"THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS"
Chapter Ten
OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER
1) To understand the nature of the war in which we are engaged, and to
appreciate the weapons we have that are "mighty in God"
2) To see the folly of judging others by outward appearance, and in
comparing ourselves with others
SUMMARY
Having concluded his discussion on the collection for the saints, Paul
now returns to his own defense, especially as it pertains to his
conduct and authority as an apostle of Jesus Christ. He pleads with
them in the meekness and gentleness of Christ, hoping that by so doing
it will not be necessary to use boldness in their presence against some
who think Paul conducts himself according to the flesh (1-2). While he
admits that he walks in the flesh, he does not war according to the
flesh since he has weapons that are mighty in God and effective for
winning arguments and bringing others to obey Christ (3-6).
He then responds directly in regards to his detractors. Some were
evidently judging Paul on outward appearance, that while he sounded
weighty and powerful in his writing, his physical presence was weak and
contemptible. But Paul's authority as an apostle of Jesus Christ was
real, and what he was in word when absent, he could be in deed when
present (7-11).
We can also infer that some of Paul's detractors took pride in
comparing themselves with others. Such a practice was unwise, and Paul
was one who would boast only in those areas in which God had appointed
him to serve. That would include the Corinthians themselves, for Paul
would only go to areas where the gospel had not been preached and that
is how they had come to believe. Reminding them of this, Paul had hope
that they would assist him in preaching the gospel in regions beyond
them. He then admonishes them to boast only in the Lord, and to
remember that not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the
Lord commends (12-18).
OUTLINE
I. PAUL PROVIDES AN EXPLANATION FOR HIS CONDUCT (1-6)
A. HE PLEADS WITH THEM IN MEEKNESS AND GENTLENESS (1-2)
1. With great emphasis, he stresses that he himself is pleading
with them by the meekness and gentleness of Christ (1a)
2. It appears that some misread Paul's humility in person as
weakness, and that only in absence was he bold (1b)
3. But he is hoping that it not be necessary for him to have the
confident boldness he is prepared to use against those who
misread Paul (2)
B. THE NATURE OF THE WARFARE, AND WEAPONS MIGHTY IN GOD (3-6)
1. While walking in the flesh, he does not war according to flesh
(3)
2. For the weapons he uses are not carnal, but they are mighty in
God (4a)
3. Such weapons are capable of:
a. Pulling down strongholds (4b)
b. Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts
itself against the knowledge of God (5a)
c. Bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of
Christ (5b)
d. Being ready to punish all disobedience when their obedience
is fulfilled (6)
II. PAUL'S RESPONSE TO HIS DETRACTORS (7-18)
A. TO THOSE WHO JUDGE ON OUTWARD APPEARANCE (7-11)
1. No matter how it might look, rest assured that Paul is
Christ's (7)
2. Even if it were necessary to boast about the authority the
Lord gave him, Paul would not be ashamed (8)
3. There were some who thought Paul hid behind his letters, while
in person he was weak (9-10)
4. Yet Paul was ready to be in person what he was in his letters
(11)
B. TO THOSE WHO BOAST OF THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS (12-18)
1. Paul considered it unwise to compare himself with those who
measured themselves by others around them (12)
2. If Paul boasted, it would only be in that area God had chosen
for him, which included the Corinthians themselves (13-14)
3. He would not boast in other men's labors (15a)
4. He had hope that the Corinthians would help him to preach the
gospel where others had not gone (15b-16a)
5. In that way he would not boast in another's man
accomplishments, but only in that which the Lord enabled him
(16b-17)
6. In the end, only the one whom the Lord commends is approved
(18)
REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER
1) What are the main points of this chapter?
- Paul provides an explanation for his conduct (1-6)
- Paul's response to his detractors (7-18)
2) With what two qualities of Christ-like character does Paul plead
with the Corinthians? (1)
- Meekness
- Gentleness
3) What does Paul hope would not be necessary when he was with them in
person? (2)
- To act in a bold manner against some
4) Though Paul walks in the flesh, what does he not do? (3)
- War according to the flesh
5) In what four ways are the weapons of our warfare "mighty in God"?
(4-6)
- Pulling down strongholds
- Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself
against the knowledge of God
- Bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ
- Ready to punish all disobedience when one's obedience is fulfilled
6) Upon what basis were some people evidently evaluating Paul? (7)
- His outward appearance
7) What accusations were being made against Paul? (10)
- His letters are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is
weak and his speech contemptible
8) What did Paul tell such people to consider? (11)
- That what he was in letters when absent, so he will be in deed
when present
9) What did Paul say was an unwise practice? (12)
- To measure one's self by others
10) In what area was Paul willing to boast? (13-16)
- That in which God had appointed him (i.e., preaching the gospel
where others had not gone), and not in other men's labors
11) In whom should we glory? (17)
- The Lord
12) In the end, who is it that is approved? (18)
- He whom the Lord commends
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