In 2 Corinthians 10, Paul shows how spiritual authority follows the example of the meekness of Christ. He is gentle with the church and courageous with deceivers, using truth, not theatrics, to dismantle lies and build people up in the Lord.

In this week’s episode, we explore:

• Why some in Corinth said Paul was “humble in person” but “bold in letters,” and how he answers that charge with pastoral clarity.
• What the “meekness and gentleness of Christ” means, and how Jesus used authority to serve, not to dominate.
• What it means that our weapons are not “of the flesh,” and how truth demolishes strongholds and takes every thought captive to obey Christ.
• How to spot teachers who impress with charisma but lack faithfulness, and why boasting belongs to the Lord, not to ourselves.
• Paul’s resolve to be tender with the church yet bold with opponents, protecting the flock without lording authority over their faith.

After listening, you’ll be able to recognize leadership that serves rather than showboats, measure messages by Scripture instead of polish, and practice discernment that brings your thinking under Christ. You will see that meekness is not weakness; it is strength directed by love, and it is the way of Jesus for all who follow him.

How To Confront With the Meekness of Christ (2 Corinthians 10)

Imagine your church split between two voices. One is polished and persuasive, the other quiet and unimpressive. Which do you trust?

In 2 Corinthians 10, Paul shows how to fight lies without theatrics and how to exercise authority that builds people up. Learn how to spot the difference between charisma that flatters and truth that sets you free.

Review

In these last chapters of 2 Corinthians, Paul takes on his critics. Here we find his sharpest criticism of his enemies and his strongest defense of his apostleship. The tone is so confrontational that some scholars argue this section does not belong in the letter.

Think about where we are. Paul spent the first seven chapters defending himself, insisting he acted with integrity and pleading with them to view him rightly. Then came the appeal for money for the Jerusalem collection. Paul spent two chapters urging them to follow through on what they promised.

Now he rebukes the very people he asked to give. Most people do not do that, so some suggest these chapters were grafted in from another letter, perhaps the sorrowful letter.

I am not convinced. I think 2 Corinthians is a unified whole and this strong conclusion fits the letter.

What Led Up to This Point

Paul begins defending himself in chapter 1.

• He insists he conducted himself with godly sincerity.
• He defends himself against the charge of being unconcerned and hypocritical because he did not visit as he said he would.
• He says he is not peddling the word of God but speaks from sincerity.
• He reminds them the changes in their own lives show he is preaching the true gospel. They can look at themselves and see the results of his ministry.
• He says his ministry is greater than Moses because the new covenant is about the Spirit of God transforming us.
• He admits he is inadequate in himself. God made him adequate as an apostle of Christ and causes the impact.
• He says God sees Paul’s faithfulness clearly, and he wishes the Corinthians could see him clearly as well.
• He urges them not to receive the grace of God in vain.
• His heart is open to them, but they are withholding their affection from him.

He ends that section with an emotional appeal: make room for me in your hearts. I wronged no one. I corrupted no one. I took advantage of no one.

He then turns to the collection for Jerusalem. His pastoral concern is that they follow through. He implies covetousness may be tempting them to keep the money and shows great care to handle the money with integrity.

Paul Declares War

Now, in the last section, Paul turns to those in Corinth who are actively against him. Up to this point he has talked to the whole church while addressing issues his opponents raise. Here he speaks directly to his critics. The tone becomes more blunt as the chapters progress.

There is evidence some opponents came from outside Corinth and infiltrated the church. He calls them false apostles. They set themselves up as teachers and oppose Paul.

Many in the church are confused. They hear Paul, then hear other teachers reject him. It is tumultuous. So, in these chapters, Paul takes the gloves off.

He has strong words of warning and criticism for his opponents and warns the church not to listen to them. In most of these four chapters Paul talks about himself in response to the accusations.

Humble in Person, Bold in Letters?

I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ (I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away) I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of walking according to the flesh. – 2 Corinthians 10:1-2

Paul describes himself the way his opponents do. I think he is being sarcastic. They claim he is hypocritical: bold from a safe distance in letters, but weak in person. A few verses later, he quotes them: his letters are strong, but in person he is nothing. They accuse him of being a paper tiger.

Why would they say that? Paul visited Corinth twice. The first time, when he founded the church, he described himself this way:

And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. – 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

He admits he did not try to impress them with superior speech. That is a big issue for his opponents.

The second visit was the painful visit. It went so badly that he left and addressed the situation by letter. They responded well to the letter, so that approach worked.

Opponents could say, he lacked the guts to assert authority in person and only talked big from home. Paul sarcastically repeats their criticism.

Meekness of Christ

Paul entreats them by the meekness and gentleness of Christ. Jesus described himself as meek and lowly in heart, yet he claimed to be the Messiah and overturned the money changers’ tables.

Jesus had great authority. He used that authority to serve others. He did not throw his weight around.

But Jesus called them to him and said, You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. – Matthew 20:25-28

Paul follows that model. He does not want to lord it over the Corinthians, even as an apostle.

Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, for you stand firm in your faith. – 2 Corinthians 1:24

He conducts himself as a servant. He does not expect to be treated like a king. He appeals to them on the basis of gracious servanthood.

His opponents throw that back in his face. They say he is a wimp in person. In seeking to be Christlike, he gives fuel to those who call him unimpressive.

Judged by Worldly Standards

His opponents regard Paul as walking according to the flesh. They evaluate him by natural attributes: lack of impressive speaking, social status, credentials.

They charge that he is not a very good speaker. They judge him by worldly standards and say he is not someone to follow.

They miss that there is more to Paul. He is an apostle of Jesus Christ, supernaturally prepared by God to proclaim the gospel. Those who evaluate him in fleshly terms misunderstand him.

Paul intends to be bold and courageous in dealing with his opponents when he returns.

I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of walking according to the flesh. – 2 Corinthians 10:2

He warns the church at large. When he comes, he does not want to be bold toward all of them as he will be toward some. Do not join those who oppose him. You would not like him when he is angry.

Here is my paraphrase: Now I, Paul, have a powerful warning for you, but I seek to emulate the meekness of Christ. I am not lording it over you. I know some think I am meek in person and bold from a distance. But when I visit, I will deal boldly with my opponents. Do not join them, so I do not have to treat you as I will treat them.

A good shepherd does not strut for the sheep. He is quiet, steady, and protective. When a wolf slips in, the same shepherd picks up the staff and moves fast. He is not two different men; he is one man using his strength to serve. That is Paul.

Waging War With Divine Weapons

For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. – 2 Corinthians 10:3-6

Paul walks in the flesh like anyone else. On his own, he is no big deal. But he does not wage war according to the flesh.

He is going to war with his opponents, not relying on human resources. His weapons have divine power to destroy fortresses. God’s power is at work in his ministry. Most importantly, God gave Paul a supernaturally empowered understanding of the gospel.

He is not a superhero who wins by force. He wins by truth.

Paul extends the military metaphor.

• Step 1: destroy the fortress. The fortress is arguments and every lofty thing raised against the knowledge of God. His opponents’ reasoning sounds impressive, but it lacks a sturdy foundation.
• Step 2: take captives. He takes every thought captive to obey Christ. He wants no one’s thoughts taking refuge in his opponents’ arguments. Everyone’s thoughts must submit to Christ.
• Step 3: punish disobedience. He is ready to punish all disobedience when their obedience is complete. When the majority commit to the gospel, he will deal with those who persist in opposing it. Most likely, they will be removed from the church and treated as unbelievers. He deliberately uses the language of war to signal decisive action.

Authority That Builds Up

Look at what is before your eyes. If anyone is confident that he is Christ’s, let him remind himself that just as he is Christ’s, so also are we. For even if I boast a little too much of our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be ashamed. – 2 Corinthians 10:7-8

Paul wants them to see him clearly. Some are confident they are of Christ in a way that opposes Paul. Here, to be of Christ means more than being a Christian. It means having a life and ministry that truly reflect Christ.

If they think Christ would claim them, they must know Christ surely claims Paul. He immediately speaks of his authority. The question is who has authority to speak for Christ.

If he boasts of his authority, he will not be put to shame. He would not be exposed as a liar. His authority is real, and it was given to build them up, not to tear them down.

Letters and Presence Are Consistent

I do not want to appear to be frightening you with my letters. For they say, His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account. Let such a person understand that what we say by letter when absent, we do when present. – 2 Corinthians 10:9-11

He quotes his opponents and uses sarcasm. They say he is unimpressive in person and contemptible in speech.

This helps us understand both Corinthian letters. The opponents admired Greek sophists, impressive debaters who dominated opponents. They wanted to bring friends to hear Paul and have them say, that guy is impressive.

Paul relies on the content of his message, not rhetorical manipulation. By worldly standards, he is not impressive. The implication of their criticism is that his letters are full of hot air.

He denies this. His letters and actions are consistent. Both aim to serve the Corinthians by building up their faith. He is an apostle of Christ with authority and profound understanding, but he has not tried to throw his weight around.

From the perspective of Christlike service, his letters and actions match. Still, he gives fair warning. If they insist on seeing an impressive Paul, they will see him when he visits next.

Measuring by God’s Assignment, Not Self-Commendation

Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding. But we will not boast beyond limits, but will boast only with regard to the area of influence God assigned to us, to reach even to you. For we are not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach you. For we were the first to come all the way to you with the gospel of Christ. We do not boast beyond limit in the labors of others. But our hope is that as your faith increases, our area of influence among you may be greatly enlarged, so that we may preach the gospel in lands beyond you, without boasting of work already done in another’s area of influence. Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord. For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends. – 2 Corinthians 10:12-18

Some opponents are rival teachers who commend themselves. They measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves. They use worldly standards: better speaker, larger following, more attractive presence.

The Greek sophists did this. They made reputations by clever speeches that tore down other teachers. Paul’s opponents seem to be doing the same, making their name by proving they are superior to Paul.

Paul will not play that game. He boasts only within the measure God assigned him. God appointed Paul as apostle to the Gentiles. Corinth falls within that assignment. He is not boasting in another man’s labors. He founded the church in Corinth.

He hopes that when this dispute is settled, he will move on to regions further west, as he tells the Romans, to preach where Christ has not been named.

Why insist on not boasting in another’s accomplishments? Because God gave him the assignment in Corinth. His opponents are poachers. They came in on his work, dismissed Paul, and claimed credit as the true teachers.

Paul contrasts his boasting with theirs:

• They use worldly standards and boast beyond their measure.
• He boasts within the measure God gave him.
• They commend themselves.
• He lets the Lord commend him.

Summary

• Paul goes to war against his opponents. They are outsiders who want the Corinthians to listen to them rather than to Paul. Some in the church are listening.
• They see Paul as a fraud: strong on paper, weak in person, and a poor speaker by Greek standards. They think they are stronger in those qualities.
• Paul responds. Do not join them. When I come, the gloves will be off. My weapons are divinely empowered. I will fight error with truth, call people to align their thinking with truth, and deal with those who oppose it.
• Paul is willing to boast in what matters: his authority as an apostle of Jesus Christ. He will not compare himself by worldly standards or take credit for another’s work. He boasts only in what God assigned and accomplished through him.

Leadership That Mirrors Christ

Paul’s leadership is humble, servant-hearted, and truthful. He seeks to follow the meekness and gentleness of Christ. He is so committed to that path that opponents mistake him for being unimpressive.

He does not use manipulative rhetoric to make himself look good. He patiently waits for the Corinthians to mature and see what matters. He cares about the progress of the gospel, not his human reputation.

Defending the gospel does involve defending his apostleship. God gave him his message and they need to hear it. The right way to promote the gospel is by patiently and humbly teaching truth.

If he tried to impress by worldly standards, he would betray the gospel. So he does not. He is patient and humble.

But he is not infinitely patient. He will go to battle when enemies of the gospel mislead the Corinthians.

We need leaders who are strong enough not to care about their reputation while proclaiming truth, yet strong enough to deal with lies and deception when they arise.

Do not mistake the pursuit of the meekness and gentleness of Christ for a lack of will to confront error. That is the lesson of 2 Corinthians 10.

Please listen to the podcast for more detail and explanation. Next: 15 False Apostles: Why Were They So Convincing? (2 Corinthians 11) Previous: 13 Cheerful Giver: How to Sow for a Lasting Harvest (2 Corinthians 8-9) Series: 2 Corinthians: When Church Hurts Resources to help you study: 2 Corinthians

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Podcast season 26, episode 14

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