CHAPTER 10

(A.D. 60)

WARFARE

¹Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ (I appeal to you on the basis of love), who in presence am base among you (probably presents the Apostle using the actual taunts of his adversaries), but being absent am bold toward you:

²But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some (refers to the fact that Paul would only use boldness if it was absolutely necessary), which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. (Pauls enemies thought this way because they functioned in the flesh themselves, which means that they didnt have the Power of God.)

³For though we walk in the flesh (refers to the fact that we do not yet have Glorified Bodies), we do not war after the flesh (after our own ability, but rather by the Power of the Spirit):

⁴(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (carnal weapons consist of those which are man-devised), but mighty through God (the Cross of Christ [I Cor. 1:18]) to the pulling down of strong holds;)

⁵Casting down imaginations (philosophic strongholds; every effort man makes outside of the Cross of Christ), and every high thing that exalteth itself against the Knowledge of God (all the pride of the human heart), and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ (can be done only by the Believer looking exclusively to the Cross, where all Victory is found; the Holy Spirit will then perform the task);

⁶And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience (refers to that which is opposed to the Cross, where alone all Victory is found), when your obedience is fulfilled (is fulfilled when looking exclusively, as stated, to Christ and the Cross).

⁷Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? (It is Faith alone that counts.) If any man trust to himself that he is Christs, let him of himself think this again (refers to the false teachers who laid claims to being followers of Christ by way of eminence), that, as he is Christs, even so are we Christs. (Paul is simply saying that he is of Christ as well!)

⁸For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority (what the Lord had called him to do), which the Lord has given us for edification, and not for your destruction (the true purpose of Spiritual Authority), I should not be ashamed (no shame shall ever accrue to me from my boast being proved false):

⁹That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters (probably I and II Corinthians).

¹⁰For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful (presents the description given by his critics); but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible. (This presents slander concerning his person. His detractors didnt believe what he wrote or preached, especially as it concerned the Cross.)

¹¹Let such an one think this (directed at the individual of Verse 10, who made the accusation), that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present. (This referred to the fact that the Spirit of God would be with him.)

PAULS AUTHORITY

¹²For we dare not make ourselves of the number (the dividing line of the Church), or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves (but the Lord didnt commend them): but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise (self-righteousness).

¹³But we will not boast of things without our measure (refers to the Call of God on his life), but according to the measure of the rule which God has distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you. (This refers to Gods measurement as it concerned Ministry. In other words, where he would take the Gospel.)

¹⁴For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the Gospel of Christ (apparently Asia Minor and Europe were apportioned to the Apostle Paul as his Missionary field of Gospel Service):

¹⁵Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other mens labours (proclaims Paul stating that his Ministry had not overlapped into others field of endeavors); but having hope, when your Faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly (Paul was believing the Faith of the Corinthians would be increased in order that they might help him take the Gospel elsewhere, even as it had been brought to them),

¹⁶To Preach the Gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another mans line of things made ready to our hand. (He would Preach the Gospel where others had not ventured, and there build Churches. The truth is false apostles with false doctrines cannot get people saved, so these detractors would have to parasite Pauls converts.)

¹⁷But he who glories, let him Glory in the Lord. (The Apostle is saying that man has nothing to glory about, unless he Glory in the Lord.)

¹⁸For not he who commends himself is approved (proclaims Gods standard of approval), but whom the Lord commendeth. (This tells us that the Lord does not accept mans recommendations or accommodations. They mean nothing to Him.)