2 Corinthians 10 Commentary

Paul begins to build a defense for his apostleship and ministry. False teachers in Corinth have slandered him and gained some influence over the Corinthian believers. Paul encourages the Corinthians to get rid of the deception and deceivers through setting their minds on truth and obedience to Jesus. He would prefer for them to deal with the false teaching themselves, but if they do not by the time he arrives, Paul will take care of it. He reminds his readers that our enemies aren’t truly other people, but sin. God has given us the ability to obey as Christ obeyed, and thus destroy spiritual fortresses of sin and deceit in our hearts.

Paul rebukes those who are only looking at outward appearances. Some of the slander against him has been about his physical presence, rather than the truth of what he teaches. Paul reminds the Corinthians that he was commissioned by God to build them up, not to destroy them. He does not want to scare other believers into submission, but to guide them to obedience to God. He points to his personal integrity, that he lives out what he writes in his letters, even if to some he seems weak and unimpressive in person.

Paul points out that his rivals are ignorant. They brag about themselves through human comparisons and self-promoting. They pat themselves on the back. Paul does not care about measuring up against them. He boasts in God. His hope is that the Corinthians will grow spiritually and live out their God-given purpose. Paul’s boasting will continue to be within the ministry-calling that God has given him, and his boasting will be in the Lord. It is the Lord who finally will commend and approve those who obey Him.