II Corinthians Study II Corinthians 10:1-18 Paul’s Authentication of His Apostleship

As we approach Chapters 10-13, there is a great transition in subject matters from Christian living (Chapters 1-7), and Christian giving (Chapters 8-9), and now we will discover that the grand Apostle Paul is vehemently defending his Apostleship (Chapters 10-13).  He is defending his Apostleship because false apostles were discrediting his authority as an Apostle and the Corinthians’ affection needed to be won over to a singular loyalty to Jesus Christ and His Apostle.

Beginning in verses 1-2, Paul was reluctant to take stern action, but the gravity of the situation demanded it.  Modeling the strength of character of Christ’s meekness and gentleness, Paul challenged the false apostles in defense of his Apostleship.  These false apostles recognized Paul’s “bark” but acknowledged that his letter (I Corinthians 4:19) and the dispatching of Titus as his delegate, made Paul appear to be bold.

Paul stated in verses 3-5, that he did not utilize the weapons of this world; rather, he discarded them, for he did not wage war as the world does or even use their weapons.  The weapons that Paul used were the proclaimed Word of God and prayer (Ephesians 6:17-18), weapons with Divine power!  The weapons with Divine power, frail by worldly standards, are able to destroy the arguments and pretensions of the gospel foes.  Even the god of this age (II Corinthians 4:4), nor his henchmen (II Corinthians 11:15) are able to oppose the power of God that Paul relied on.  Even the thought of his opponents is not beyond the reach of God who knows that the opponents’ own craftiness is futile.

The primary purpose of Paul’s warfare was to make people obedient.  In verse 6, Paul stated that the Corinthians needed to express their complete obedience through subjection to Christ, and by demonstrating loyalty to His representative Paul.  As the Corinthians renounced these gospel opponents (false apostles), Paul could deal directly with the false apostles, knowing that the church was in support of him.

In verses 7-8, because the Corinthians were only superficial and shallow and obsessed with worldly wisdom, Paul resorted to personal self-commendation.  His primary reason was not for self-enhancement, but to win the Corinthians.  Paul demonstrated his authority as an Apostle, and he was not ashamed of it!  Paul’s goal was for the edification of the Corinthians; however, he tore down the strongholds of

His opponents!

In verses 9-11, Paul had anticipated that his letters might terrify the Corinthians and might bring depreciating remarks from his opponents.  His opponents were saying that Paul’s “bite does not equal to his bark.”  Paul’s appearance may not be superficially impressive, or he wasn’t a polished speaker (II Corinthians 11:6), but God granted him power as an Apostle.  Paul stated in verse 12 that the false apostles evaluated themselves to themselves and not by the standards of God.

Paul further stated in verses 13-14 that he had been appointed as the Apostle to the Gentiles.  In laboring among the Corinthians, Paul had produced fruit, and God had authenticated his Apostleship.  The false apostles had gone beyond their limits, but Paul had not.  In addition, not only had the false apostles gone beyond their limits, Paul states that the church in Corinth was the result of Paul’s ministry not theirs.  Paul did not boast about work already done by others like his opponents.

The Corinthians may have many so-called “guardians”, but only one “father” Paul (I Corinthians 4:15).  As the Corinthians’ faith increased, Paul could concentrate and expand his evangelical activity to other Gentile regions, even as far as Spain (vv. 15-16; Romans 15:23-24).

Finally, in verse 17-18, Paul asserts that he had not sought the commendation of the Corinthians, nor was he seeking to commend himself.  The Master’s approval was what Paul was seeking!

May God Bless!