10:1 Now 1 I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and a
gentleness of Christ, who in presence [am] base among you,
but being absent am bold toward you:
(1) He returns to the defence of his apostleship, but in such a
way that he uses his authority in his defence: for he warns
them earnestly and gravely, using also terrible
threatenings, to show themselves to be those who are able
to be instructed. And he reviles certain proud men who
made no better account of him, than of a bragging proud
man, in that he used to be sharp against them when he was
absent, because they saw no great majesty in him after the
manner of men; and besides, he had proved his gentleness,
even though in his absence he had written to them sharply.
Therefore first of all he professes that he was gentle and
moderate, but after the example of Christ: but if they
continue still to despise his gentleness, he protests to
them that he will show indeed how far they are deceived,
who judge the office of an apostle in the same way that
they judge worldly offices, that is, according to the
outward appearance.
(a) That nature which is inclined to mercy, rather than to
rigor of justice.
10:2 But I beseech [you], that I may not be bold when I am
present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold
against some, which think of us as if we walked b
according to the flesh.
(b) As though I had no other aid and help than that which
outwardly I seem to have: and therefore Paul contrasts
his flesh, that is, his weak condition and state, with
his spiritual and apostolic dignity.
10:32 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after
the flesh:
(2) Secondly, he witnesses that although he is similar to other
men, yet he comes furnished with that strength which no
defence of man can match, whether they resist by craft and
deceit, or by force and might, because he battles with
divine weapons.
10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare [are] not c carnal, but
mighty through d God to the pulling down of strong
holds;)
(c) Are not those weapons that men get authority over one
another with, and do great acts.
(d) Stand upon the foundation of God's infinite power.
10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that
exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, 3 and
bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of
Christ;
(3) An amplification of this spiritual power, which conquers
the enemies in such a way, be they ever so crafty and
mighty, that it brings some of them by repentance to
Christ, and justly avenges others that are stubbornly
obstinate, separating them from the others who allow
themselves to be ruled.
10:74 Do ye look on things after the e outward appearance?
If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of
f himself think this again, that, as he [is] Christ's,
even so [are] we Christ's.
(4) He emphasises the same matter with very weighty words and
sentences.
(e) Do you judge things according to the outward
appearance?
(f) Not being told about it by me.
10:10 For [his] letters, say g they, [are] weighty and
powerful; but [his] bodily presence [is] weak, and [his]
speech contemptible.
(g) He notes out those who were the cause of these words.
10:125 For we h dare not make ourselves of the number, or
compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but
they measuring themselves by i themselves, and k
comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
(5) Being forced to refute the foolish braggings of certain
ambitious men, he witnesses that they are able to bring
nothing, but that they falsely think highly of themselves.
And as for himself, although he brags of excellent things,
yet he will not pass the bounds which God has measured him
out. And according to these bounds he came even to them in
preaching the Gospel of Christ, and trusts that he will go
further, when they have so profited that he will not need
to remain any longer among them to instruct them. And to
this is added an amplification, in that he never followed
the labours of other men.
(h) This is spoken in a taunting manner.
(i) Upon a vain persuasion that they have of themselves,
they attribute to themselves anything at all.
(k) They condemn others, and measure all their doings only
by themselves.
10:13 But we will not boast of things without [our] l measure,
but according to the measure of the rule which God hath
distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.
(l) Of those things which God has not measured to me.
10:15 Not boasting of things m without [our] measure, [that
is], of other men's labours; but having hope, when your
faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you
according to our rule abundantly,
(m) As though God had divided the whole world among the
apostles to be governed.
10:16 To preach the gospel in the [regions] beyond you, [and]
not to boast in n another man's line of things made
ready to our hand.
(n) In countries which other men have prepared and
cultivated with the preaching of the Gospel.
10:176 But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
(6) He somewhat moderates that which he spoke of himself, and
in so doing also prepares the Corinthians to hear other
things, witnessing that he seeks nothing else but to
approve himself to God, whose glory alone he seeks.
