2 Corinthians · chapter 10 of 13
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2 Corinthians 10 begins Paul's defense before those who criticized him in Corinth. With the gentleness of Christ, he affirms that the weapons of his ministry are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds and take every thought captive to Christ. He rejects comparing himself with others and declares that whoever boasts should boast in the Lord.
With chapter 10 the tone of the letter changes. After the chapters on reconciliation and giving, Paul addresses a minority that still questioned him, and who were probably influenced by teachers who had come to Corinth and looked down on him. This chapter, together with the next two, is a defense of his apostleship, written with irony, firmness and pain.
Paul appeals to them by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, he who is humble when face to face with them but bold when away. He begs that when he is present he may not have to show the boldness with which he expects to be daring toward some who suspect him of walking according to the flesh.
Though they live in the flesh, they do not wage war according to the flesh. The weapons of their warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds, demolishing arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and taking every thought captive to obey Christ. They are ready to punish every disobedience, once the Corinthians' obedience is complete.
Paul invites them to look at what is before their eyes. If anyone is confident that he is Christ's, let him remind himself that Paul is too. Even if he boasts somewhat more about his authority, which the Lord gave for building up and not for tearing down, he will not be ashamed. Some say his letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak and his speech contemptible. Let such a person understand that what they are in word by letter when absent, they will be in deed when present.
Paul is ironic about those who measure and compare themselves with themselves, who are without understanding. He will not boast beyond limits but within the field God assigned him, which reached as far as Corinth. He is not overextending himself, for he was the first to come to them with the gospel of Christ. He hopes that as their faith grows, the field will extend so that he may preach the gospel beyond them, without boasting of work done by others. 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.
References follow ESV book names and verse numbers. Read each verse in your Bible before the explanation.
Paul appeals to them by the meekness and gentleness of Christ. His authority is not based on harshness but on following the character of the one he serves.
The weapons of his warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds, arguments and every lofty opinion against the knowledge of God, taking every thought captive to obey Christ. The Christian battle is spiritual and about ideas.
The Lord gave Paul authority for building up and not for tearing down. All authority in the church must be measured by whether it builds up people.
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. True approval comes from God.
6 questions with answers and references, ready for Sunday school, small group or a Bible quiz night.
Answer: By the meekness and gentleness of Christ. — 2 Corinthians 10:1
Answer: They are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. — 2 Corinthians 10:4
Answer: Take it captive to obey Christ. — 2 Corinthians 10:5
Answer: For building up and not for tearing down. — 2 Corinthians 10:8
Answer: That his letters were weighty and strong, but his bodily presence weak and his speech contemptible. — 2 Corinthians 10:10
Answer: In the Lord. — 2 Corinthians 10:17
2 Corinthians 10 is useful for those who lead. It shows that Christian authority is exercised with gentleness, to build up and not to dominate. A leader who feels criticized can learn from Paul to answer with clarity, without arrogance, and to trust the Lord's judgment.
The chapter also speaks of the battle of ideas. Taking every thought captive to Christ means examining what we believe and what we consume. In a class or small group, it can help to ask which arguments lead us away from God and how to respond with truth, without being pulled into comparison with others.
2 Corinthians 10 ends with the rule that approval comes from the Lord. In chapter 11 Paul will continue his defense with even stronger irony, speaking of false apostles and of what he has suffered for the gospel.
It is a military image: strongholds are the arguments and attitudes of pride that oppose the knowledge of God. Paul is not speaking of physical war but of the spiritual battle of ideas, fought with truth and with God's power.
It is to submit thought to the obedience of Christ, that is, to examine ideas in light of the gospel and reject those that oppose it. It is not about controlling each thought by one's own effort but about living under Christ's lordship.
Some in Corinth who judged him weak in person and skillful only by letter. They were probably influenced by teachers who had come from outside and boasted of credentials. Paul does not answer with pride, but by pointing to the fruit of his ministry and the field God assigned him.