2 Corinthians 10 - Introduction

Bringing Thoughts Into Captivity To Christ

Second Corinthians Ten

There were some at Corinth that did not value Paul and his apostleship. However, "the meek-ness and gentleness of Christ" saw him through their attacks. With his apostolic power Paul could have inflicted punishment upon his attackers. He did not do so because he maintained the disposition of Jesus Christ. The false teacher were saying that when "Paul is present he is humble and lowly. When he is not here look how he boasts and brags!" They accused Paul of having some fleshly goal in mind. However, that was not the case. Paul had a righteous cause, an excellent Leader, in the Lord Jesus Christ and of course, he had been blessed of his King with all kinds of courage and strength.

The Devil works to get just a small entrance and then he can take over. At Corinth he found a way in by convincing some that Paul was not an apostle. Paul's opinion was that those people should have at least acknowledged that he was an apostle! He had proven by his preaching and by his miracles that he was an apostle. He also had apostolic power that he had never shown these brethren. These false teachers said that Paul's letters were powerful, but that his presence among them was weak, and his speech was contemptible. However, try as they might, they could not find one single thing in Paul's conduct or character to support their charges against him.

As long as a man only compares himself to himself and to his peers and not to the Christ there can be no limit on his high opinion of himself. What we must realize is that no man is indispensable. The world does not revolve around us or depend on us for its continuation. Paul wrote, "For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith." (Romans 12:3) Some want to brag about what they have done even if they are building on another man's foundation. Paul's view was that he would speak only of that work that God was able to do through him. Paul's prayer for the brethren at Corinth was that they would be granted by God the freedom to be able to speak the Gospel plainly to anybody and everybody that wanted to hear it!