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2 Corinthians

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2 Corinthians 10

Commentary · verses 1-18

This chapter was the most important chapter written in the Bible regarding spiritual warfare, specifically offensive spiritual warfare. Ephesians 6 was also concerned with spiritual warfare but was specific to defensive spiritual warfare.

1Now I Paul myself entreat you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I who in your presence am lowly among you, but being absent am of good courage toward you: 2yea, I beseech you, that I may not when present show courage with the confidence wherewith I count to be bold against some, who count of us as if we walked according to the flesh.

1Now 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:

2But 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.

Commentary · verses 1-2

Paul, who was continually humble in the presence of the Corinthians, was going to take this time writing to them to be of good (Right and Just) courage toward them. He was going to be bold. However, he began this section making the point that he did not approach people as if he was physically strong, like did those that walked according to the flesh.

3For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh

3For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

Commentary · verse 3

Doctrine: The war that believers face is spiritual. We walk in the flesh but we do not war according to the flesh. This sentence ought to convict people who focus on physical strength (yelling, shaking, contracting muscles, etc.) that they are not warring according to the spirit.

4(for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the casting down of strongholds);

4(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

Commentary · verse 4

Not only is the war spiritual but even the weapons of our warfare are spiritual ("not of the flesh") and the weapons are mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds: "a castle, stronghold, fortress, fastness, anything on which one relies, of the arguments and reasonings by which a disputant endeavors to fortify his opinion and defend it against his opponent."

A stronghold is a source of resources/supplies within the enemy's territory. A stronghold is not a warehouse on your side of the battle line. A stronghold would be a warehouse you can access that is on the other side of the battle line. These weapons are able to cast down sources of supplies for the enemy that are on our side of the battle line, which is in our brain.

5casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ;

5Casting 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;

Commentary · verse 5

Doctrine: Spiritual warfare is according to thoughts and words. Our weapons are mighty through God, to the casting down of imaginations (thought) and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge (thought) of God. The weapons that are mighty through God will bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Imaginations are made of thoughts; thoughts are made of words.

Spiritual warfare is made up of words and sentences.

Spiritual warfare is not physical. Throughout the Gospels and the Book of Acts, offensive spiritual warfare was always done with words and sentences.

6and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience shall be made full.

6And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

Commentary · verse 6

Offensive spiritual warfare will happen when your obedience is made full. We must have a good thought process in order to do offensive spiritual warfare. Also, the Holy Spirit initiates offensive spiritual warfare: we need to be obedient (which is grace) and then the Holy Spirit can flow through us to do offensive spiritual warfare.

7Ye look at the things that are before your face. If any man trusteth in himself that he is Christ’s, let him consider this again with himself, that, even as he is Christ’s, so also are we.

8For though I should glory somewhat abundantly concerning our authority (which the Lord gave for building you up, and not for casting you down), I shall not be put to shame:

7Do 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.

8For 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:

Commentary · verses 7-8

Paul's authority was given for the edification of others.

9that I may not seem as if I would terrify you by my letters.

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

11Let such a one reckon this, that, what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such are we also in deed when we are present.

9That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters.

10For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.

11Let 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.

Commentary · verses 9-11

Paul again contrasted his weak physical approach with his strong spiritual approach through words. Real strength, power, and authority come by the words we use. Do you understand the words you use? Can you define the words you use? Are those definitions God's definitions?

12For we are not bold to number or compare ourselves with certain of them that commend themselves: but they themselves, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are without understanding.

12For 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.

Commentary · verse 12

Paul blatantly stated that comparing yourselves to others and measuring yourself against others was foolish. Those who did this were "without understanding." Measuring yourself against another person denies the principle of uniqueness. We ought to measure ourselves against ourselves. When is the last time you grew? When is the last time you changed a deeply held belief?

13But we will not glory beyond our measure, but according to the measure of the province which God apportioned to us as a measure, to reach even unto you.

13But 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.

Commentary · verse 13

Here, Paul stated our measure for glory ought to be the measure God has appointed to us: who God created you to BE.

14For we stretch not ourselves overmuch, as though we reached not unto you: for we came even as far as unto you in the gospel of Christ: 15not glorying beyond our measure, that is, in other men’s labors; but having hope that, as your faith groweth, we shall be magnified in you according to our province unto further abundance,

14For 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:

15Not 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,

Commentary · verses 14-15

Paul hoped that his actions would be magnified by being invested into others. He wanted his actions to help others grow.

16so as to preach the gospel even unto the parts beyond you, and not to glory in another’s province in regard of things ready to our hand.

17But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

16To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s line of things made ready to our hand.

17But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

Commentary · verses 16-17

Paul referenced Jeremiah 9:23-24. He also referenced this verse from Jeremiah in 1 Corinthians 1:31, the end of his first chapter of his first letter to the Corinthians.

18For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.

18For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.

Commentary · verse 18

You are approved by being commended by God (spiritual), not being commended by you (physical). This chapter ended the way it began: Paul focused the reader on the spiritual, not the physical.

Theme of Chapter 10: Paul presented the principles of offensive spiritual warfare. It is initiated by the Holy Spirit once our obedience is made full by having a good thought process. Offensive spiritual warfare is not physical at all. It is done with words and sentences because the battle is over the thoughts in our brains.

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