The whole city of Corinth is full of pride, full of arrogance and looking for that kind of spiritual leader. In chapter 10:1-6, Paul responds to all the people attacking him and jeoparizing the good work God has begun in the city (read this).
Paul appeals by the meekness and gentleness of Christ.
Paul does not:
- Retaliate or
- Evacuate
- Stays present in a Godly way
The word meekness is a very strong word meaning extraordinary power under the control of God. Look at Jesus - extraordinarily meek but had all the power of God at His command.
Meekness is not weakness. "Come unto me" because "I am meek."
We need this attribute.
The word gentleness means suitableness, equity, mildness. Matthew Henry says this "it is sweet reasonableness."
It's not Paul's meekness and gentleness, but it's the meekness and gentleness of Christ.
Kelly says "Paul never asks us to be anything that Jesus Christ is not." Any attributes that we are to be is because that's who Jesus is.
Do we have a difficult relationship in our life right now? Are we wanting to retaliate? Are we wanting to evacuate?
Or like Paul - we can appeal "by the meekness and gentleness of Christ." We will find out that this is the power Paul will punch back with.
The meekness and gentleness of Christ are exceedingly stronger than the arrogance and accusations of this world.
Paul, facisously says "so you think I'm timid face to face and bold when I'm away (they're accusing him of this), but that's not true."
In verses 4-5, Paul uses warfare imagery, which would be very familiar in those times (Roman soldiers).
"We have power to take down strongholds." What kind of warfare was Paul talking about?
Seige warfare - the tearing down of strongholds; going after the fortress. Paul is using a spiritual metaphor. It's all about tearing down walls.
The Greek word is where we get our word "dynamite."
What were the strongholds?
- Arrogance against the knowledge of God (gospel, Jesus being the Lord and Savior)
- High pretension - lifted up arrogance, pride that goes against the knowledge of God
Keep in mind that Paul is not out to destroy people. He's interested in stopping the arguments that destroy people. This is his heart.
Have we had strongholds that we've needed to break free from?
- Believing lies
- Stuck in shame
- Feeling we'll never get better or change
This doesn't agree with what Paul talks about in "marching in triumph." We need to take those thoughts captive that are not in agreement with us marching in triumph. We definitely need to do this when looking at this text.
In Paul's context here, though, he's not talking about demolishing a stronghold in his own life, or taking his own thoughts captive. What he is talking about is the spiritual warfare, the power that he has that is not according to human standards.
The Corinth's were fighting in an "earthly" way.
But God has given us a power that can tear down those false arguments, false beliefs of the world and to lead our thinking as if our thoughts are being held captive by Jesus Christ.
We lead people to the truth under the obedience of Christ. This is powerful!
What about after the stronghold comes down of those false beliefs and pretensions? We then step in to lead people's thinking as a captive under Jesus Christ. Leading them to the truth. What a powerful weapon in our arsenal.
What is the driving force of doing this? Love for people!
In 2 Corinthians 10:6 it says "and we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete."
What does this mean? Paul is saying "yes, I'll be the spiritual authority. I'll take care of the disobedience (false teachers, detractors of the gospel). I'm not timid like you say I am."
Kelly says she thinks Paul is speaking to the believers who may be confused or not quite on track. He wants to make sure their obedience - Corinth believers - is complete first. They needed to deal with their disobedience first. This is us as well. Don't get distracted by others disobedience. Take care of our own disobedience first.
In reading verses 7-8, what was Paul's authority for?
- Building others up
- Not tearing others down
Whatever your spiritual authority, it is from the Lord and for others.
Notice he says in verse 8 "authority the Lord gave us."
Read verses 12-13. The opponents of Paul:
- Were not boasting in the Lord
- They were boasting in themselves
- They were commending themselves
- They were measuring themselves
- Boasting about work they hadn't even started or cultivated
Paul says "they are not wise.
These are the problems of comparison thinking:
- Not wise when we compare ourselves to others
- Not wise when we measure ourselves by the world's standards
Here's the problem with measuring ourselves against the world's standards:
The world's measuring stick is faulty and fluctuating.
The world's measuring stick will change. It's not the right "stick" to measure with anyway.
According to verse 13, God has assigned us our own assignments. We don't need to compare. The Corinthians were Paul's assignment.
Kelly says this "the trouble with comparison thinking is that it tempts us to live someone else's assignment." God has apportioned to us our own field, our own assignment.
In verses 17-18, how does the Lord commend us? By us obeying Him. Loving Him. Doing what He's asked us to do by completing our obedience, by jumping into our assignment.
The Corinthians were looking for all the "city" things, all the proud things, but look at 2 Corinthians 1:26-29 - "that no one may boast before Him."
The bottom line:
- Boast in the Lord
- Don't measure
- Don't compare
- Be obedient to your assignment
Session 7 "Thorn in the Flesh"
