A Commentary of the Book of 2 Corinthians
By Dr. Barry L. Jenkins
Text Used: King James Version
Bible Study 2 Corinthians 10: 1-18
Text:
10 Now 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: 2 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. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 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; 6 and having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
7 Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ’s, even so are we Christ’s. 8 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: 9 that I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters. 10 For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible. 11 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.
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. 13 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. 14 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: 15 not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men’s labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly, 16 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. 17 But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. 18 For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.
Verse by verse commentary:
Verse 1: “Now 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: “
Paul’s critics within the minority at Corinth had grown quite vocal, suggesting that while his letters were imposing, his actual presence was insignificant. This follows a period where Paul had already issued a firm letter of discipline to the congregation.
In his defense, Paul appeals to them through the "meekness and gentleness of Christ." During his time in Corinth, he supported himself as a tentmaker to avoid being a financial burden to anyone. This manual labor in the marketplace—getting his hands dirty and perspiring under the sun—led some Corinthians to dismiss him as a mere ordinary man rather than an apostle. They viewed his humble, "base" appearance as a sign of weakness, questioning his authority by contrasting his bold writing with his unassuming physical presence.
By identifying with Christ’s gentleness, Paul highlights that he is following the example of the Lord, who did not use His voice for self-defense while on earth. Paul acknowledges he may seem ordinary and unremarkable in person, yet he remains an apostle who writes with divine authority.
Verse 2: “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. “
Although the apostle was fully prepared to engage in a courageous and resolute confrontation, he earnestly requested that the defiant minority in Corinth refrain from making such measures necessary. Paul desired to spare the congregation, yet he cautioned that he was ready to exercise his boldness in person if they compelled him to do so.
Verse 3: “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: “
In Greek, the term for flesh is sarx, a word that carries three distinct layers of meaning. Physically, it refers to the material body, the literal flesh on our bones. Psychologically, it denotes human weakness. Spiritually, it signifies the corrupt, fallen carnal nature inherent to humanity. Thus, sarx functions across physical, psychological, and spiritual dimensions.
While Paul employs the word in all these ways, he most often uses it to describe the old Adamic, fallen nature. For instance, in Rom. 7:18, he writes, “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing …” Here, he is clearly utilizing the spiritual sense of flesh to refer to a corrupt nature.
However, when Paul states, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh,” he is invoking the psychological meaning of weakness. Though he occupied a physical, weak human form while in Corinth, his actions were not driven by carnal energy. Instead, he engaged in spiritual warfare. This perspective aligns with his letter to the Ephesians, where he reminds believers that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, and spiritual wickedness in high places (Eph. 6:12).
Verse 4: “(for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) “
In this verse, which Paul presents as a parenthesis, he does not provide a specific list of weapons. The nature of spiritual warfare implies a spiritual adversary, which consequently demands the use of spiritual armor. We are assured that we possess weapons that are both mighty and effective. Are you capable of identifying the spiritual tools we require in the present day?
The Word of God serves as our primary weapon. We must maintain absolute confidence in its power, as it is the sword of the Spirit. When Paul entered Corinth—a center of religious and philosophical thought—he utilized the Word of God as his primary instrument. As he instructed in Ephesians, we are to take up "the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Eph. 6:17). Relying entirely on this "naked blade," Paul declared his lack of shame regarding the gospel, identifying it as the power of God for salvation for all who believe (Rom. 1:16). Our second weapon is the presence of the Holy Spirit. Paul was deeply aware of his own human limitations and recognized that he was both sealed and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Prayer constitutes another vital weapon in our arsenal. Although the Corinthian epistles contain limited references to prayer, it is evident that Paul maintained a steadfast belief in its importance.
Verse 5: “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; “
Satan's servants utilized sophisticated arguments and false wisdom as weapons in their assault on Paul. While the apostle had previously emphasized the contrast between worldly logic and the spiritual wisdom found in the cross, warning the Corinthians against such delusions, he now recognizes that his adversaries have made significant progress. Consequently, Paul must confront this false wisdom with renewed vigor to reclaim the obedience and loyalty of the Corinthian believers.
Furthermore, if every individual thought is brought into submission, then the entire person—including every motive, idea, decision, and desire—ultimately belongs to Christ.
Verse 6: “and having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.”
Paul stands prepared to penalize the false apostles for their destructive actions, provided the Corinthian congregation unites in opposition against them.
Verse 7: “ Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ’s, even so are we Christ’s.”
Paul addresses his detractors directly, asserting that his claim to Christ is just as valid and profound as theirs. The Puritan perspective, as seen in John Flavel’s work, suggests that God uses the weakness of His servants so that all glory remains His. By instructing the Corinthians not to judge by outward appearance, Paul directs them away from human-centric metrics and toward the sufficiency of Christ’s grace. This leads to the warning against self-commendation. True confidence rests in God’s faithfulness rather than self-resolve. Ultimately, the only approval that matters is from the Lord, as all glory belongs to Him alone.
Verse 8: “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: “
Paul recognizes the necessity of invoking the divine authority bestowed upon him by Christ, cautioning the Corinthians of his preparedness to exercise it.
Verse 9: “that I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters. “
Paul was accused by false apostles of being an abusive leader who used his letters as a means of intimidation. However, Paul's true motivation was rooted in love; he did not intend to terrify the Corinthians, but rather to lead them toward repentance.
Verse 10: “For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible. “
Paul avoided the sophisticated, performative oratory that the world celebrated and which served to bring acclaim to the orator. His critics, and those they influenced, leveraged his lack of such worldly skill as a point of attack against his ministry.
Verse 11: “ 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. “
Paul dismissed the deceptive allegations leveled against him and reasserted his personal integrity. He maintained that his character and actions in person would perfectly mirror the authority and convictions expressed in his correspondence.
Verse 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. “
The core conflict prompting Paul's vigorous defense of his apostleship finally emerges. Prompted by rival "apostles," several prominent Corinthians had started to weigh these newcomers against Paul, often to his detriment. Critics characterized him as an inadequate orator and found his relationship with the congregation lacking—citing his shift from boldness in his letters to timidity in person. Furthermore, they perceived his refusal of financial support as unloving, viewing it as a slight that relegated them to inferior status, and they judged him lacking in certain "power"-filled religious experiences. Paul, however, flatly rejects evaluating himself based on his opponents' superficial standards of self-aggrandizement and promotion. When he does engage in boasting, he employs irony, adopting the structure of their comparisons while fundamentally rejecting their misguided values.
Verse 13: “ 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.”
While Paul limits his commendation to the work God specifically assigned to him, he affirms that this divine mandate explicitly included establishing the church in Corinth as their apostle. By asserting this, he suggests that his boastful adversaries in Corinth have overstepped their bounds and are encroaching upon his rightful sphere of apostolic duty.
Verse 14: “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: “
Paul was guided by the principle that "our measure is the boundary of our efforts." This rule was especially evident during his mission in Corinth, where he exercised his apostolic authority. Driven by divine guidance, he successfully brought many in that city to the Christian faith.
Verse 15: “not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men’s labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly,”
Paul anticipated that once the turmoil in Corinth was settled and the believers' faith grew stronger, he could look to them for support in bringing his mission to previously unreached territories.
Verse 16: “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.”
The apostle envisioned the Corinthians flourishing spiritually, serving as a strategic hub for his further evangelistic efforts—likely extending his reach toward Rome and eventually Spain.
Verse 17: “But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.”
Referencing Jeremiah 9: 24, Paul uses the concept of "glorieth" to proclaim the greatness of a subject. Throughout this epistle, his boasting is consistently directed toward honoring God.
Verse 18: “For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.”
Paul was meticulous in making only those claims rooted in God's actions and divine intentions, recognizing that the Lord's ultimate judgment supersedes all human judgment. To conclude this section, he emphasizes the fundamental principle that an individual must prioritize seeking God's approval over the validation of men.
