2 Corinthians 10
BSASBPaul answers critics in Corinth who say he is weak in person and bold only in letters. He shows that his weapons are spiritual, not worldly, and that his authority was given by the Lord to build up the church. He refuses to compete in self-praise and says only the Lord’s commendation counts.
2 Corinthians 10:1
Paul begins by pleading, not commanding, and he points to Christ’s own gentle manner. His critics call him timid in person and harsh on paper. Paul does not deny the charge but appeals to the very character of Jesus, who was strong yet meek.
BSA: gentleness (“praōtētos, humility”): This is strength under control, the quiet power Jesus showed, not weakness. appeal (“plead, comfort”): Paul comes alongside them as a caring friend rather than standing over them as a judge.
Greek: πραΰτητος (praōtētos, G4236) — “meekness, gentleness.” It describes power held in check, like a trained horse that is strong but obeys the rein. Paul has real authority but uses it gently.
See also: Matthew 11:29.
2 Corinthians 10:2
Paul hopes he will not have to show boldness in discipline when he arrives. Some in Corinth suppose he acts from merely human motives. He would rather they repent beforehand so that no severe action is needed.
BSA: flesh (“human nature, sinful tendencies”): Here it means acting from selfish, worldly motives, which is the very charge laid against Paul.
2 Corinthians 10:3
Paul lives in a real human body, with its limits and weakness. But he does not fight his battles with human tricks, pressure or cleverness. The spiritual struggle he is in needs God’s way of fighting.
BSA: wage war (“fight, battle”): Paul sees his ministry as a real conflict, not only a debate, and it has to be fought God’s way.
See also: Ephesians 6:12.
2 Corinthians 10:4
God’s weapons are not force, status, rhetoric or manipulation. They carry divine power. Strongholds here are the fortified positions of false thinking and proud resistance to God, and God can break them down where human effort cannot.
BSA: strongholds (“fortresses, high places, misleading theories”): These are walled-in patterns of false thinking that seem unshakable until God’s truth breaks them open. power (“supernatural”): The strength is from God, not from Paul’s skill or personality.
Greek: ὀχυρωμάτων (ochyrōmatōn, G3794) — “fortresses, strongholds.” It is a military word for a fortified castle. Paul pictures proud ideas and attitudes as walls that God’s truth can bring down.
See also: Ephesians 6:13-17.
2 Corinthians 10:5
The battle is over the mind. Arguments and proud thinking that stand against the true knowledge of God are torn down. Every thought is brought like a prisoner to surrender to Christ. The goal is not defeat of people but their willing obedience.
BSA: take captive (“bringing into captivity, making a prisoner”): Thoughts are not left to wander freely; they are brought under Christ’s rule. presumption (“high thing, lofty idea”): It pictures a proud tower raised up to look down on God.
Greek: αἰχμαλωτίζοντες (aichmalōtizontes, G163) — “taking captive.” It means to capture someone at spearpoint. Paul uses this strong picture for bringing thoughts under Christ’s authority.
See also: Romans 12:2.
2 Corinthians 10:6
Paul is ready to deal with rebellion, but he waits until the faithful in Corinth have fully obeyed. He gives the church time to settle matters so that discipline is aimed only at those who still refuse.
BSA: complete (“fulfilled, made full”): Paul waits for the church’s obedience to be full before he acts against any who still resist.
2 Corinthians 10:7
The Corinthians judge by what they can see: impressive speakers and a polished look. Paul says that anyone who claims to belong to Christ should grant that Paul belongs to him too. Surface appearances are a poor way to measure a servant of Christ.
BSA: outward appearances (“the things that are before your face, physical circumstances”): They look only at what is in front of their eyes and miss what is true underneath.
See also: 1 Samuel 16:7.
2 Corinthians 10:8
Paul will gladly say more about his authority from the Lord. Its purpose is to build the church up, not to tear it down. His boasting is not for himself; he is sure the Lord stands behind what he says.
BSA: building (“edifying, constructing”): True authority in the church is measured by whether it strengthens people, like a builder raising a house.
See also: 2 Corinthians 13:10.
2 Corinthians 10:9
Paul does not want his letters to read as threats meant to scare people into line. His aim is to bring them back, not to terrify them. He is clearing away a misunderstanding of his purpose.
BSA: frighten (“terrify or intimidate”): Paul rejects the idea that his firm letters are an attempt to bully them.
2 Corinthians 10:10
Here is what his critics say: his letters carry weight, but in person he is unimpressive and a poor speaker. In the Greek world, polished speaking was prized. Paul will not defend his style but points to the substance of what God has done through him.
BSA: unimpressive (“weak, feeble”): They judged him by his bodily presence and found it lacking. of no account (“contemptible, despised, without value”): His critics were not only unimpressed; they treated his speech as worthless.
See also: 1 Corinthians 2:1-4.
2 Corinthians 10:11
Paul answers directly: he is the same man in person as on paper. If he must act firmly when he arrives, his actions will match his letters. The critics should not mistake patience for weakness.
BSA: actions (“deeds, works”): What Paul says in writing will be matched by what he does when he arrives.
2 Corinthians 10:12
Paul will not join the game of self-promotion. Those who set their own standard and then rate themselves highly are bound to look good to themselves. Paul says this is foolish, because a measuring stick you made yourself proves nothing.
BSA: commend (“praise or recommend”): Paul’s rivals were handing out their own letters of recommendation, which carries little weight. ignorance (“lack of understanding or foolishness”): Judging yourself by yourself shows a lack of true understanding.
Greek: συνιᾶσιν (syniasin, G4920) — “they understand, have insight.” Paul says such people lack real understanding. They do not grasp that a person cannot be his own measuring rod.
See also: Proverbs 27:2.
2 Corinthians 10:13
Paul will boast only within the area of work God gave him. Corinth lies within it, since God sent him there. His claim is not self-made; it rests on an assignment from God.
BSA: field of influence (“province, area of responsibility”): God gives each servant a particular sphere of work, and Paul stays within his. assigned (“distributed, apportioned”): The work is handed out by God, like a share given to each person.
Greek: κανόνος (kanonos, G2583) — “measuring rod, limit, field.” A kanōn was a rod for measuring a boundary. Paul says God measured out his area of service, and he stays within the line.
2 Corinthians 10:14
Paul has not stretched beyond his limits in claiming Corinth. He was the first to bring the gospel there, so the church is his legitimate work. His rivals, by contrast, came in afterward and claimed credit.
BSA: first (“preceded others, arrived before”): Paul came to Corinth before anyone else, so his claim there is real and not borrowed.
See also: Acts 18:1-11.
2 Corinthians 10:15
Paul will not take credit for work done by others. His hope is that as the Corinthians grow in faith, his sphere of work will grow with them. Their growth would free him to go further.
BSA: labors (“work, toil”): Paul respects the hard work of others and refuses to claim it as his own. increases (“grows, expands”): As their faith deepens, it opens the way for wider ministry.
See also: Romans 15:20.
2 Corinthians 10:16
Paul looks west, past Corinth, to places where the gospel has not been preached. He wants to plant, not take over what someone else has built. His desire is for new ground, not for credit in another man’s territory.
BSA: regions (“places, areas, territories”): Paul’s heart is set on reaching people who have never heard the gospel. preach (“share, proclaim, announce”): The task is to announce good news, not to build a personal reputation.
See also: Romans 15:23-24.
2 Corinthians 10:17
Paul sums up with a line from the Old Testament: if you want to boast, boast in the Lord. Whatever Paul has accomplished, God did it. The only safe pride is delight in what God has done.
BSA: boast (“rejoice, have glory”): True boasting is joyful praise that gives credit to God, not to oneself.
See also: Jeremiah 9:23-24; 1 Corinthians 1:31.
2 Corinthians 10:18
Self-praise proves nothing. The one who is truly approved is the one the Lord commends. That verdict is not given by a crowd or by one’s own mouth; it comes from God, who sees what is real.
BSA: approved (“tested, proven genuine”): The word suggests metal that has been tested and found true, a standard only God can give.
Greek: δόκιμος (dokimos, G1384) — “approved, tested and found genuine.” It was used for coins or metals that passed the test. Paul says only the Lord’s testing counts.
See also: Romans 2:29.