Paul Defends His Authority
June 5, 2019
Commentary
Satan seeks to blind minds to God’s light, fortify minds against God’s truth and seduce minds from God’s love (vv. 1-6). We need to keep in mind that throughout this letter Paul is writing to a divided church, and a church that is being seduced by false teachers. These false teachers charged Paul with being very courageous when he wrote letters from a distance but said that he was very weak when he was present with the Corinthians. I remember a few years ago of hearing a great Christian leader of our day described as a person who had a poison pen when he wrote but was like a gentle lamb when you heard him preach. If Paul was a weakling, then so was Jesus Christ, for Jesus was very meek and gentle (Matthew 11:29). However, our Lord could also be stern and even showed anger when the occasion demanded it (Matthew 15:1-2).
In this section of his letter, Paul confronts these false teachers and charges them with being ministers of Satan who want to destroy the work of God. Like many “religious personalities” today, these Judaizers impressed the people with their overpowering personalities. As you read these verses you could get the impression that Paul was bragging about himself; but such was not the case. His purpose was to exalt Christ and not himself (I Corinthians 2:1-5). Christians usually reflect the atmosphere of the church or fellowship they are associated with. If they are in an atmosphere of dictatorial leadership, they will depend on man’s wisdom and strength. If they are in an atmosphere of humility and love, they will learn to depend on the Lord. Paul wanted his converts to trust the Lord and not the servant, so he had deliberately “played down” his own authority and ability.
Application
As a Christian I need to “cast down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (v. 5).
2 Corinthians 10:1– 6 (NET)
1 Now I, Paul, appeal to you personally by the meekness and gentleness of Christ (I who am meek when present among you, but am full of courage toward you when away!)— 2 now I ask that when I am present I may not have to be bold with the confidence that (I expect) I will dare to use against some who consider us to be behaving according to human standards. 3 For though we live as human beings, we do not wage war according to human standards, 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not human weapons, but are made powerful by God for tearing down strongholds. We tear down arguments 5 and every arrogant obstacle that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to make it obey Christ. 6 We are also ready to punish every act of disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.