2 Cor. 10:1-6

In this letter Paul has dealt with those who doubted his integrity because he failed to visit them as he had intended (Ch. 1-7).  Further, he has encouraged them in the offering for the saints in Jerusalem (Ch. 8-9).  Now Paul makes a strong defense of his ministry.  It seems that underneath all the issues were some false shepherds who sought to undermine Paul’s Christ-given, apostolic authority.  This is critical because to reject Paul is to reject God’s authoritative revelation for the body of Christ.

Paul’s words are going to be very bold.  He had likely been accused of being soft in his approach to them when present with them and only bold in his letters.  Thus he begins by appealing to them from the meekness and gentleness of Christ.  Our Good Shepherd cared for the hurts and needs of the flock.  Part of that gentle care of the sheep required strong reproof of the false shepherds who were guilty of leading the sheep astray.  So Paul, in caring for the Corinthian believers, was required to deal strongly with these wolves in sheep’s clothing.

The attack on Paul was that he was serving the Lord according to the flesh (v2), using carnal or fleshly weapons in his ministry.  While Paul walks “in” the flesh in the sense of serving the Lord with his earthly body, he denies walking “according to” the flesh.  Paul has and will again condemn the use of carnal weapons in ministry.  For example, note these fleshly methods of ministry.

Þ   2 Cor. 10:7: depending on outward appearance.

Þ   2 Cor. 2:17: peddling (selling) the word of God.

Þ   2 Cor. 3:5: self-sufficiency.

Þ   2 Cor. 4:2: craftiness, deceitfully handling the word of God.

Þ   1 Cor. 1:17; 2:4: replacing God’s word with earthly wisdom.

Þ   1 Cor. 3:1-4: dividing the believers so as to gain a greater following.

While not listing his weapons, Paul speaks of their nature and effect.  They are “mighty in God”.  The weapons that change people’s lives involve the Holy Spirit (1 Thess. 4:8), Scripture (2 Pet. 1:4) and prayer (John 15:16).  But perhaps Paul has something else in mind here.  The Greek word for “mighty” is used in 2 passages after this, both in the context of Paul being strong in weaknesses (2 Cor. 12:10; 13:9).  Proof that Paul did not serve according to the flesh could be seen in the way God used him when he was weak.

The effect of Paul’s ministry was that strongholds were being pulled down.  One’s philosophy of life is a fort in which a person seeks to find refuge from the difficulties of life.  But any philosophy that is a lie must be destroyed so a person can find protection in the truth.  Paul’s ministry did this, destroying arguments (reasonings) and ways of thinking that exalt oneself above God, so that men’s thoughts come to be submissive to the Lordship of Christ. 

Believers are soldiers of Christ and must wage the good warfare (1 Tim. 1:18; 2 Tim. 2:4).  Are you engaged in the battle?  Are supportive of ministry that uses fleshly weapons or those that are mighty in God?