2 Corinthians 10
Outline:
I. \\#2Corinthians 1:1-5:21\\ Paul’s Explanations
A. \\#2Corinthians 1:1-2\\ Paul’s Introduction
B. \\#2Corinthians 1:3-11\\ Paul’s Suffering
1. \\#1:3-7\\ Truths about All Suffering
2. \\#1:8-11\\ Truths about Paul’s Suffering
C. \\#2Corinthians 1:12-14\\ Paul’s Rejoicing
D. \\#2Corinthians 1:15-2:17\\ Paul’s Itinerary
1. \\#1:15-16\\ Paul’s Purpose
2. \\#2:17\\ The Corinthians’ Charge
3. \\#1:18-2:13\\ Paul’s Answers
4. \\#2:13-17\\ Paul’s Praise
E. \\#2Corinthians 3:1-5:21\\ Paul’s Ministry Facts
1. \\#3:1-5\\ Our Converts Are Our Credentials
2. \\#3:6-18\\ We Are Empowered through the Spirit
3. \\#4:1-18\\ We don’t quit.
4. \\#5:1-11\\ We have heavenly longings.
5. \\#5:12-21\\ We are driven by the love of Christ.
II. \\#2Corinthians 6:1-7:16\\ Paul’s Commands
A. \\#6:1-10\\ Don’t Waste God’s Grace
B. \\#6:11-18\\ Don’t Be Joined to the Lost
C. \\#7:1-16\\ Don’t Reject Us.
1. \\#1-3\\ We Do Right.
2. \\#4-12\\ We Care For You.
3. \\#13-16\\ We Are Blessed.
III. \\#2Corintihains 8:1-9:15\\ The Collection for the Saints
A. \\#8:1-15\\ Fulfill Your Pledge
B. \\#8:16-24\\ Trust the Laborers
C. \\#9:1-15\\ Take the Offering
IV. \\#2Corinthians 10:1-12:13\\ Weak in Presence, Bold in Absence
A. \\#1\\ Another Charge
B. \\#10:2-13:14\\ Paul’s Answers
1. \\#2Cor 10:2\\ They saw the gentleness of Christ.
2. \\#2Cor 10:3-6\\ The weapons of our warfare are
powerful spiritual.
3. \\#2Cor 10:7 - 2Cor 12:13\\ If you are going to judge,
look at my ministry.
(a) \\#2Cor 10:7-18\\ The Corinthians Forced Paul’s
Boasting
Although the church, in large part, had repented and renewed their
relationship with the Lord and with Paul \\#2Cor 7:4-14\\, there were
some who had not. This section contains Paul’s last appeal to those
hold outs. If they do not change their hearts, Paul will deal with
them when he arrives.
I. \\#10:1-13:14\\ Weak in Presence, Bold in Absence
A. \\#1\\ Another Charge - Some thought Paul talked big in his
letters, but was incapable of backing up his talk.
2Cor 10:1 …who in presence am base among you,
but being absent am bold toward you:
2Cor 10:10 For his letters, say they, are
weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is
weak, and his speech contemptible.
1. \\#2\\ Then Paul plainly stated a charge that he had only
hinted at previously, that he was carnal.
2Cor 10:2 …wherewith I think to be bold
against some, which think of us as if we walked
according to the flesh.
2. We add this to the list of insults that Paul had hinted
were cast against him from the Corinthians.
a. Paul had hinted that some thought he was carnal.
2Cor 1:17 When I therefore was thus minded, did
I use lightness? or the things that I purpose, do
I purpose according to the flesh, that with me
there should be yea yea, and nay nay?
(1) That Paul made plans "lightly," without thought
and planning.
(2) That Paul was carnal, led by the flesh.
(3) That Paul was doubled minding, saying to some
what they wanted to hear while saying something
else to another.
(4) In this chapter, Paul quit hinting and plainly
stated that some believed this of him.
2Cor 10:2 But 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.
b. Paul hinted at their view of him being either a
simpleton or rude because of his plain and blunt way
of speaking.
2Cor 11:6 But though I be rude in speech, yet
not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made
manifest among you in all things.
c. Paul had hinted that some, from his behavior, had even
thought him mad.
2Cor 5:12 …that ye may have somewhat to answer
them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.
13 For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to
God: or whether we be sober, it is for your
cause.
B.\\#10:2-13:14\\ Paul’s Answer to the "Weak in Presence"
charge.
1. \\#1\\ First, it was the meekness of Christ in Paul that
they had seen when Paul was with them.
2Cor 10:1 Now I Paul myself beseech you by the
meekness and gentleness of Christ….
a. Paul was neither meek nor gentle by nature, as his
previous life attested.
Acts 7:58 And cast him (Stephen) out of the
city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid
down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose
name was Saul.
Ac 8:1 And Saul was consenting unto his
(Stephen’s) death.
Ac 8:3 As for Saul, he made havock of the
church, entering into every house, and haling men
and women committed them to prison.
Ac 9:1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings
and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord,
went unto the high priest,
2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the
synagogues, that if he found any of this way,
whether they were men or women, he might bring
them bound unto Jerusalem.
Ac 9:13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have
heard by many of this man (Paul), how much evil
he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:
Excerpts Paul’s own testimony:
Ac 22:4 And I persecuted this way unto the
death, binding and delivering into prisons both
men and women.
Ac 22:19 And I said, Lord, they know that I
imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that
believed on thee:
20 And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was
shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto
his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew
him.
Ac 26:10 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem:
and many of the saints did I shut up in prison,
having received authority from the chief priests;
and when they were put to death, I gave my voice
against them.
11 And I punished them oft in every synagogue,
and compelled them to blaspheme; and being
exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them
even unto strange cities.
b. What a change had been manifested in Paul’s life for
the Corinthians to even THINK Paul was a weak, meek,
gentle man.
c. But Paul did not mark himself as a much milder man.
(1) He would "beseech" instead of command. The word
is used 5x in this book and twice in this
chapter.
2Cor 10:1 Now I Paul myself beseech you….
2Cor 10:2 But I beseech you….
(2) He worked through letters and emissaries to
accomplish things BEFORE he had to seal with
them in person.
2Cor 10:2 But 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.
2Co 1:23 Moreover I call God for a record upon
my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet
unto Corinth.
(3) But as we saw in \\#2Cor 7:5\\, Paul was already
in Macedonia (the area just north of Corinth),
working his way south.
(a) This was likely Paul’s last letter before
arriving.
(b) When he arrived, he would take care of those
who still rebelled against the Lord’s man.
\\#2Cor 13:1-3\\
2. \\#3-6\\ Paul was not empowered by the flesh but by the
weapons of Spirit.
a. We often take great comfort in these verses as a
promise from God that we have access to God’s
spiritual arsenal to defeat our carnal enemies, but
the backslidden Corinthians probably found no such
comfort here. Why? Because the rebellious
Christians at Corinth were the carnal "strong holds"
while Paul was the wielder of these powerful weapons
to "pull them down."
b. \\#3\\ "we do not war after the flesh"
(1) Paul was saying that the battle he fought was not
in the realm of the physical world.
(2) The "we" here is the same as the "us" in verse 2.
(a) There Paul was speaking of those who had
charged Paul and his party of walking
according the flesh.
(b) Paul and his party are the "us" and the
"we."
(3) Of course these verses have application to every
Christian, but Paul was speaking about himself
and the weapons he had at his disposal to deal
with those in the Corinthians church who thought
he was "base" \\#2Cor 10:1\\ and only "walked
according to the flesh" \\#2Cor 10:2\\.
(4) I do not know what Paul was prepared to do to
those rebels within the Corinthians church, but
he was an apostle with more miraculous authority
from God than any of His servants today.
c. \\#4-6\\ Paul did not list the weapons he had access
to, but he did describe their capability and their
effects.
(1) \\#4\\ They "are not carnal." If they are not of
the flesh, then they must be of the spirit.
(2) Such weapons are "mighty through God…."
(s) Do not under-estimate spiritual weapons!
(b) They are granted their power by God.
(d) Remember that the real world is the
SPIRITUAL world! We often think what
happens in the physical world affects the
spiritual world; but in reality, what
happens in the spiritual world affects the
physical world!
(3) "to the pulling down of strong holds"
(a) The strongholds are the strong areas that
are still under the control of sin, the
flesh, or the devil.
(b) Again, the strongholds here were the
rebellious Corinthians inside that church.
i. Paul went on to clarify that it was
not the people he intended to "pull
down," rather their foolish thinking.
ii. Yet Paul was going to use the God-
given powers he had to pull those
strongholds down.
(c) That was not a threat. It was a warning.
(4) \\#5\\ To the "casting down imaginations"
(a) Paul began to fine-tune what the strongholds
actually were.
(b) It was the imaginary thoughts the rebellious
had imagined.
(5) "and every high thing that exalted itself against
the knowledge of God"
(a) But not just their thoughts, but "every high
thing" that these people had built in the
physical world because of their imaginary
thoughts.
(b) Whatever actions, decisions, appointments,
and plans the rebellious had put into place,
would also be brought down.
(6) Until they were able to bring "into captivity
every thought to the obedience of Christ"
(a) Paul’s intent was not to destroy the people
but to capture their false thinking thus
producing their obedience to the truth.
(b) Paul stated this plainly.
2Co 10:8 For 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:
i. Paul was using his authority to edify
them (to build them up) not to destroy
them (to tear them down).
ii. Paul spoke of conquering their minds
more than a destruction of their
beings.
(7) \\#6\\ "And having a readiness to revenge all
disobedience…."
(a) These spiritual weapons would then reshape
their mind to make them ready to deal with
the consequences of their disobedience.
(b) This will happen "when your obedience is
fulfilled" or when you have come to the
place of obedience.
(c) All of this alludes to the change of mind
that takes place when the Spirit of God
completes His work in the believer.
\\#Romans 12:2, 1Cor 3:19\\
3. \\#2Cor 10:7 - 2Cor 12:13\\ If you are going to judge,
look at my ministry.
a. \\#2Cor 10:7-18\\ The Corinthians Forced Paul’s
Boasting
(1) \\#7\\ The notion of looking on the outward
results was the Corinthians idea not Paul’s.
2Cor 10:7 Do ye look on things after the outward
appearance?
(a) Notice the "ye."
(b) Paul knew the true power was in a person’s
relationship with God.
(2) But if they were going to look on the externals,
then they would see that Paul belonged to
Jesus…
2Cor 10:7 … as he is Christ’s, even so are we
Christ’s.
(3) \\#8\\ …and had been granted great authority
from Him.
2Cor 10:8 …of our authority, which the Lord
hath given us….
(a) Paul had authority given to him from the
Lord—and it was evident in the gifts he had
and the ministry he accomplished.
(b) This "authority" was not given to him to
destroy the people of God but to build them
up.
2Cor 10:8 …I should boast… I should not be
ashamed"
(4) Paul was being forced to boast (to declare how
God had called, empowered, and used Paul) to
keep from being shamed by the rebellious
Corinthians.
(a) This is an important thought that will
continue into Chapter 12.
(b) Paul will "speak of the things wherein God
has used him" for the same reason he spent
the first five chapters explaining his
ministry.
(c) Namely, to try to turn the hearts of those
who were rejecting him to the truths that
the Lord has revealed through him.
(d) If he did not, then he would be "ashamed" of
his failure in representing God to the
Corinthians.
(5) \\#9-11\\ Paul had not spoken of these things
(i.e. his authority) for fear that it would
cause true terror among the Corinthians.
2Cor 10:9 That I may not seem as if I would
terrify you by letters.
(a) Even without speaking directly of it, the
Corinthians spoke of Paul’s "weighty and
powerful" letters
2Cor 10:10 For his letters, say they, are
weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence
is weak, and his speech contemptible.
(b) Paul spoke now of this authority for several
reasons.
i. One because time and opportunity for
the rebellious Christians was running
out. Paul was already in Macedonia
and would soon at Corinth. See
\\#2Cor 12:14-13:10\\.
ii. Because when Paul arrived, the
rebellious Corinthians were going to
see much more that "weighty and
powerful" letters.
2Cor 10:11 Let 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.
(5) \\#12\\ Paul did not want to be confused with
others at Corinth who were boasting.
(a) "commend themselves…measuring themselves by
themselves"
i. Some measure themselves by their own
standards.
ii. The ones Paul was referring to are the
rebellious Corinthians.
(b) "For we dare not make ourselves of the
number" - Paul did not want his boasting to
be confused with them!
(c) "are not wise" - Paul stated that those who
do such things are not wise.
(6) \\#13-16\\ The Extent of Paul’s Ministry
2Cor 13:13 But we will not boast of things
without our measure….
(a) \\#13\\ "boast" - Paul used the word "to
speak of himself in a gainful way." That
is, to share details that promoted himself.
(b) "without our measure" - Paul will not boast
of himself in areas where he has no
accomplishments.
2Cor 13:13 …a measure to reach even unto you.
(c) Even so, Paul’s reach had extended all the
way to the Corinthians’ church.
(d) \\#14\\ Paul had gone that far (and farther)
"preaching the gospel of Christ."
(e) \\#15\\ "Not boasting… of other men’s
labours" - But Paul would not take credit
for what another had done.
(f) \\#16\\ "To preach the gospel in the regions
beyond you" - Paul wanted to increase the
area he reached even further.
(7) \\#17\\ But the real glorying should be of Jesus!
(8) \\#18\\ Because it is not what a man says about
himself that counts but what the Lord blesses.
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