II Corinthians 10

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==II Corinthians 10:1-2:

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.

II Corinthians 10:3-5

==II Corinthians 10:6-11:

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.

Paul asserts his apostolic authority against opponents who judge him by his unimpressive physical presence, warning that his actions will prove as forceful as his letters.
Paul addresses the accusations that his letters are "weighty and forceful," while his personal presence is "unimpressive" and his speech "contemptible". He warns his critics that his actions upon his arrival will be as decisive as his letters suggest. The apostle emphasizes that his authority comes from the Lord for the purpose of "building up" believers, not "tearing them down". He wields spiritual weapons, not worldly ones. Paul states his readiness to punish every act of disobedience once the Corinthians' obedience is complete. This indicates he will first give them a chance to correct their behavior before taking corrective action against the unrepentant. Paul challenges those who "judge by appearances" to reconsider their assessment. He reminds them that he belongs to Christ just as much as they do. The broader context of 2 Corinthians 10 warns against measuring one's own importance or boasting about others' work. Instead, all boasting should be in the Lord.
This passage highlights Paul's confidence in his God-given authority and his commitment to addressing the false teachers and their accusations within the Corinthian church.

==II Corinthians 10:12-13:

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. .

Nick Batzig

Pride is the greatest snare in the souls of men. It is essentially a measuring of ourselves by ourselves and a comparing of ourselves among ourselves (2 Cor. 10:12). When we allow pride to fester and take root in our hearts, we begin to think, act and speak as if we are, because of our supposed virtues, spiritually superior to others. As we do so, we make that in which he believe we excel our standard of holiness, rather than God’s Law with its unattainable depths and requirements. Additionally, when we foster spiritual pride we reveal that we do not truly see our need the atoning sacrifice of Christ for our sin. -Nick Batzig; Feeding On Christ; The Nature and Marks of Spiritual Pride 7.26.23

Jack Wellman

When I was witnessing to a stranger the other day, he was convinced that he was a pretty good person, but compared to whom? Compared to his own ideas of what is good and what is bad. God’s idea is that we need to be perfect, having the required righteousness of Christ. I reminded him that none of us are really good, not even one of us (Rom. 3:10); it’s just that we’ve been forgiven by a very good God. He said, “Well, at least I’m not a murderer,” but I told him that each of us will have to stand and give an account for what we’ve done in this life (Rom. 14:12; 1 Cor. 5:10) and that God will not say, “Well, compared to your neighbor there, you’re a pretty good guy.” No, we will stand alone, and God won’t say, “Okay, I’ll wait until you find someone who’s worse than you and then judge you according to how bad they are.” Try that in a court of law. I can guarantee that it won’t work.
Paul said that not only is it foolish to compare ourselves with others, but we dare not even try to classify ourselves in a certain standing before God based upon what we think (2 Cor. 10:12a). Jesus said that we must be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect (Matt. 5:48) and that our righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees (Matt. 5:20), so that presents a problem. Nothing sinful or imperfect can even enter heaven (Rev. 21:27). We must compare ourselves to the model of Christ and not others, and that’s a pretty high bar to reach, but there is a solution. For those who have repented and trusted in Christ, they will be seen as having the same righteousness as Christ (2 Cor. 5:21). Problem solved. - Jack Wellman; Rhetorical Jesus; Do You Compare Your Life To People Around You, or to Me? 10.8.23

==II Corinthians 10:14-16:

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.

Paul asserts his legitimate authority in Corinth, emphasizing that it was granted by God and that he was the first to bring the gospel to them, establishing his spiritual connection. He contrasts his ministry with false teachers who boasted about work in a church he founded, highlighting his respect for the boundaries God set for each minister. Paul expresses his desire to expand his mission by preaching the gospel in new regions, hoping the Corinthians' growing faith will support this endeavor. The passage underscores the importance of integrity, humility, and proper boundaries in ministry, contrasting Paul's approach with his rivals'

==II Corinthians 10:17-18:

But “he who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”
18 For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord

Ray Stedman

But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. 18 For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth. (2 Corinthians 10:17-18)
Whenever anybody boasts, Paul says, it is to be in what the Lord has done. How that wipes out with one stroke all the proud evaluations you see people making of their own ministries! You never hear that from Paul. In the very next section he will tell us some of the things that happened in his ministry, but he does it with the most abject apologies. He is distressed that he has to talk about what he has done. He only defends his ministry because that is the kind of argument the Corinthians have been listening to from false teachers, and they seem to think it is important. A brief example of Paul's approach occurs in 1 Corinthians 15:10, where he says this about himself: But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them--yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. Some may think this sounds like boasting. But notice what Paul says: Yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me (1 Corinthians 15:10). Paul always recognizes that the only thing that counts is what Christ does in him, not what he does for Christ. --Ray Stedman