Tyndale Open Study Notes2 Corinthians 10

• In this section, Paul defends his role as an apostle.

• These chapters present several issues due to a noticeable change in tone and style. Chapters 1–9 express joy from sinners reconciling with God and the Corinthians reconciling with Paul. However, from this point, Paul becomes defensive. These chapters contain harsh words, bitter accusations, passionate irony, and rebuke. The significant shift at 10:1 has led to various explanations:

  1. These chapters might be a separate letter, possibly the “severe letter” sent earlier to Corinth (2:3–4; 7:8–9).

  2. It could be that while most church members obeyed the call for reconciliation, a rebellious minority remained, and Paul addressed these four chapters to them.

  3. More likely, a new situation arose after Titus reported restored harmony (7:5–16). In this case, some anti-Paul missionaries arrived in Corinth and started a strong campaign against the apostolic message of good news (see 11:4, 13–15). They claimed Paul was not a true apostle or even a true Christian (10:7) and that he had no right to bring the gospel message to Corinth, as it was their territory (10:15–16). They brought a foreign message (11:4) and had a domineering attitude. In short, they were doing Satan’s work (11:13–15). Paul, worried about this new situation, reasserts his apostolic authority and writes in a way he dislikes (11:1, 16–17; 12:1) by boasting about his weaknesses and trials. Paul’s apostolic authority is genuine and powerful, yet it is guided by the love shown by the crucified Jesus (10:1; 13:4–10).

Paul clearly states his intentions and sincerity by defending himself against accusations of acting from human motives.

I, Paul, who am humble when face to face with you: See 10:10. Paul wrote bold letters from afar, but people mistook his gentleness and kindness for weakness. However, they forgot he had the authority of Christ (12:19; 13:3–5, 7, 10; 1 Corinthians 4:21).

A military metaphor strengthens Paul's argument that Paul's weapons have divine power over spiritual strongholds (see 4:3–4).

The rival teachers claimed to represent Christ in a way that excluded Paul due to his perceived weakness. Paul explained that true authority is different from being a controlling leader. His authority aimed to strengthen God's people, not to harm them (see 13:10). However, he planned to address these rivals firmly when he visited Corinth (see 13:1).

• Paul’s letters can be difficult and demanding, as other Christians also noticed (compare 2 Peter 3:16).

• his physical presence is unimpressive: Paul did not have an overpowering presence that forced people to obey (compare 2 Corinthians 1:24; 1 Corinthians 2:1–5). The earliest descriptions of Paul’s appearance (Acts of Paul and Thecla, around AD 200) describe him as "a man of small height, almost bald, with crooked legs, but with a good body and eyebrows meeting. His nose was hooked, full of grace, for sometimes he appeared like a man and sometimes had the face of an angel."

• his speaking is of no account: Unlike Apollos (Acts 18:24), Paul was not a skilled speaker or captivating orator when he came to Corinth (see 2 Corinthians 11:6; 1 Corinthians 2:3–4). However, his message was filled with a power beyond human speech, as it was given in the Holy Spirit.

Paul accuses his enemies of having false values because they think too highly of themselves.

Paul respected the limits God set for his missionary work, which included working with the Corinthians. He defends his honesty and authority, stating that when he first came to Corinth (Acts 18:1–17), he did so because God called him. Paul was determined not to enter another's area (see Romans 15:20), and he was the first to bring the good news about Jesus to Corinth. His recent opponents visited the church much later (2 Corinthians 11:4), so their claim to Corinth as their area was unfounded.

Paul quotes Jeremiah 9:24 to show that the Lord guides all missionaries. Boasting does not matter much. Success only matters when the Lord praises our service.