The Bible — World English Bible
2 Corinthians 10
In brief
In 2 Corinthians 10, Paul answers those who judge him weak in person and harsh in letters. He explains that the Christian fight is not waged according to the flesh: the weapons are mighty before God for throwing down strongholds and imaginations, and every thought is taken captive to Christ. He reproaches the Corinthians for looking at outward appearance, defends his authority given to build up, and concludes that only the one whom the Lord commends is approved.
The chapter in 4 parts
1Now I Paul, myself, entreat you by the humility and gentleness of Christ, I who in your presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you.
2Yes, I beg you that I may not, when present, show courage with the confidence with which I intend to be bold against some, who consider us to be walking according to the flesh.
3For though we walk in the flesh, we don’t wage war according to the flesh;
4for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the throwing down of strongholds,
5throwing 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,
6and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience when your obedience is made full.
7Do you look at things only as they appear in front of your face? If anyone trusts in himself that he is Christ’s, let him consider this again with himself, that even as he is Christ’s, so we also are Christ’s.
8For even if I boast somewhat abundantly concerning our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up, and not for casting you down, I will not be ashamed,
9that I may not seem as if I desire to terrify you by my letters.
10For, “His letters”, they say, “are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech is despised.”
11Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such are we also in deed when we are present.
12For we are not bold to number or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves. But they themselves, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are without understanding.
13But we will not boast beyond proper limits, but within the boundaries with which God appointed to us, which reach even to you.
14For we don’t stretch ourselves too much, as though we didn’t reach to you. For we came even as far as to you with the Good News of Christ,
15not boasting beyond proper limits in other men’s labors, but having hope that as your faith grows, we will be abundantly enlarged by you in our sphere of influence,
16so as to preach the Good News even to the parts beyond you, not to boast in what someone else has already done.
17But “he who boasts, let him boast in the Lord.”
18For it isn’t he who commends himself who is approved, but whom the Lord commends.
Key verses
For though we walk in the flesh, we don’t wage war according to the flesh; for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the throwing down of strongholds,
Paul lives in the flesh, like everyone, but he does not fight with the means of the flesh. His weapons draw their power from God and aim at throwing down strongholds.
throwing 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,
The strongholds he speaks of are first of all imaginations and thoughts. Bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ is a fight that begins in the mind.
For even if I boast somewhat abundantly concerning our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up, and not for casting you down, I will not be ashamed,
The authority Paul claims has a precise purpose: building up and not tearing down. Spiritual authority is measured by what it builds.
For, “His letters”, they say, “are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech is despised.”
Paul quotes his critics, who find him strong in letters but weak in person. He does not defend himself with eloquence, he points to the consistency of his conduct.
But “he who boasts, let him boast in the Lord.” For it isn’t he who commends himself who is approved, but whom the Lord commends.
Commending yourself proves nothing. The only glory that counts is the one you receive from the Lord, which protects against pride as much as against an inferiority complex.
What the sermons say
Frequently asked questions about 2 Corinthians 10
What does 2 Corinthians 10:4 mean about the weapons of our warfare?
Paul affirms that Christians do not fight with the means of the flesh, but with weapons drawing their power from God for throwing down strongholds. In context, these strongholds are reasonings and attitudes that oppose the knowledge of God, more than human enemies.
What does it mean to bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ?
Paul describes an inner work: examining what we think and submitting our reasonings to Christ rather than letting them lead us. This happens through the Word and prayer. The verse does not promise the absence of bad thoughts, but invites us not to obey them.
What does it mean to boast in the Lord in 2 Corinthians 10:17?
Paul takes up an idea from the Old Testament: the only legitimate pride is the one that rests on what God has done. He refuses to compare himself or to approve himself, because the one who is approved is the one whom the Lord commends.
What is the main message of 2 Corinthians 10?
The Christian fight is spiritual and begins in the thoughts. Authority is received from the Lord and serves to build up. Paul refuses to judge by appearance or to boast in what others have done, and he gives all glory to the Lord.
Articles quoting 2 Corinthians 10
World English Bible translation — public domain.