THE SECOND EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS

CHAPTER 10

          Welcome back to Daily Bread! Have you ever assumed something about a person’s character, and found out that you were completely wrong? We’ve all done this in two opposite ways, expecting little and discovering much, and at other times, expecting much and being disappointed. Impressions can be deceiving. Paul intends to clear things up for those in Corinth who judged him by appearance and expected that the strength of his character was insufficient.

Now, I Paul, myself,

ask you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ,

who in person am humble among you,

but being absent, I am fearless toward you.

But I ask you, that I may not be harsh when I am present,

with the confidence that I feel should be used

with some people who think of us

as if we walked according to the flesh.
 

           This is Paul’s polite way of saying, Usually, I’m fairly mild mannered when I visit you, but being absent now, I’m gonna be a little . . . assertive. I beg you, don’t make me be stern when we get there become some of you think we’re like the rest of the world.

For even though we walk in the flesh,

we do not war (fight) according to the flesh.

(The weapons we use are not worldly,

but mighty through God, that can even pull down fortresses.)

          What Paul is referring to is what he also wrote in Ephesians 6:12: For we wrestle not against flesh and blood (mankind), but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places (these are all evil entities). Now, this is how he explains this “spiritual warfare” to the Corinthians.

We cast down imaginations

and every proud thing that thinks it knows more than God,

and every thought is a prisoner of this war

until it is obedient to Christ,

and is ready to punish all disobedience,

          In a nutshell, Paul is saying, things are not always as they appear. Don’t judge a book by it’s cover. I may seem quiet, but I can speak loudly. I may seem frail, but when I fight with the weapons that God provides, I am victorious. You can’t spear a spirit, and the ideas that someone is putting in the minds of the Corinthians against Paul are coming from evil spirits working through someone. So how does Paul war with them? He defeats the “imaginations” or thoughts, or ideas that are presented, with TRUTH!

Do you judge things according to their outward appearance?

If any man is sure of himself that he is a Christian,

let him know this too, that just as he belongs to Christ, we do too.

Because even though I should brag slightly more of our authority,

which the Lord has given to us for your betterment,

and not for your hurt,

I’m not ashamed that I don’t appear

as if I would terrify you by my letters,

because some people say my letters are important and powerful,

but his physical presence is weak,

and his speech is despicable.

Let those people instead think this:

That the way we seem in in the words of our letters when we’re absent,

we will be the same also, in deed, when we are present.

We dare not make ourselves a part of,

nor compare ourselves with those that are arrogant,

but they,

comparing themselves against themselves,

and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

But we will not brag about things outside of our limits,

but according to the limits which God has given to us,

a limit to reach even to you.
 

          It looks like whoever is judging Paul, is saying that he can’t possibly have brought the Gospel to Corinth. They said he was unimpressive in appearance and that his speech was contemptible, so they’ve judged him incapable of the job. Then, it sounds like whoever said this, wants the credit for themselves. But Paul sets the record straight:
 

For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure,

as though we reached not unto you:

for we have come as far as to you also in preaching the Gospel of Christ:

Not taking credit for things outside our limits,

that is, of other men's efforts;

but having hope, when your Faith is increased,

that we shall be increased by you according to our rule abundantly,

To preach the Gospel in the regions beyond you,

and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand.

But he that glories, let him glory in the Lord.

It’s not the man who credits himself that is approved,

but whom the Lord credits.

          It’s always a great experience sharing TRUTH and studying with you. Hope you’ll come back soon as we continue our study through the New Testament, right here at Daily Bread.