2 Corinthians 10
10
Paul Defends His Ministry
1I myself, Paul, appeal to 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!— 2I ask that when I am present I need not show boldness by daring to oppose those who think we are acting according to human standards.#10.2 Gk according to the flesh 3Indeed, we live as human beings,#10.3 Gk in the flesh but we do not wage war according to human standards;#10.3 Gk according to the flesh 4for the weapons of our warfare are not merely human,#10.4 Gk fleshly but they have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments 5and every proud obstacle raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ. 6We are ready to punish every disobedience when your obedience is complete.
7Look at what is before your eyes. If you are confident that you belong to Christ, remind yourself of this, that just as you belong to Christ, so also do we. 8Now, even if I boast a little too much of our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of it. 9I do not want to seem as though I am trying to frighten you with my letters. 10For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.” 11Let such people understand that what we say by letter when absent, we will also do when present.
12We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another, and compare themselves with one another, they do not show good sense. 13We, however, will not boast beyond limits, but will keep within the field that God has assigned to us, to reach out even as far as you. 14For we were not overstepping our limits when we reached you; we were the first to come all the way to you with the good news#10.14 Or the gospel of Christ. 15We do not boast beyond limits, that is, in the labors of others; but our hope is that, as your faith increases, our sphere of action among you may be greatly enlarged, 16so that we may proclaim the good news#10.16 Or the gospel in lands beyond you, without boasting of work already done in someone else's sphere of action. 17“Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” 18For it is not those who commend themselves that are approved, but those whom the Lord commends.
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New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989 Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
II Corinthians 10
10
The Spiritual War
1Now #Rom. 12:1I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—#1 Thess. 2:7who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you. 2But I beg you #1 Cor. 4:21; 2 Cor. 13:2, 10that 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. 3For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4#Eph. 6:13For the weapons #1 Cor. 9:7; (2 Cor. 6:7); 1 Tim. 1:18of our warfare are not carnal but #Acts 7:22mighty in God #Jer. 1:10; (2 Cor. 10:8; 13:10)for pulling down strongholds, 5#1 Cor. 1:19casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6#2 Cor. 13:2, 10and being ready to punish all disobedience when #2 Cor. 7:15your obedience is fulfilled.
Reality of Paul’s Authority
7#(John 7:24); 2 Cor. 5:12Do you look at things according to the outward appearance? #1 Cor. 1:12; 14:37If anyone is convinced in himself that he is Christ’s, let him again consider this in himself, that just as he is Christ’s, even so #(Rom. 14:8); 1 Cor. 3:23we are Christ’s. 8For even if I should boast somewhat more #2 Cor. 13:10about our authority, which the Lord gave us for edification and not for your destruction, #2 Cor. 7:14I shall not be ashamed— 9lest I seem to terrify you by letters. 10“For his letters,” they say, “are weighty and powerful, but #1 Cor. 2:3, 4; 2 Cor. 12:7; Gal. 4:13his bodily presence is weak, and his #(1 Cor. 1:17); 2 Cor. 11:6speech contemptible.” 11Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such we will also be in deed when we are present.
Limits of Paul’s Authority
12#2 Cor. 5:12For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. 13#2 Cor. 10:15We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us—a sphere which especially includes you. 14For we are not overextending ourselves (as though our authority did not extend to you), #1 Cor. 3:5, 6for it was to you that we came with the gospel of Christ; 15not boasting of things beyond measure, that is, #Rom. 15:20in other men’s labors, but having hope, that as your faith is increased, we shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere, 16to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s sphere of accomplishment.
17But #Is. 65:16; Jer. 9:24; 1 Cor. 1:31“he who glories, let him glory in the Lord.” 18For #Prov. 27:2not he who commends himself is approved, but #Rom. 2:29; (1 Cor. 4:5)whom the Lord commends.
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The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.