2 Corinthians 10:1–18 (NKJV)
1 Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you. 2 But I beg you that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. 7 Do you look at things according to the outward appearance? If anyone is convinced in himself that he is Christ’s, let him again consider this in himself, that just as he is Christ’s, even so we are Christ’s. 8 For even if I should boast somewhat more about our authority, which the Lord gave us for edification and not for your destruction, I shall not be ashamed—9 lest I seem to terrify you by letters. 10 “For his letters,” they say, “are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.” 11 Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such we will also be in deed when we are present. 12 For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. 13 We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us—a sphere which especially includes you. 14 For we are not overextending ourselves (as though our authority did not extend to you), for it was to you that we came with the gospel of Christ; 15 not boasting of things beyond measure, that is, in other men’s labors, but having hope, that as your faith is increased, we shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere, 16 to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s sphere of accomplishment. 17 But “he who glories, let him glory in the Lord.” 18 For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.
It appears that some members of the church in Corinth were listening to the wrong people. Other ministers had come claiming to be apostles and had led them to distrust Paul, who would soon be coming to pick up their offering for Jerusalem. “Don’t worry about Paul. He only sounds tough in his letters. He won’t rebuke you harshly when he comes in person. He’ll be meek and mild.”
On the contrary, Paul promises that he will be “bold against some,” even as the “meek and mild” Jesus sometimes upbraided the Pharisees for their hypocrisy or drove out the moneychangers from the Temple. Paul and the other apostles and ministers of Christ wielded God’s Word as a mighty weapon. No sin is off limits from being identified and condemned. No false argument is immune from being dismantled. No human idea at all is safe from being criticized and even brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.
Paul asserts his divine authority and insists that the Corinthians recognize it, especially since Paul was the very one who brought the Gospel to them in the first place and who was in fellowship with the rest of the Lord’s handpicked apostles.
Ministers today were not handpicked by Jesus as the apostles were; their authority is governed by the authority of the apostles and prophets. But their authority is still valid, given to them by God in their call and ordination, so they, too, have been armed with mighty spiritual weapons to address men’s behavior, ideas, and teachings and to make them conform to the Word of Christ. They do this, not to seek men’s approval, but God’s.
Let us pray: O Lord, bless the ministry of Your ministers. Grant them wisdom and boldness to preach Your Word with power. Amen.
