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Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents
10:1-13:10 Paul's Appeal to the Rebellious Minority in Corinth. In the third major section of his letter, Paul directly appeals to those who are still rejecting his gospel and apostolic authority. For in his third visit, Paul will be forced to judge those who have not repented (10:6; 12:20-21; 13:1-10).
10:1-11 Paul's Defense of His Humility as an Apostle. Paul directly responds to those who are criticizing his humble appearance in Corinth (vv. 1-6) and his refusal to employ the professional rhetoric of his day in order to impress others (vv. 7-11; see 1 Cor. 2:1-5).
10:1 the meekness and gentleness of Christ. A reference to Christ's slowness to anger and patience in order to allow time for repentance before he returns to judge (see 2 Pet. 3:8-10), which Paul imitates in his dealings with the Corinthians (1 Cor. 5:1-5; 2 Cor. 1:23-2:4; 7:5-16). I who am humble when . . . with you, but bold toward you when I am away. Paul is probably quoting some accusations made by his opponents (see 10:10). Paul is trying to avoid the kind of "consistency" his opponents call for, since it would mean judgment for the Corinthians (see vv. 6, 11).
10:3-4 Paul is not waging a fleshly battle but a spiritual one. The weapons of his warfare are not physical but spiritual, such as prayer, the Word of God, faith, and the power of the Holy Spirit. By the Spirit Paul tears down the strongholds of wrong thinking and behavior that are reflected in the lives of those who resist his authority.
10:8 Since Paul's ministry is a fulfillment of Jeremiah's promise of a new covenant (see 3:6), the primary purpose of Paul's authority is for building you up and not for destroying you, whereas Jeremiah's primary purpose under the old covenant was just the opposite (see Jer. 1:10; 24:6; 31:27-28; 42:10; 45:4). "Building up" the church is a common Pauline description of new covenant ministry (see Rom. 14:19; 15:2, 20; 1 Cor. 3:9-14; 14:3-5; 1 Thess. 5:11). Paul frames the last section of 2 Corinthians with this theme; cf. 2 Cor. 10:8 with 13:10 (see 12:19).
