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2 Corinthians 10 KJV

Paul Defends His Ministry

Epistles/Letters 3 min 18 verses 437 words Paul themselves ร—5 measure ร—5 christ ร—3 bold ร—3 according ร—3

2 Corinthians Chapter 10: Paul Defends His Ministry

This chapter explores themes of Spiritual Warfare. Paul's use of 'strongholds' (ochyrลmata) in verse 5 specifically evokes Hellenistic military architecture and siege tactics, framing false teachings as ideological fortresses that require divine demolition rather than human persuasion.

N1๐Ÿ”—ow I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:

2๐Ÿ”— But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.

3๐Ÿ”— For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

4๐Ÿ”— (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

5๐Ÿ”— Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

6๐Ÿ”— And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

7๐Ÿ”— Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christโ€™s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christโ€™s, even so are we Christโ€™s.

8๐Ÿ”— For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:

9๐Ÿ”— That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters.

10๐Ÿ”— For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.

11๐Ÿ”— Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.

12๐Ÿ”— 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.

13๐Ÿ”— But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.

14๐Ÿ”— For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ:

15๐Ÿ”— Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other menโ€™s labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly,

16๐Ÿ”— To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another manโ€™s line of things made ready to our hand.

17๐Ÿ”— But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

18๐Ÿ”— For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.

Continue Reading 2 Corinthians 11 Paul and the False Apostles

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Chapter Context

Did You Know?

1

Paul's use of 'strongholds' (ochyrลmata) in verse 5 specifically evokes Hellenistic military architecture and siege tactics, framing false teachings as ideological fortresses that require divine demolition rather than human persuasion.

2

The 'measure of the rule' (metron tou kanonos) in verses 13-16 alludes to ancient land-surveying practices used in Roman colonial allotments, positioning Paul's apostolic jurisdiction as a divinely assigned territory akin to tribal inheritances in Joshua.

3

Verse 17's quotation of Jeremiah 9:24 creates an intertextual link between Paul's self-defense and the prophetic critique of boasting in wisdom or strength, redirecting glory exclusively to the Lord amid Corinthian factionalism.

4

The contrast between Paul's 'weighty' letters and 'weak' bodily presence in verse 10 engages Greco-Roman rhetorical theory on ethos, where critics like those in Corinth applied standards from sophistic performance to dismiss his apostolic authority.

5

Verses 3-6's extended warfare metaphor repurposes Old Testament holy war language (e.g., from Deuteronomy) into a spiritual battle against 'imaginations' (logismous), countering both pagan philosophy and Judaizing influences without physical violence.