We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. And after you have become fully obedient, we will punish everyone who remains disobedient. Look at the obvious facts. Those who say they belong to Christ must recognize that we belong to Christ as much as they do.
I may seem to be boasting too much about the authority given to us by the Lord. But our authority builds you up; it doesn’t tear you down. So I will not be ashamed of using my authority.I’m not trying to frighten you by my letters. For some say, “Paul’s letters are demanding and forceful, but in person he is weak, and his speeches are worthless!” Those people should realize that our actions when we arrive in person will be as forceful as what we say in our letters from far away.
2 Corinthians 10:3-11
Notice the connections here at paragraph level.
Paul opens this segment with:
Now I, Paul, appeal to you with the gentleness and kindness of Christ—though I realize you think I am timid in person and bold only when I write from far away. Well, I am begging you now so that when I come I won’t have to be bold with those who think we act from human motives.
2 Corinthians 10:1-2
Then we have the segment about spiritual warfare sandwiched in the middle:
We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. And after you have become fully obedient, we will punish everyone who remains disobedient.
2 Corinthians 10:3-6
and then Paul follows it with:
Look at the obvious facts. Those who say they belong to Christ must recognize that we belong to Christ as much as they do. I may seem to be boasting too much about the authority given to us by the Lord. But our authority builds you up; it doesn’t tear you down. So I will not be ashamed of using my authority. I’m not trying to frighten you by my letters. For some say, “Paul’s letters are demanding and forceful, but in person he is weak, and his speeches are worthless!” Those people should realize that our actions when we arrive in person will be as forceful as what we say in our letters from far away.
2 Corinthians 10:7-11
What is Paul doing? Why does he bring this matter up again? Why mention it? Leave it alone; let sleeping dogs lie. Especially when the Corinthians accept him again and long for him? And why the piece in the middle related to spiritual warfare? It is clearly meant to be with this segment related to the relationships with the Corinthians – the weak person / bold from a distance issue.
Take some more time to think about it? Why does Paul bring it up in this context? More in the next Gem.
Nothing fosters courage like a clear grasp of grace.
Max Lucado
Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear. Have courage today.
Sidney Mohede