2 Corinthians 10

2 Corinthians 10:1-6

In this chapter the apostle, in a mild and humble manner, asserteth his authority, ver. 1—6. He then proceeds to reefen the safe with the Corinthians, and refresh to justify himself, or to act by such rules as the false teachers did, but according to the better rules he had fared for himself, ver. 7, to the end.

1. Now I Paul myself beseech you, by the meeknefs and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am basic 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: Vol. II.

2. NOW I Paul myself beseech you, by the meeknefs and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am basic 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: Vol. II.

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 cured, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds) 5. Calling down imaginations, and every high thing that reauleth 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.

No where had the apostle met with more malignant insinuations, than from the false teachers at Corinth; he is obliged therefore, in justice to himself, to refute their fanatics.

1. Though he had it in his power to punish, he rather chose mildly to increase, imitating the meeknefs and gentleness of his blessed Master. The false teachers reviled him as a poor despicable animal, and mean in his abilities, as diminutive in his nature, who baroned and cringed when praying, but when absent wrote in such a magnificent style; terrifying them into compliance with his will, by vain health of his apostolic rod. But he wished not to be compelled to exercise the power wherewith he was unveiled, and to their faces boldly to rebuke, and severely chastify, those who dared insinuate as if he sailed after the flesh, with views of secular advantage, and influenced by carnal policy. Now, (1.) However great provocations we may meet with, the example of the meek and gentle Lamb of God should ever be in our eye. (2.) If men will not be reformed, they must be ruined. (3.) The best of men and members may expect malignant traducers.

2. He asserts the integrity of his preaching and conduct. For though we war in the flesh, surrounded with the common infirmities of humanity, we do not war after the flesh, under the maxims of fleshly wisdom, or for any selfish truth. For the measure of our warfare are not cured; we war not against the powers of evil with an arm of flesh, or pretend to convince by mere human persuasion; but that gospel we preach becomes effectual through divine operation, and in so greatly through God, the Spirit’s energy, to the pulling down of the strong holds in his and Satan in the world, and in the hearts of men; getting down imaginations, confuting the corrupt reasoning of self-righteous rabbis and proud philosophers; and every high thing that reauleth itself against the knowledge of God, confounding the pride and self-sufficiency of the unhumbled heart; and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; engaging the sinner to bow to his gentle voice; submitting his reason to revelation, his will to the commands of Jesus, and in every sentiment of his soul yielding a willing subjection to the authority of the great Redeemer. Now, (1.) Men are not to be persuaded by the foward, but by the gospel. (2.) Satan’s power is strong in the human heart; nothing but the power of Jesus can dethrone him. (3.) Nothing is more opposite to the knowledge of God, than a high conceit of our own wisdom and righteousness.

3. He threatens the offenders, having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, and inflict condign punishment on their false teachers, and maligners of the true apostles; when your obedience is fulfilled, and milder methods have recovered the penitent members from those who continue refractory.

4. Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man truth 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 distinction) 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 weighy and powerful, but his bodily preference 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 indeed when we are present. 12. For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with those that commend themselves; but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves amongst 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 commemleth.

2 Corinthians 10:9

—18. The apostles, gracious the case with the Corinthians. Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? and form your judgment merely on external show? If any man tryst to himself, that he is Christ’s, that he belongs to him as a member of his body mythical, or is commissioned by him as a minister; let him of himself think this again, that as he is Christ’s, can you see on Christ’s, whatever evidence he may produce of the one or the other, I can at least equal him. For though I should boast Jehovah’s more of our authority, than I have done, or than the vanish of my traducers dare to do concerning the powers with which they are unselfish, (which authority the Lord hath given as for obfiscation of his church, and not for your obfiscation, to drive offenders to despair by I scotty), I should not be abhorred, but dare speak with truth and confidence. But I forbear, that I may not seem, as these men fuggish, as if I would terrify you by letters. For his letters, joy they are wrigley and powerful; service in an authoritative stream, and big with menace: But his bodily presence is weak, and his good-metropolitan; he appears with no dignity of presence and aspect, and his parts and closcations are as despicable as his stature. In answer to such a contemptuous isolate, I reply,

1. Let such an one think this, and he assured, that such as no one in word by letters, when we are absent, such will we be able in deed when no one present, and execute every threatening we denounce against the obfiscated imposition.

2. We never act with taillhood and offentation, like these followers; for we dare not make any others of the number, or compare any others with you that command themselves, puffed up with vain concern, and blunded with self-attentations: for which they hardly value themselves on their imaginary greatness, measuring themselves by themselves, and for peeling themselves the standard of experience, and comparing themselves among all themselves, by the poor and infirmities and endowments of others equally vain, they are not only, hadfully fencing they are something, when it fact they are nothing. Note, All self-applauds is hateful. We should look to others superior excellences to be humble, and not proudly vanish ourselves over those beneath us.

3. The apostles lays down the proper rule of conduct. But we will not boast of things without our messers, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you: like these who run in the Ethiopian games, we have kept the line marked out for our race, and in a regular course have preached the gospel as far as Corinth. For we stretch not ourselves beyond our messers, as these false apostles do, as though we reached not unto you, and had in coming to Corinth entered into another man’s presence; for we are now as far as to you as is in preaching the gospel of Christ, through countries where his name had not been heard before: not boasting of things without our messers, that is, of other men’s labours, and taking to my self the credit of their success; but having hope when your faith is strong, if your church affairs regulated, and your divisions healed, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly, to preach the gospel in the region beyond you, where darkness still reigns uncontrollable; and not to boast in another man’s line of things made ready to our hand, affirming to myself the honour of their labours. But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord, affirming to the grace of God alone the whole of whatever gifts he enjoys, or success he may be blessed with, and taking no praise to himself; for not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commemleth, and his approbation is the only true and substantial honour.