More Than Enoughਨਮੂਨਾ

In today’s passage, Paul addressed “certain people” (v. 2) who were interlopers in the Corinthian church. These interlopers were most certainly some brand of Judaizer. Since the Judaizers will play a major role in the rest of our study, let’s refresh our memory on who they were. The Judaizers were self-professed Jewish Christians who taught that faith in Christ was not complete without following the law of Moses. They had ulterior motives for teaching, and their teachings led God’s people astray into false belief and misguided or immoral practices.

These interlopers followed a prominent cultural trend in Ancient Greece, highly popular in Corinth itself, where excellent rhetoric—containing the speaker’s heroic spiritual exploits and accomplishments—was valued. Boasting, self-commendation, and receiving large sums of money from their followers was common and approved. Showmanship, haughtiness, and charisma were prized; humility and servanthood, to them, were considered weakness, anathema to their reputation.

Therefore, these teachers looked down on Paul, regarding him as living “according to the flesh” (10:2), which, in this instance, meant substandard or inferior spirituality. In their evaluation, he was feeble and ineffective when physically present with the church and bold only when writing from afar.

With a growing influence on the Corinthian church, they called into question whether Paul belonged to Christ because they were sure that anyone with such a weak physical presence and contemptible speech could not belong to the victorious Christ. With this brief introduction in mind, let’s explore the text.

Read 2 Corinthians 10:1-11.

What Does The Passage Say?

In verse one, Paul made his appeal by Christ, and specified that the character of that appeal was in line with Christ in meekness and gentleness. In verse two Paul shares that he planned to challenge certain people who held accusations against him when he arrived.

What did Paul’s opponents have against him? From this passage we can gather the following accusations:

Verse 1: Paul is humble in person but bold when absent.

Verse 2: he is living according to the flesh.

Verse 8: he boasts about his authority.

Verses 9-10: his letters are terrifying and powerful but his presence is weak.

In verses 4-5 Paul states that he wages war against strongholds, arguments, and anything that opposes the knowledge of God. And in verse 8 Paul says that his God-given authority was to be used for building up the Corinthian church, not tearing them down.

What Does The Passage Mean?

Paul began his appeal by referencing himself three times: “I, Paul, myself, appeal to you.” Why do you think he did that?

Paul contrasted the word boldness with the words meekness, gentleness, and humility. He

valued those characteristics because those were qualities Christ demonstrated. While his opponents valued haughty boldness, Paul appealed to the church from a place of lowliness, desiring to relate to them as Jesus would.

Because these humble virtues are essential to understanding Paul and, even more, understanding our Savior, let’s make sure we grasp what they mean.In Matthew 11:29, Jesus describes himself as “lowly and humble in heart.” In Philippians 4:5 we see the Greek word for gentleness translated as graciousness (CSB), or reasonableness (ESV).

Philippians 2:6-8 is a great example of how Jesus’s actions can help us define humility. He was equal with God, yet emptied Himself, coming to earth as a man and dying a criminal’s death, all for our sake.

Read 1 Peter 2:22-23 to see Jesus’s meekness described: “He did not commit sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth; when he was insulted, he did not insult in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten but entrusted himself to the one who judges justly.”

In Colossians 3:12 and 1 Peter 5:5-6, we’re told to “clothe” ourselves with humility. How can we “clothe” ourselves with meekness, gentleness, and humility?

Paul didn’t attempt to utilize culturally prized rhetorical methods to please his audience. Instead he came in weakness, lowliness, and humility. In 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 he explains to us why: “so that your faith might not be based on human wisdom but on God’s power” (v.5).

Take some time to consider: How do we distinguish whether a speaker or teacher is demonstrating a God-given spiritual gift of teaching or if they, like Paul’s opponents, are relying only on charisma and showmanship?

In verses 3-5, Paul used military terms to refute his opponents, calling to mind a commonly used tactic to wage war in the ancient world. Walled cites contained strongholds—fortified towers that were easily defended. If the city walls failed, the defending army could make a stubborn stand there. However, the advantage was always to the offensive army, who could lay siege to the

tower. Eventually, the stronghold would fall. Paul’s opponents were waging a spiritual war with human weapons: splashy rhetoric and personal charisma. However, Paul waged war with God’s tools— faith, righteousness, the gospel, the Word, prayer—which may not be flashy, and to the world might seem weak, but they are powerful to demolish sinful thought patterns that stand in haughty defiance to the knowledge of God.

How Must I Respond?

Do you pursue or “put on” humility, gentleness, and meekness in your life? Think of a difficult situation you’re currently facing that is causing conflict, pain, or consternation. How would intentionally “putting on” humility help you deal with the situation? What might it lead you to do, or how would it affect your response?

We also do not fight against flesh and blood, so we must daily rely on God’s weapons for the battle. What do spiritual battles look like in the grind of daily life? What do you tend to rely on in distress or trial other than God’s weapons? What practice or discipline will you incorporate into your life to make God’s weapons more accessible to you?

As you wrap up your study today, take time to process your responses to these questions in a time of prayer to the Lord. Ask Him to help you as you seek to put on Christlike humility and rely on His power in your daily life.

For more of this study by Christine Hoover, visit lifeway.com/morethanenough.