2 Corinthians 10 Commentary
There is a feeling that Paul’s authority was undermined. Not only that, some troublemakers must have gone ahead to suggest that he wasn’t “Christian” enough.
Of course, there isn’t any evidence that the apostles at HQ in Jerusalem had issues with Paul. However, troublemakers must have made malicious references to the “superiority” of the other apostles. The devil stops at nothing! The brothers at Corinth needed to hear Paul’s side in what appears like a debate.
To these imposters, Paul wasn’t all courage, but rather a weakling who couldn’t face tough situations – A chicken that could only bark from a distance; a partially baked apostle in comparison to the Jerusalem apostles. Probably preaching a gospel that wasn’t practical – a gospel that he couldn’t defend in person. Probably a gospel that he couldn’t live himself.
Are we talking about the same Paul?
Such is the life of a leader! Weakling, hotheaded, stubborn, or even sinful. We invent more terms to describe our leaders.
Paul won’t fight them on their terms. He hopes the fight won’t even take place. Not because he doesn’t have the weapons. The armor of God detailed in his letter to the Ephesians comes to mind. He hopes they attain a level of obedience acceptable to Christ.
By the humility and gentleness of Christ, verse 1, Paul fights his battles. Humility and gentleness are his weapons. No wonder seasoned fighters of the world think of him as a joke. The qualities of the Holy Spirit, gentleness, kindness, and goodness (Gal 5:22): These aren’t signs of strength out there where sin and sinners thrive.
They measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. A saint who won’t have Christ as the standard isn’t worth the name!
The corporate world functions exactly like the devil. Paul distances himself from such motives. He is not out to make a name for himself. He is a simple Paul but with the big Holy Spirit – the same as can be found and was present in others. His work wasn’t inferior. His boasting is as loud as the extent to which the Holy Spirit worked in him.
This letter must be understood within the context of the time and the environment in which it was written. The Paul we know was always joyous when he learned about the faith of others in other fields. Some letters were written to churches he neither planted nor pastored. The apostles and believers were all of one mind – with Paul leading the love feast!
Some sections of the letter are messages that the imposters amongst the believers needed to hear. So they come with less grace and are more direct. They deserved it. It was meant to help them.
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