2 Corinthians 10

2 Corinthians 10:1-13

Paul Defends and Exercises His Apostolic Authority – 2 Corinthians 10:1 to 2 Corinthians 13:10 forms the third and last major division of the epistle of 2 Corinthians. In this section Paul defends his apostolic authority over the churches he had founded. Now, for those in Corinth who will be reconciled to Paul as their spiritual authority, he gives them a charge of giving an offering to the poor saints in Jerusalem in order to prove their sincerity and to steer them into a deeper, more sacrificial walk with the Lord (2 Corinthians 8:1 to 2 Corinthians 9:15). For those who are still rebellious, Paul will execute his divine authority over them in these last four chapters of his epistle (2 Corinthians 10:1 to 2 Corinthians 13:10). In this section Paul will declare his apostolic authority (2 Corinthians 10:1-18), then boast in his credentials (2 Corinthians 11:1 to 2 Corinthians 12:13), and finally execute his office as an apostle and set those who are rebellious in order (2 Corinthians 12:14 to 2 Corinthians 13:10). Outline - Note the proposed outline:

1. Paul Declares His Authority — 2 Corinthians 10:1-18a) Paul’s Defense Against False Charges — 2 Corinthians 10:1-11b) Paul’s Claim to Apostleship — 2 Corinthians 10:12-182. Paul Boasts of His Credentials — 2 Corinthians 11:1 to 2 Corinthians 12:21a) Mental: A Godly Lifestyle — 2 Corinthians 11:1-15b) Physical: Jewish Ancestry & Christian Suffering — 2 Corinthians 11:16-33c) Spiritual: Revelations & Miracles — 2 Corinthians 12:1-10d) Final Plea — 2 Corinthians 12:11-133. Paul Executes His Authority — 2 Corinthians 12:14 to 2 Corinthians 13:10 Identifying Paul’s Opponents – In 2 Corinthians 10:1 to 2 Corinthians 13:10 Paul exercises his apostolic authority over those dissidents in the church at Corinth. The traditional view sees these opponents as Jewish emissaries sent from the Church of Jerusalem to bring all Churches under its leadership. (For example, we see the Jewish leaders sending servants to John the Baptist [John 1:19-28] and Jesus Christ [John 7:32-53] during their public ministries to inquire about them or to challenge them or to seize them. Saul of Tarsus was sent out to various cities with authority from Jewish leaders in Jerusalem to carry out instructions in foreign synagogues.) These Jews had accused Paul of being fickle when he changed his travel plans (2 Corinthians 1:17), of needing a letter of commendation as was commonly used by others (2 Corinthians 3:1), of being weak and of poor speech (2 Corinthians 10:1; 2 Corinthians 10:10) and of not having proper clerical credentials (2 Corinthians 10:12). Paul will reply by revealing them as those who corrupt the Word of God (2 Corinthians 2:17), as ministers of the old, less glorious covenant (2 Corinthians 3:1-18) while masquerading as ministers of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:23), as being bold and overconfident (2 Corinthians 11:21) and as someone who was overstepping into another’s domain (2 Corinthians 10:3-16). It is interesting to note that when Paul gives evidence of his office of an apostle and authority over the Corinthians that he does not appeal to letters of commendation from men. Rather, he appeals to the sufferings he has endured for Christ’s sake as the seal of God’s hand at work in his life and to the visions and revelations that he has received from God. These adversaries looked upon Paul’s outward appearance and as a result challenged his physical appearance and his speech (2 Corinthians 10:7-11). Paul warns them not to look at things as they appear, but according to the divine power entrusted unto Him by God to carry out discipline to the churches (2 Corinthians 10:1-6). He does not rely upon letters of commendation from men (2 Corinthians 10:12), which implies that his adversaries had done so. This would suggest Jews, who sent representatives to their synagogues throughout the Empire with such letters. Nor does he boast about work started by others (2 Corinthians 10:13-15 a), which implies that his adversaries had encroached upon his work in the Lord. He hopes that the Corinthians will approve him (2 Corinthians 10:15 b-16), and he relies upon approval from the Lord (2 Corinthians 10:17-18). Perhaps our clearest hint as to the identity of Paul’s adversaries is found in his statement, “Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.” (2 Corinthians 11:22). Thus, they prided themselves in being Jewish. His next statement, “Are they ministers of Christ?” (2 Corinthians 11:23) implies that these were Jews who had embraced Christ as the Messiah. These Jewish converts seem to have been on a mission; for the idea that they were Jewish emissaries is implied in the statement, “For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus,” (2 Corinthians 11:4) and in Paul’s statement, “or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you.” (2 Corinthians 3:1) These Jews had apparently brought with them letters of commendation to Corinth, perhaps from the church at Jerusalem, or even some leading synagogue.

When Paul says, “For such are false apostles,” (2 Corinthians 11:13) we sense that this group of Jews carried Christian titles with which they had been commissioned by those that sent them. They made some sort of claims to be ministers of righteousness; for Paul says, “Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness,” (2 Corinthians 11:15). They claimed in some way to be ministers of Christ; for Paul says, “Are they ministers of Christ?” (2 Corinthians 11:23) They seemed to be different in the Judaizers that troubled the Galatian churches in that we find no reference in 2 Corinthians to their interest circumcision, in the keeping of the Sabbath or other holy days and in laws of purification. 2 Corinthians 11:13 suggests that these adversaries of Paul entered the church of Corinth cloaked with letters of recommendation from those who sent them. They came with the titles of “apostles.” Within Jewish circles, an “apostle” was not a title used in the specialized sense of the word to mean a missionary who was anointed and sent out by the elders of a local Church to evangelize the heathen world; but rather, it was used in the normal, more general, secular sense of the Hebrew word “shaliah,” which was an agent of those who commissioned him. These Jews were originally given the charge to unite the Jews of the Diaspora with the religious circles seated in Jerusalem. These Jewish Christians came to Corinth cloaked with the title of an apostle while believing that they were sent with just as much, or more, authority as Paul carried in his ministry. Thus, Paul attempts to tell the Corinthians rather bluntly that such emissaries are “false apostles”, meaning that they did not carry the true office of an apostle that Christ Jesus placed within the Church. Paul says that they were “deceitful workers” because their motives were not pure. Perhaps they were sent to unite the Gentile churches under the authority of one leading church in Jerusalem. We can only speculate as to who sent them. He explains that they were “transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ” because of the confusion brought when they attempted to identify themselves with the true office of an apostle. They too, were sent out from a church.

They too, agreed with the Gospel message that Jesus Christ was the Messiah. I am sure these “false apostles” made their appealed to the believers in Corinth with many such comparisons. Thus, they attempted to transform themselves into apostles of Christ. The Sorrowful Letter – Many scholars suggest that 2 Corinthians 10:1 to 2 Corinthians 13:14 contains a part of an earlier letter that Paul wrote to the church at Corinth called the “Sorrowful Letter,” mentioned in 2 Corinthians 2:4; 2 Corinthians 7:8-9. They suggest that this portion of 2 Corinthians is out of place with the first nine chapters. The basis for this suggestion is that 2 Corinthians 10-13 is filled with criticism and abuse, while 2 Corinthians 1-9 is characterized by gratitude for a restored relationship with Paul and deep affection for the Corinthians. However, conservative scholars make a strong case for the unity of 2 Corinthians.

2 Corinthians 10:12-18

Paul’s Claim to Apostleship over the Corinthians – In 2 Corinthians 10:12-18 Paul declares that his boastings of spiritual matters extends unto the Corinthians. Another way to state this is to say that the fleshly boastings from his opponents have encroached upon his spiritual domain. His minister went into new regions and territories not claimed by other Christian ministers. Now, these “false apostles” have encroached into his territory and claimed their right to be the true spiritual leaders. This reminds us of a story in the book of Genesis when Jacob uncovered his father’s wells, which had been covered up by the local people (Genesis 26:18-22). Each time he uncovered a well his adversaries would come and claim it as their own.

He relocated and dug until he found a place where his adversaries did not follow. There he found enough space between himself and his enemies. 2 Corinthians 10:12 For 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. 2 Corinthians 10:12 — Comments - We cannot compromise by comparing our lifestyles to others. This is where many people fall into the ditch as they follow the standards of others. Christ set the standard. There are those men and women of God who serve as examples, but Christ is our only standard. The Lord spoke to Joyce Meyer about this issue of looking at what others are doing by saying, “You have asked me for a lot. Do you want it or not?”[82] [82] Joyce Meyer, Life in the Word (Fenton, Missouri: Joyce Meyer Ministries), on Trinity Broadcasting Network (Santa Ana, California), television program.When we compare ourselves with others, we either consider ourselves better or worse than them. Either path of thought takes you down the wrong path. 2 Corinthians 10:18 — Comments - In 2 Corinthians 10:18 Paul explains that the true test of a minister of Jesus Christ comes from divine commendations, from the Lord working in and through such ministers. Therefore, in the following passages Paul will boast in how the Lord has commended him as a genuine apostle to the Corinthians.