2Cor 10 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for 2Cor 10:1-13:13: 10:1–13:13 In this section, Paul defends his ministry as an apostle. • These chapters pose several problems arising from a distinct change of tone and style. Chapters 1–9 are full of joy stemming from the reconciliation of sinners with God and of the Corinthians with Paul. Yet from this point on, Paul is on the defensive. These chapters are full of harsh words, bitter recriminations, passionate irony, and rebuke. The remarkable break at 10:1 has inspired a number of explanations: (1) These chapters might be a separate letter, perhaps the “severe letter” sent earlier to Corinth (2:3-4 ; 7:8-9 ). (2) It might be that, while the majority of the church members were obedient to the appeal for reconciliation, there was still a rebellious minority to whom Paul addressed these four chapters. (3) More likely, a new situation had arisen since Titus first brought back his glowing report of restored harmony (7:5-16 ). In this scenario, some anti-Paul missionaries had arrived in Corinth and launched a virulent campaign against the apostolic message of good news (see 11:4 , 13-15 ). They claimed that Paul was no real apostle or even a true Christian (10:7 ) and that he had no right to come to Corinth with the gospel message since it was territory that belonged to them (10:15-16 ). They brought an alien message (11:4 ) and exercised a domineering spirit. In short, they were doing Satan’s work (11:13-15 ). Paul, concerned upon hearing of this new situation, reasserts his apostolic authority and engages in a form of writing that is distasteful to him (11:1 , 16-17 ; 12:1 ) by boasting of his weaknesses and trials. Paul’s apostolic authority is real and powerful, yet it is conditioned and controlled by the love exhibited by the crucified Jesus (10:1 ; 13:4-10 ). Summary for 2Cor 10:1-6: 10:1-6 Paul states his own clear intentions and sincerity by defending himself against the suspicion that he is acting from human motives . 10:1 you think I am timid in person: See 10:10 . Paul could write bold letters at a distance, but they mistook his personal gentleness and kindness as weakness. However, they forgot that he had the authority of Christ (12:19 ; 13:3-5 , 7 , 10 ; 1 Cor 4:21 ).

Summary for 2Cor 10:1-13:13: 10:1–13:13 ^a In this section, Paul defends his ministry as an apostle.

• These chapters pose several problems arising from a distinct change of tone and style. Chapters 1–9 ^b are full of joy stemming from the reconciliation of sinners with God and of the Corinthians with Paul. Yet from this point on, Paul is on the defensive. These chapters are full of harsh words, bitter recriminations, passionate irony, and rebuke. The remarkable break at 10:1 ^c has inspired a number of explanations: (1) These chapters might be a separate letter, perhaps the “severe letter” sent earlier to Corinth (2:3-4 ^d; 7:8-9 ^e). (2) It might be that, while the majority of the church members were obedient to the appeal for reconciliation, there was still a rebellious minority to whom Paul addressed these four chapters. (3) More likely, a new situation had arisen since Titus first brought back his glowing report of restored harmony (7:5-16 ^f). In this scenario, some anti-Paul missionaries had arrived in Corinth and launched a virulent campaign against the apostolic message of good news (see 11:4 ^g, 13-15 ^h). They claimed that Paul was no real apostle or even a true Christian (10:7 ⁱ) and that he had no right to come to Corinth with the gospel message since it was territory that belonged to them (10:15-16 ^j). They brought an alien message (11:4 ^k) and exercised a domineering spirit. In short, they were doing Satan’s work (11:13-15 ^l). Paul, concerned upon hearing of this new situation, reasserts his apostolic authority and engages in a form of writing that is distasteful to him (11:1 ^m, 16-17 ⁿ; 12:1 ^o) by boasting of his weaknesses and trials. Paul’s apostolic authority is real and powerful, yet it is conditioned and controlled by the love exhibited by the crucified Jesus (10:1 ^p; 13:4-10 ^q).
Summary for 2Cor 10:1-6: 10:1-6 ^r Paul states his own clear intentions and sincerity by defending himself against the suspicion that he is acting from human motives. 10:1 ^s you think I am timid in person: See 10:10 ^t. Paul could write bold letters at a distance, but they mistook his personal gentleness and kindness as weakness. However, they forgot that he had the authority of Christ (12:19 ^u; 13:3-5 ^v, 7 ^w, 10 ^x; 1 Cor 4:21 ^y).
Summary for 2Cor 10:3-5: 10:3-5 ^z A military metaphor enforces Paul’s rebuttal: Paul’s weapons have divine power over spiritual strongholds (see 4:3-4 ^aa).
Summary for 2Cor 10:7-11: 10:7-11 ^ab The rival teachers were evidently claiming to be Christ’s representatives in some superior way that excluded Paul because of his weakness. Here he defines having true authority as distinct from being a domineering authoritarian. His authority was to build up God’s people, not to demolish them (see 13:10 ^ac), yet he intended to deal firmly with these rivals when he came to Corinth (see 13:1 ^ad).
10:10 ^ae Paul’s letters are sometimes difficult and demanding, as other Christians also found (cp. 2 Pet 3:16 ^af).

• in person he is weak: Paul had no domineering presence, bulldozing people into submission (cp. 2 Cor 1:24 ^ag; 1 Cor 2:1-5 ^ah). The earliest descriptions of Paul’s personal appearance (Acts of Paul and Thecla, around AD 200) depict 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 speeches are worthless: Unlike Apollos (Acts 18:24 ^ai), Paul was not an eloquent preacher or captivating orator when he came to Corinth (2 Cor 11:6 ^aj; 1 Cor 2:3-4 ^ak). His message, however, was charged with a power no human rhetoric could command, as it was given in the Holy Spirit.
10:12 ^al Paul now charges his enemies with a set of false values, since they attached great importance to themselves.
Summary for 2Cor 10:13-16: 10:13-16 ^am Paul had not trespassed on the limits God set for his missionary service, which includes our working with you. So he justifies his integrity and authority, insisting that when he first came to Corinth (Acts 18:1-17 ^an) he did so in response to God’s call. Paul was determined not to enter someone else’s territory (see Rom 15:20 ^ao), but he was the first to travel all the way to Corinth with the Good News of Christ. His more recent opponents visited the church much later (2 Cor 11:4 ^ap), so their claim to Corinth as their territory was empty.
Summary for 2Cor 10:17-18: 10:17-18 ^aq Paul quotes Jer 9:24 ^ar to the effect that all missionaries are directed by the Lord. So boasting doesn’t count for much. Only as the Lord praises us for our service can success have any significance.