2nd Corinthians 9:1 - 10:18; Giving Under The Law vs During this Age of Grace; Paul Defends His Ministry as Being Accomplished in the Power of The Lord:

The 9th chapter continues the thought of chapter 8 concerning the money Titus was collecting from Members of the Body of Christ in Greece. Paul and associates were to take it to Jerusalem for the Jewish Kingdom saints there who had run out of funds on which to live. We note here the difference in giving requirements for Members of Christ’s Body during this dispensation, i.e., this age of Grace, and the requirements under the Law of Moses. Under the Law each was to give 10% of their earnings. Under Grace, Paul tells the Corinthians and believers today: “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:6 - 76 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

. Then in 2 Corinthians 9:1212 For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;

Paul points out that the Corinthian offering not only would supply the needs of the Jerusalem Kingdom Saints, but it would also produce many prayers of thanks to God by those saints for the gifts they received.

Paul assures the Corinthians that the Kingdom saints in Jerusalem would render esteem in their thanks to God for the Corinthians’ subjection to the Gospel evidenced by their sincere generosity in their gift to them, 2 Corinthians 9:1313 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;

. And the Jerusalem saints would show their excessive fondness for the Corinthians because of the exceeding Grace of God in them, 2 Corinthians 9:1414 And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.

. Paul then breaks out in thanksgiving for the Gift of the Lord Jesus Christ: “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable (that which cannot be fully declared) gift,” 2 Corinthians 9:1515 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

, the gift described in the previous chapter: “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich.” 2 Corinthians 8:99 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

, see also Romans 11:3333 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

; Romans 11:3636 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

; 1 Corinthians 15:5757 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

. It’s mind boggling to comprehend that God Almighty, the creator of the universe and all in it, Who holds everything together by His unlimited Power, stepped out of His Holy Sphere to become a humble Man with no earthly wealth whatsoever and willingly submit to an excruciating death on the cross at the hands of those He created and whose lives he sustained. All because of His Love.

Having stirred the Corinthians to contribute to the suffering saints in Jerusalem and with the gift the Lord Jesus Christ gave mankind, Paul defends his apostleship in the 10th Chapter against the claims of false apostles described in the 11th chapter. “Now I Paul myself beseech (call for, appeal to) you by the meekness (gentleness, humility) and gentleness (clemency, merciful, leniency) of Christ, who in presence (Paul’s outward appearance) am base (of humble or low degree) among you, but being absent am bold (confident or exercising courage) toward you:” 2 Corinthians 10:11 Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:

. “But I beseech (different Greek word here, meaning “to beg/petition/make request) you, that I may not be bold (confident or exercising courage) when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh (human, carnal nature).” 2 Corinthians 10:22 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 according to the flesh.

. Paul’s statement that “some, which think of him as if he walked according to the flesh,” must refer to the claims of the false apostles described in the 11th chapter who denied Paul’s credentials as an Apostle of Christ.

Paul’s answer to those demeaning his ministry: “For though we walk in the flesh (Paul was human with a carnal nature), we do not war (as a soldier) after the flesh (in his human, carnal nature): 2 Corinthians 10:33 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

. Next, in parenthesis; (For the weapons [armor, instruments] of our warfare [military service, figurative Paul’s apostolic career] are not carnal [pertaining to the flesh], but mighty [possible] through God to the pulling down [demolition, destruction] of strong holds [only here in the NT; fastness; fortress]; 2 Corinthians 10:44 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

. In this parenthesis Paul asserts that his work and ministry were not based on his own fleshly means, but he did so “through God,” i.e., it was God working through him to demolish strong holds.

Paul then completes the thought begun before the parenthesis. The verse “For though we walk in the flesh (Paul was human with a carnal nature), we do not war (as a soldier) after the flesh (in his human, carnal nature): 2 Corinthians 10:3 is continued: “Casting down (demolishing, destroying) imaginations (found only twice in the NT, which means “reasoning, thoughts”), and every high thing (found only twice in the NT, heights) that exalteth itself (lifted up itself) against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity (make captive or lead away as captive) every thought (purpose, intellect, mind) to the obedience (compliance of submission) of Christ;” 2 Corinthians 10:55 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

. The other passage the Greek word translated “imaginations” is in Romans 2:1515 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)

15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)

, where it is translated “thoughts.” There, it is part of a parenthesis, quoted in full: [verse 13] (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. [verse 14] For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: [verse 15] Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts (reasoning, imaginations) the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) Romans 2:13 - 1513 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:

15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)

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By putting the use of this word in these two passages, Romans 2:15 and 2 Corinthians 10:5, together is instructional. The reasoning/thoughts of mankind in the flesh, whether that of the lowest pagan or the highest esteemed are worthless because the fleshly nature lifts itself up against the knowledge of God. Paul did not war after the flesh (and neither do believers today). Paul’s weapons (and of believers today) are mighty (powerful) to tear down the high minded reasonings and thoughts of the flesh by submission to Christ. In Ephesians describes the believer’s warfare this way: “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places (celestial, in heavens).” Ephesians 6:1212 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

. Paul continues in 2 Corinthians 10:66 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

to say that by his Apostolic authority he was ready to discipline those who were spiritually or morally disobedient to God’s Word until the Corinthians submission was completed.

Paul then asks rhetorically whether they were judging him on his outward appearance, (which Paul admits was weak and uncomely) but he let anyone who considers they existed in Christ know that Paul and his fellow Apostles existed in Christ, 2 Corinthians 10:77 Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's.

. He expresses this thought in Galatians: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:2020 I am crucified with Christ: neverthless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

. Paul then writes that he was not ashamed to boast freely of the authority he was given as an Apostle to edify or build the Corinthians up rather than criticize or tear them down, 2 Corinthians 10:88 For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:

. His intention was not to try to frighten them with what he wrote to them (referring to the admonitions about the problems in their midst addressed in 1st Corinthians and possibly in another letter sent them), 2 Corinthians 10:99 That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters.

. Then in 2 Corinthians 10:1010 For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.

he addresses what the false prophets in Corinth (described in the next chapter) were telling them about his (Paul’s) letters being heavy and powerful but in person he was weak and his speech contemptible. He then assured them he would be just as heavy and powerful in person as his letters indicated, 2 Corinthians 10:1111 Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.

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Paul writes that he would not compare himself with the false prophets among the Corinthians’ (described in chapter 11) who commended themselves by comparing themselves to themselves, which was unwise, 2 Corinthians 10:1212 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

. Contrary to the false prophets, Paul would not boast of things that cannot be measured, but he would according to what God had blessed him with and that which extended to his ministry to the Corinthians, 2 Corinthians 10:1313 But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.

. Paul was not going to boast as if he had not come to them because he did get to them with the Gospel of Christ; he was not going to boast about what others had done among them but that their faith would continue to grow and that he would be able to preach the Gospel in regions beyond Corinth because he did not want to boast about work done by others, 2 Corinthians 10:14 - 1614 For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ:

15 Not boasting of things 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,

16 To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand.

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And Paul finishes the chapter with the bottom line: “But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.” 2 Corinthians 10:17 - 1817 But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

18 For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.

. (See also Philippians 1:21 - 3021 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.

23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.

25 And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;

26 That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.

27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.

29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

30 Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

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