Down to Earth But Heavenly Minded

What does 2nd Corinthians Chapter 10 mean?

False apostles and other critics were challenging Paul’s role as a true apostle of Jesus Christ. Paul tackles one of their arguments against him in this chapter. Their attack implies hypocrisy, cowardice, or both. Detractors say Paul was brave when he was away writing letters, but lacking confidence when face to face. Put even more bluntly, Paul quotes them as saying, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech is of no account” (2 Corinthians 10:10). The gist of their accusation seems to be that a true apostle should be more impressive in person. Apparently, the false apostles vying for the hearts and minds of the Corinthians were accomplished and forceful speakers. They implied that the Corinthians could ignore Paul’s strong letters because he would not be strong enough to back them up when he came in person.

Paul does not argue with the characterization that his letters are strong, compared to his personal conduct. Nor does he deny that he is not impressive in person. Instead, he begins by pointing to the meekness and gentleness of Christ. In doing so, Paul suggests such traits should not be mistaken for weakness. Christ, after all, humbled himself to the point of death, but He was not weak. Along those lines, Paul begs the Corinthians not to make him show how bold and confident he can be in person when he next comes to visit them. He is prepared to be surprisingly brash with those who are accusing him of a lack of integrity (2 Corinthians 10:1–2).

Rivals for the Corinthians’ loyalty may see themselves in a competition with Paul, but he understands it to be a war. He will not fight this war with physical weapons, but with spiritual ones. The spiritual weapons he and his associates wield carry the divine power to destroy strongholds of demonic activity. They can even cut through impressive-but-faulty arguments these false apostles are making against the true knowledge of God.

Paul and his fellow warriors will take the Corinthians’ very thoughts captive, allowing them to once again believe what is true and return to obeying Christ. With their spiritual weapons and God-given authority as Christ’s representatives, they stand ready to punish every disobedience against Christ. This includes both the deceptive false teachers and any believers living in sinful rebellion (2 Corinthians 10:3–6).

After these strong, warlike words, Paul begins to reason with the Corinthians. Are they confident that they belong to Christ? If so, they should remember that he was the one who introduced them to Christ. That means Christ is real in him, as well. He is not a false apostle. Paul’s authority as Christ’s apostle is real, and he intends to use it to build the Corinthians up, even if that means disciplining them. He is not ashamed of that. His letters are not empty threats meant to frighten them; he will follow through on what he writes (2 Corinthians 10:7–11).

What Paul will not do is to participate in a competition for popularity. His purpose is to lead others to faith in God, not to love of Paul. He won’t join in measuring himself against others, bragging about his skills and other blatant self-promotions. From Paul’s perspective, he does not need to compete. He has already completed his first mission: to bring the Corinthians to faith in Jesus. His hope now is to bring the gospel to more and more people, maybe with their help (2 Corinthians 10:12–16).

Paul refuses to join in a game of trading boasts with those who challenge him. Instead, he will boast in the Lord. The Corinthians, of all people, should know that Paul has the Lord’s approval and that is what matters most of all (2 Corinthians 10:17).

Chapter Context
Second Corinthians 10 continues the pattern of Paul’s letter, as he deals with one topic after another in an orderly way. After concluding his comments about the contribution to the Christians in Jerusalem, Paul tackles a personal charge against him: that he is too unimpressive in person to be a true apostle of Christ. He insists he will follow through on the strong words in his letters when he comes to see them. He is fighting a spiritual war for the minds of the Corinthians and their obedience to Christ and will not stoop to the blatant self-promotion of the false apostles. This counter of false teachers continue into chapter 11.

Verse by Verse

Verse 1. I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ — I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away! —

The end of chapter 9 completed an appeal to the Corinthians. Paul called on them to renew their enthusiasm for the collection for the Jerusalem Christians. Here, Paul returns to a defense of himself, especially from those in Corinth who are questioning his integrity.

He begins by declaring himself boldly. “I, Paul, myself” he writes, intending to emphasize exactly who he is in Christ in the following verses. He appeals to the virtues exhibited by Christ. Properly understood, qualities such as meekness and gentleness were valued in the Greek culture of Paul’s day. In fact, they were expected from strong leaders.

As used here, meekness is not weakness. The Greek term prautētos has more to do with humility than softness; it implies strength under control. In Paul’s case, comparing his letters to his personal conduct, it means the ability to keep a calm spirit under pressure. Paul can keep his power under control and not exercise it beyond what is necessary.

Gentleness, too, requires responding to others with understanding. The Greek term epieikeias implies someone who can adjust to circumstances and responses, rather than forcing them to adjust to you. Another translation for this word is “tolerance.” Paul wants the Corinthians to see that he is approaching them with these Christlike qualities and not with weakness.

Some in Corinth, apparently, were saying that Paul was weak, at least in person. He quotes them in this verse as saying that he is “humble”; in this context, this is meant in the sense of being downcast, low, or lacking confidence. This, supposedly, is Paul’s attitude when he is with them, as opposed to being brash when he is away, writing his letters. He will counter that accusation in the following verses.

Context Summary
Second Corinthians 10:1–18 contains Paul’s response to charges against him from critics in Corinth. They claim that though his letters are potent, he is pathetic in person. Paul does not argue either point. However, he issues a stern warning: that he will arrive prepared for boldness in Christ in punishing every disobedience. He describes the conflict with the false apostles as a spiritual war. He and his associates plan to win that battle by capturing the thoughts of the Corinthians again so they will obey Christ. He will not boast to defend himself except in the Lord.

Verse 2. I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of walking according to the flesh.

Some critics have said that Paul was bold in his letters, but weak and unconfident when talking face to face. Paul does not deny that he’s gentler in person than in writing. However, Paul turns that point into a warning: the Corinthian church doesn’t want him to be as strident as he’s able when he next sees them in person. He has appealed to them by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, suggesting that what other see as weakness is actually Christlike meekness. Paul is prepared to set that aside to be truly bold with them, if needed, especially with those who have been accusing him of walking according to the flesh.

Based on Paul’s earlier commendation of himself and his fellow workers for the gospel, it seems that false teachers among the Corinthians were accusing Paul of being a false apostle. Perhaps they accused him of lack of integrity. Or they suggested he was working only for his own gain. Perhaps they accused him of planning to take some of the collection for the Jerusalem Christians for himself. Paul warns that he will show boldness to those who suspect him or his team of self-serving motives. Or Paul may mean something else by the phrase “walking according to the flesh,” as revealed in the following verse.

Verse 3. For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh.

Some in Corinth have said Paul is brave when writing letters far away but unconfident and timid when he is with them in person. The false teachers or false apostles who had come in among the Corinthians may have been more naturally impressive in person. In verse 10, Paul will quote these opponents as saying about him, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.” In the prior verse, Paul warned them not to mistake his Christlike meekness—which refers to strength under control—for weakness.

He says that though he and his friends walk in the flesh, he is not waging war according to the flesh. In saying this, Paul seems to be using a different meaning than we usually associate with this phrase, perhaps intentionally turning it around from the previous verse to make his point. Instead of meaning living in a “fleshly” way, driven by the body’s sinful desires, Paul changes the phrase to mean living only according to the limited abilities of a human body. In this letter, he has already described his own limited body as wasting away (2 Corinthians 4:16). In other words, Paul does not see himself as physically strong or impressive.

In that sense, Paul writes, his opponents are right. He is limited by his “flesh,” his body. He adds, though, a bit ominously, that he does not wage war according to the flesh. As he will clarify in the following verses, he and his co-workers see themselves as engaged in spiritual warfare, doing battle with spiritual weapons. In saying this, he is making clear to the Corinthians that he sees this disagreement with his opponents in Corinth as more than a mere political struggle over authority. It is nothing less than a spiritual war with eternal consequences.

Verse 4. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.

Opponents to Paul’s ministry have, perhaps, challenged his authority as an apostle or maybe even his qualifications to be an apostle. Paul has agreed that he and his co-workers for the gospel are limited by fleshly human bodies that are wasting away (2 Corinthians 4:16), but he wrote in the previous verse that they do not wage war with their physical bodies. The body is involved, of course, but it’s not the primary way we battle in the spiritual realm.

The fact that Paul introduces warfare into the conversation signals the seriousness he gives this conflict. Those among the Corinthians challenging his authority are not merely competing, they are disrupting the growth and health of the church. Paul knows this is not a simple contest for power. It is a spiritual battle with eternal consequences. He and his friends take on this battle armed with spiritual weapons, not physical or “fleshly” ones.

These powerful weapons can “destroy strongholds,” translated quite literally from the Greek kathairesin ochyrōmatōn. This phrase implies the ability to overcome resistance and break through barriers. The Greek root word ochuroma also referred to arguments used during a debate; this adds a focus to Paul’s statement. In other letters, Paul describes prayer and the Word of God as spiritual weapons (Ephesians 6:17–18). These weapons access God’s power to destroy concentrated resistance of God’s enemies, particularly by demonstrating that they are false.

Verse 5. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

This passage is answering critics among the Corinthians who claim Paul’s brash letters and calm persona are evidence of hypocrisy or weakness. Their intent seems to have been undermining authority as an apostle. They would particularly have objected to Paul’s right to rebuke or correct those in Corinth in matters of the knowledge of God and the practice of Christian faith.

Paul takes this challenge seriously. He sees himself at war with these false teachers. He has written that he does not fight with physical weapons but with spiritual ones. These tools, such as prayer and Scripture, are powered by God. This makes them potent enough for Paul and his fellow workers to destroy strongholds of resistance to the true gospel of Jesus. The prior verse used terminology referring both to military fortresses and to debate—combining imagery to make a powerful point.

The battlefield in question is not an earthly region, but the hearts and minds of the people in Corinth. In God’s power, Paul and his co-workers for Christ are able to destroy all the arguments and impressive-sounding opinions his opponents put forward against the knowledge of God. Using godly tools, Paul and his associates destroy the feeble arguments, but they capture the thoughts of the people in order to motivate them to obey Christ.

In posing this as spiritual war for the mind, Paul reveals an essential truth. Wrong teaching leads to wrong thinking, which leads to disobedience to Christ. Understanding the true knowledge of God leads to right thinking, which leads to obedience to Christ. In going to war against the false arguments of his opponents, Paul’s final goal is that God’s people would obey Christ. Paul doesn’t fight for his own glory or for the sake of victory alone, but to bring more and more obedience to Christ among the Corinthians.

Verse 6. being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.

Paul has been describing a spiritual war between he and his co-workers for Christ, against false teachers among the Corinthians. The battlefield was the minds of the Corinthians themselves, and victory would be won when the Corinthians obeyed Christ. Using the weapons of God in God’s power, Paul and his companions were fully equipped to destroy the impressive-sounding arguments of his opponents against the knowledge of God. They would capture the thoughts of the Corinthians. Since actions follow thought, the Corinthians would return to obeying Christ (2 Corinthians 10:1–6).

Paul now adds that he was ready to punish disobedience to Christ among them, but only when their obedience is complete. Likely this means Paul’s first priority is to see the majority of the Corinthian believers obeying Christ in all things, including godly direction through Christ’s representative: Paul. Paul and his associates are ready, though, to punish those in Corinth who refuse to obey. This may refer especially to the false teachers among them.

By punishment, Paul does not mean he has any interest or authority relating to physical harm. Even to the opponents of the gospel of Jesus, Christians are not permitted to use violence in an attempt to defend the faith (John 18:36). This was part of Paul’s earlier comment that his weapons are not physical, but spiritual. The punishment referred to here would include excommunication of those to opposed to God (1 Corinthians 5:1–2). It would mean some form of spiritual discipline against those in Christ who are living in rebellion.

This is offered as a warning to those who think Paul will be too weak or soft-spoken in person to actually follow through on his strong words in this letter.

Verse 7. Look at what is before your eyes. If anyone is confident that he is Christ ‘s, let him remind himself that just as he is Christ ‘s, so also are we.

Paul’s legitimacy as an apostle is being challenged in the church at Corinth. This is probably coming from outsiders who are false teachers or self-titled apostles. Those opponents point to Paul’s continual suffering, his weakness as a speaker when in person, and perhaps the lack of signs and wonders he performs as evidence that he is not much of a spiritual leader. Some Corinthian believers may have begun to believe these challenges, turning not just from Paul but also from Christ, whom Paul represents.

This passage urges these Christians to look at the evidence right in front of them. In other words, why is there a church in Corinth in the first place? Why do most of them even believe in Christ? They believed the gospel when Paul preached it to them. How could they believe themselves to belong to Christ and not believe that Paul also belongs to Christ?

Some translators read the Greek phrase at the beginning of this verse differently. The NIV, for instance, translates it, “You are judging by appearances,” meaning that the Corinthians are sizing Paul up based on his unimpressive physical presentation instead of the spiritual reality in Christ. This translation would also make sense in the context of the letter, as does the idea that Paul is urging them to look around and see the results of his teaching with their own eyes.

Verse 8. For even if I boast a little too much of our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be ashamed.

Outsiders and false teachers are dismissing Paul’s authority as an apostle, eroding confidence in the church at Corinth. These critics want to turn the Corinthians away from seeing Paul’s teaching as coming directly from Christ. Paul views this challenge as a spiritual war, a battle for the minds of the Corinthians and their obedience to Christ. As always, Scripture is explicitly clear that this “war” is not material or earthly—it has no connection to violence of any kind (John 18:36; 2 Corinthians 10:3–4).

Now Paul reveals another criticism levied by voice in Corinth: that he talks too much about his spiritual authority. Paul does not believe that he boasts too much about this. Instead he says something like, “Even if that were true, I will not be ashamed.”

It’s undeniable that Paul forcefully claimed his authority as Christ’s representative to the Corinthians. Why is that appropriate? First and foremost, it is because Christ truly gave Paul that authority. If Paul did not acknowledge and act on that authority, he would be guilty of disobeying Christ’s mission to him.

Second, the spiritual authority Christ gave to Paul over the Corinthians is an authority of Christlike service to them. Paul uses that authority, as Christ would, to build up the Corinthians and not to destroy them. In other words, all his correction and rebukes are for their good. They have never been for their harm, or for Paul’s benefit. This is why Paul will never be ashamed of the accusation that he is constantly claiming his role as authority over them in Christ.

Verse 9. I do not want to appear to be frightening you with my letters.

Paul has been defending himself from a charge by some in Corinth. False teachers, people bitter about being called out for sin, and competing leaders have claimed Paul is an unimpressive speaker in person, though he is bold and strong in his letters to them.

The ability to speak with eloquence and good arguments was highly valued in Greek culture. Believers in Corinth would have grown up hearing some of the best traveling speakers in their society, making presentations on all kinds of philosophical topics. Paul, apparently, was much less polished and impressive as a speaker, when compared with the secular presenters of the day. He does not argue against the charge in the following verse that “his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.”

Instead he says here that the point of his “bold” letters is not to frighten his readers. Most likely, what Paul implies is that he is not bluffing: these are not empty threats. His words are warnings he will follow through when he is with them in person. They should believe he will back up his written words when he shows up among them. Paul will go on to say that the impressiveness of his speaking is less important than what he actually does when he is with them.

Verse 10. For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.”

The accusation in this verse is at the heart of Paul’s responses in this chapter. Apparently, a group of false teachers had crept in among the Corinthians to challenge Paul’s authority as an apostle. One thing they pointed to was how unimpressive he was as a speaker, compared with the eloquent and dramatic secular speakers famous in Greek society. The false apostles apparently gave him credit for “weighty and strong” letters, but they suggested that a true apostle would be just as impressive and convincing face to face.

Another likely meaning of this criticism is hypocrisy; the false teachers are suggesting that Paul is only brave when he’s far away, and not so bold in person. Paul will answer that what he does, and what he will do, when he is with them in person is far more important than how he looks or sounds when doing it.

Verse 11. Let such a person understand that what we say by letter when absent, we do when present.

Paul is answering one of the primary accusations from his opponents in Corinth. He quotes them in the previous verse as saying his writing is strong, but his personal presence is weak (2 Corinthians 10:10). Part of this criticism seems to be that Paul is not as impressive in person as he is in writing, so he’s not to be taken seriously. The other accusation, dealt with here, would be that Paul is a coward. In other words, false teachers suggest the Corinthians need not worry about what Paul wrote, claiming he would not back it up when he was with them in person.

In response, Paul wrote that he and his associates will do exactly what his letters say when he is there in person. This includes his warning in verse 6 that they will punish every disobedience. He does not counter the accusation that he is unimpressive in person. Rather, he insists that giving impressive speeches matters less than the substance of what a person truly says and does.

Verse 12. Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.

Paul is answering challenges to his authority as an apostle, made by false teachers among the Corinthians. One of their accusations was that, though Paul’s letters were bold and strongly worded, he was unimpressive as a person when he was with them in person. In other words, the Corinthians did not need to worry about what Paul wrote since he could not back it up in a meaningful way when he showed up.

Paul’s answer is that he and his friends would, in fact, do everything he wrote in his letters, no matter how unimpressive he might appear.

Now he clarifies, somewhat sarcastically, that he does not see himself as being in competition with his opponents in Corinth. They are commending themselves to the Corinthians based on secular standards that included dramatic speaking ability and skillful self-promotion. Paul is not participating in the cultural competition to be the most popular or most followed public personality. In fact, he describes his opponents as being without understanding—they are unwise—as proven by their continual need to measure themselves against each other. That’s a game Paul refuses to play. He doesn’t need to win a cultural competition to prove he truly represents Christ to the Corinthians.

Verse 13. But we will not boast beyond limits, but will boast only with regard to the area of influence God assigned to us, to reach even to you.

Opponents in Corinth are challenging Paul’s authority as a genuine representative of Christ. They pointed to Paul’s lack of an impressive personal attitude. Compared to secular orators, Paul was not as entertaining, dramatic, or engaging. In response, Paul replied in the previous verse that those critics were unwise to participate in competition by comparing themselves to others. Paul refused to even attempt to measure up to the standards of Greek society in this way. His mission was not to win a popularity game, which often included blatant self-promotion.

Paul declares that he and his associates will not boast beyond limits. This means they would not overtly promote themselves in order to win a popularity contest against opponents. Instead, they would only boast about what God had given them to do in their own specific area of influence. That mission was nothing more than to reach the Corinthians with the gospel of Christ. By “boasting,” Paul means praising God’s power in them and God’s power for the Corinthians through them. Paul had used that power to reach the Corinthians with the gospel. That’s the only thing that mattered to him and the only thing he would boast about.

This serves as a model for all believers: the powerful truth that God does not call those who serve Him to be “impressive” according to the world’s standards. Instead, God empowers Christians to be victorious in the specific areas of influence in which He gives them work. All other comparisons and competitions become a distraction to the work that really matters.

Verse 14. For we are not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach you. For we were the first to come all the way to you with the gospel of Christ.

Because his speech is not as impressive as his writing, Paul’s critics among the Corinthians have suggested that believers need not worry what Paul may say or do when he arrives. False teachers point to themselves and other polished presenters as more qualified than Paul; such orators are much more successful according to the tastes of the surrounding culture.

Paul has answered that he refused to even participate in the competition they are describing (2 Corinthians 10:13). That pointless exercise involves people comparing themselves to each other, to figure out who is best. Paul does not need to play that game. God has already given him a completely different mission: to reach the Corinthians with the gospel of Christ.

Now Paul adds that he has already succeeded in what God gave him to do. He reached the Corinthians with the good news of salvation through faith in Christ. He does not need to “overextend” himself to try to be successful according to some worldly standard. In other words, he doesn’t need to compete. He doesn’t need to be the most impressive speaker, nor make the most entertaining arguments in order to win them away from other teachers. He already reached them, and they had already believed. Why would he go back and try to outperform his opponents to get the Corinthians to believe in Christ if they already believed?

Verse 15. We do not boast beyond limit in the labors of others. But our hope is that as your faith increases, our area of influence among you may be greatly enlarged,

Paul wrote in the previous verses that he refuses to participate in a popularity competition with his opponents in Corinth. He’s not interested in scrabbling to be seen as the most impressive speaker or the best at self-promotion. These false teachers were competing according to the world’s standards of comparison and measuring themselves against each other.

The mission given and empowered by God did not require Paul to prove himself worthy. He didn’t need to worry about putting on a show, giving impressive performances. Also, Paul had already completed the task at hand. He had reached the Corinthians with the gospel of Jesus, and they had believed. That’s all he had set out to do.

Paul adds now that he does not boast in work accomplished by others. He may mean that his opponents, the false teachers in Corinth, are attempting to claim the Corinthians as their own. This was despite the fact that Paul was the one who established the church there. He is the one who introduced the Corinthians to Christ, something they knew well.

Though the main task has been attained, Paul does not see his work as finished. His words here do not mean he has nothing left to do, now that those in the church in Corinth have come to Christ. Paul’s hope is that as their faith grows, his influence for Christ among them will grow, as well. This may mean that he hopes to see more and more people come to faith in Christ or that he hopes that they will contribute to his ministry so that he can replicate in other places what he has accomplished, in God’s power, among them.

Verse 16. so that we may preach the gospel in lands beyond you, without boasting of work already done in another ‘s area of influence.

In the previous verse, Paul wrote that, unlike his false-teaching opponents, he does not boast in work accomplished by others. The false apostles may have been taking credit for the existence or growth of the church in Corinth. Even though it was Paul who brought the gospel to Corinth, critics are trying to compete for authority over the church.

Paul’s hope is to bring the gospel of Jesus to new places where people had not yet trusted in Christ. He previously wrote that he hoped the growth of faith among the Corinthians would contribute to a greater area of influence (2 Corinthians 10:15). His drive for success is aimed entirely at creating more opportunities to preach the gospel. His hope seems to be that increased faith will allow the church in Corinth to contribute towards taking the gospel to new peoples and places—just as Paul did for them.

Verse 17. “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Some in Corinth had apparently begun to succumb to false teachers who bragged about their own skills, wisdom, and worthiness. Those frauds have pointed to Paul’s unimpressive personal appearance and lack of dramatic speaking skill as evidence that he was not a genuine representative of Christ.

Paul has written that he will not participate in such a competition. He has no reason to promote himself and down opponents in hopes of winning a popularity contest among the Corinthians. He has already won the only contest that matters: being successful, in God’s power, at introducing the Corinthians to Christ and establishing a church there. What would be the point of boasting in himself now?

To further support this, Paul quotes from Jeremiah 9:24, much as he did in an earlier letter to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 1:31). The Lord said to Jeremiah, “Let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth.”

Paul shortens this to, “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.” Paul has certainly presented evidence of his genuineness as an apostle and the falseness of his opponents, but his final boast is always in the Lord and not in himself.

Verse 18. For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

The bottom line of this passage is that Paul does not need to compete in a bragging contest with opponents in Corinth. Those false teachers may have been skillful by the standards of the day: demonstrating superiority through speaking skill, self-promotion, and tearing down competitors. Commending oneself was an important part of that competition.

Paul has said that he refuses to participate in that competition for several reasons. First, he has already accomplished what he set out to do: leading the Corinthians to faith in Christ. Another reason is that praising oneself does not actually make the person who is boasting worthy of anything. The self-praiser is not approved by anyone except himself. The one who is commended by the Lord, though, is approved by the one who matters most.

Paul is urging the Corinthians to stop allowing shallow showmen to turn their minds away from Paul and, by implication, away from Christ. They should know, better than most, that Paul’s role as Christ’s representative is genuine. They believed in Christ because of Paul’s message. At least for that reason, they should know the Lord has commended Paul. God’s approval of Paul should be the only opinion that matters to them.

End of Chapter 10.

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