the Holy Spirit to revive people back to Christ. It isn’t by our own self-absorption that we promote a better life through human means. We aren’t to seek accolades because we live a godly life, or that we walk in the authority of the Holy Spirit… No, we are to live according to Scripture and walk with boldness and confidence because Jesus Christ the Son of God resides within us, and we have this kind of news to share with everyone! If we are going to brag or boast about anything, it is this fact…
2 Corinthians 10:17-18…
17 “As the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.”
18 When people commend themselves, it doesn’t count for much. The important thing is for the Lord to commend them.”
Let the Lord do the “talking” through you, let the Light of the Lord shine through you! It should be Jesus who everyone sees when they come into contact with us. So, whether we must come with sternness and reprimand or timidity and weakness… we do everything because it’s Christ who lives within us.
~AMEN~