King James Version, with Nii Okai's journal notes · 11 notes
Read 2 Corinthians 10 in the app
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.
Paul had walked among the Corinthians in simplicity, and they thus began to take that for granted.
He did not exalt himself nor the great achievements he had achieved, so they held him in contempt.
This is common human behavior: when people act simply despite their status, they are disdained, yet when others who have achieved far less hype themselves and carry themselves with pomp, they are treated highly.
Now these Corinthians wondered why Paul's words were heavy in his letters towards them.
They did not think he should have such audacity, being so simple and ordinary in person.
What right did he think he had to speak to them with such authority?
Thus he began to outline his authority and power with which he walked.
He even further pleaded that those who spoke against him should not compel him to speak boldly towards them when he comes in person. They wouldn't want that.
So now he drops a few bombshells 🐚 of his great achievements, which thus gave him the audacity and authority despite his simple demeanor.
2 Corinthians 11:16 KJV
I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little.
Paul pleaded with the Corinthians not to compel him to be bold when he comes, not only because they wouldn't want that, but because he, Paul, wanted to keep in line with the godly example of humility set by Christ for his servants and disciples to follow.
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;)
In essence Paul is saying, though there are some who view things from the natural standpoint and think we the servants of Christ walk after the natural order and do things naturally,
yes, though you see us walk about just like anyone, we do have a warfare going on, and in that warfare we do not use natural, human and fleshly weapons 🔫.
These weapons are given to us by God for the pulling down of strong mental fortresses and holds, imaginations and high things.
These weapons are for the mental prisons the enemy has set up, and his schemes by which he puts man into bondage.
Though you see us walking about in simplicity and meekness, there is a war ongoing, and in this war we are fighting principalities and powers, mental strongholds among others...
We do not want to seem to scare you by our letters, for we know you say
2 Corinthians 10:10 KJV
For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.
But do not let us be bold towards you in person; you would not like it.
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.
The NLT makes this verse clearer...
2 Corinthians 10:6 NLT
And after you have become fully obedient, we will punish everyone who remains disobedient.
I resonate with this translation. It's like how that Christ will come for his church when we are perfected in the fullness of time.
He is coming for a bride without spot and blemish. Yet having said that, he will punish them that are rebellious and sinful after he comes for his obedient ones.
How did he intend to do this? Was it going to be like he did with the fornicator, i.e.
ostracizing and handing the disobedient ones to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so the spirit is preserved unto God?
I think so.
I am ready to punish every disobedience, when the very things I have asked you to do, you do them.
Then those who rebel I will punish.
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:
Hmm, I think as stated in the note in verse 6, he might use this method. Because he says here that the authority they have is for edification, not destruction...
So he would prefer to build up than to punish by such means as ostracizing others and handing them over to Satan for torment.
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.
So those who think we only write authoritative letters, we can actually be bold and authoritative in person, but we want to spare you that.
So permit it to be that way, because you wouldn't like it when we start using our authority, which God gave us to build, and use it to punish.
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.
Paul was letting them know that he boasts in what he has achieved, whiles those speaking against him do so not based on their own achievements but on what he, Paul, had achieved among them, the Corinthians.
He was by this drawing their minds to something — to how fake these people were.
He, Paul, was trusting that through the Corinthians' support, he would do even more and preach the gospel to other regions beyond them...
As I pen 🖋 these words above, I see the essence of the teaching gift 📦.
Writings, or things put in writing, often have deep meaning compressed in short words and sentences, and it's up to the teacher to break it down and arrange it into its full length for easy comprehension.
Such an ability is given by God to the teacher.
The scriptures were deliberately written the way they were, to house and hide in letters deep mysteries.
The goal of the writings of scripture really is not so much to hide as it is to communicate as much truths as possible in few words.
Thus the need for the teachers to expand and expound truth from letters.
17But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
18For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.
There is some politics going on here, it seems, and rather than get mixed up with it, Paul draws the mind of the Corinthians, that it is not good to boast in another man's works.
He had come all the way to Corinth to preach the gospel and win souls, and now here were others who just came to enjoy the fruit of his labour, and not just so, but sought to exert themselves as some authority over what they did not build.
In Paul's absence some have sought to gain undue influence.
No wonder in the churches today many pastors are so sensitive and put hindrances to such rebellion, indeed undue hindrances, even to the harm of their own people.
Controlling the flock like they own the church ⛪.
Paul understood the sacredness of his calling and knew that at the end of the day, the church was the Lord's.
So as much as it depended on him, he did not seek any gain from it.