The Epistles · Chapter 10 of 13

2 Corinthians 10

Paul shifts to a pointed defense of his apostolic authority against critics who dismissed his bodily presence as weak and his speech as unimpressive. He insists that though he walks in the flesh, his weapons are not fleshly but mighty in God to demolish strongholds and take every thought captive to Christ. He refuses to measure himself by self-commendation, insisting that the one who glories should glory in the Lord.

What happens in 2 Corinthians 10

Paul appeals to the Corinthians by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, acknowledging that critics call him timid in person yet bold in his letters. Though he lives in the flesh, he does not wage war in a fleshly way; his weapons are not carnal but powerful through God to pull down strongholds, casting down arguments and every proud thing that lifts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. He tells them to stop judging by outward appearance: anyone confident he belongs to Christ should recognize Paul belongs to Christ too.

His critics mock his letters as weighty but his presence weak; Paul warns that what he is in word when absent, he will be in deed when present. He refuses to compare himself with those who commend and measure themselves by one another, and stays within the sphere God assigned, which reached even to Corinth. Finally he insists the one who glories must glory in the Lord, for approval comes from the Lord's commendation, not one's own.

2 Corinthians 10 in context

Here Paul begins the letter's final and most combative section, defending himself against rival teachers, often called the super-apostles, who had impressed the Corinthians with rhetorical polish and self-promotion while belittling Paul.

Their attacks on his personal presence and speaking ability forced him into a reluctant, ironic self-defense that runs through the closing chapters, exposing what truly validates a minister of Christ.

Main themes of 2 Corinthians 10

2 Corinthians 10 (KJV)

1Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, 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, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. 3For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 6And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. 7Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ’s, even so are we Christ’s. 8For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed: 9That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters. 10For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible. 11Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present. 12For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. 13But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you. 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: 15Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men’s labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly, 16To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s line of things made ready to our hand. 17But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. 18For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.

Verses to carry from 2 Corinthians 10

“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”2 Corinthians 10:5

“Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ’s, even so are we Christ’s.”2 Corinthians 10:7

“But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.”2 Corinthians 10:17

Reflection

The loudest voices are not always the truest. Paul was mocked as weak, yet he fought real battles for people's minds and hearts. Where are you tempted to measure yourself against others or to prize image over substance? Bring your anxious, comparing thoughts captive to Christ, and let your only boast be in the Lord.

A prayer from 2 Corinthians 10