2 Corinthians 10

Notes

Ver. 1. But that I may return to my self-vindication, I, who am reviled by them as an abject, pusillanimous creature of low stature and despicable appearance when present, but very assuming, magisterial, and severe when absent, beseech you, by all the kindness and love that appeared in Christ our Saviour, and, after the example of Christ, with all that lenity, calmness, and benevolence of temper wherewith his Spirit hath endowed me, to regard my admonition. 2. And I beg that such care may be taken to rectify every disorder, that I may not, contrary to my own inclination, be obliged to rebuke and censure some of you, when I come to you, for their maliciously reproaching me and my faithful brethren, as if we conducted our ministrations by carnal views or motives. 3. For though we still remain in our mortal bodies, and are liable to the common infirmities and troubles of this life, yet we can appeal to God that, in the manner of our struggling against manifold opposition, we do not act under the influence of sinful principles, nor by carnal means, nor to carnal ends, but with simplicity and godly sincerity, by his grace. 4. For in our difficult and dangerous work of preaching the gospel, we make use of no external force; of nothing furnished by carnal wisdom, or calculated to promote carnal interests; but merely of the truths of God, dispensed with light, zeal, and courage, in their native simplicity, which, by the almighty influence of God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, are made powerful to demolish the strongest forts of sin, Satan, and the world; all the ignorance, pride, prejudice, unbelief, sensuality, stubbornness, and enmity which lie fortified in the hearts of men against God; 5. And to confute and overthrow the corrupt reasonings of Jews and Gentiles, and every proud conceit of self-wisdom, righteousness, and strength; and all the power and policy of earth and hell which stand in opposition to the light, grace, and holiness of the gospel, and the discoveries of the divine perfections made therein; and to reduce all the powers, faculties, and actions of men to a cheerful and obedient subjection to the authority and commands of the Lord Jesus Christ. 6. Yea, I am furnished with apostolic powers to censure or even inflict temporal punishments on such as shall obstinately continue to contemn and vilify my office—whenever I see how many of you return to your obedience to Christ and to his authority in me.—7. But if my inveterate opposers conceive disadvantageously of me, from the meanness of my aspect, my poverty, or the humility of my behaviour, will ye also inconsiderately judge of me by outward appearances? If even the chief of your factious preachers be confident that he is a member and minister of Christ, and owned by him as such, let him, for his humiliation and caution, seriously remember that I am every whit as much Christ's, and as much owned by him, as he can pretend to be. 8. For if in my present circumstances I should even boast of the apostolic power with which the Lord Jesus hath intrusted me for promoting your conversion, faith, holiness, order, and repentance, I should have no reason of being ashamed as though I had gone beyond either truth or decency. 9. But I will not say what I might lest it should be pretended that I am desirous of terrifying my opposers by my letters, while I dare to say nothing face to face. 10. For they have already reproachfully derided me as if I wrote letters in a high, solemn, authoritative, and threatening strain, while when personally present I appear most weak and contemptible, and my discourse quite despicable, without either elegance of language or a graceful utterance. 11. But let these mockers know that if God bring me again among you, they shall find me every whit as severe in the practical execution of my apostolic authority against impenitent offenders as I appeared in my letters. 12. While they think me quite unworthy to be compared with themselves, my conscience restrains me from imitating them in self-conceit, and in groundless and indecent boasting to the decrying of everybody else.—And indeed it but manifests their weakness and folly to form their opinion of themselves from their own fancied excellencies, or comparison with some of their own party. 13. For my part, I abhor assuming to myself the honour of other men's labours, or of doing that which God never appointed or directed me to in my ministrations; but merely mention what God really did by me in the exercise of my apostolic office, all along from Jerusalem to your city. 14. I did not, like your factious preachers, hasten from place to place where I might best gain honour or wealth to myself; but came all along gradually, and was the first who preached the gospel to you. 15. And as I abhor boasting of anything done by others, or done out of the line prescribed me by Providence, I hope that when your faith, which has been shaken by these false teachers, is re-established and strengthened, I shall be encouraged and assisted by you to preach the gospel in places where it has not been heard. 16. I mean to preach in the countries to the north and west of you, for the conversion of the heathens to Christ, without encroaching on the province of any other, or taking the honour of any man's labours. 17. But, after all, instead of boasting of our own accomplishments, labours, and success, or of claiming the honour of other men's works, let every one of us glory in the Lord Jesus, by whose gracious direction and influence we act for the honour of God or good of souls. 18. For it is not he who has a high conceit, and boasts of his own abilities and performances, but he whom the Lord honours with his gifts, graces, presence, and blessing, and bears witness to as sincere, humble, and faithful in his work, that is now or shall at the last day be approved by God.

Reflections.—The best of men, and especially ministers, may expect malignant traducers. But with meekness and condescension they should endeavour to gain the unreasonably prejudiced, and yet with authority vindicate the honour of Christ in rebuking the obstinate. And though they have their natural infirmities and passions, they must never be governed by carnal principles or aims in their work.—Alas! how fixed is the power of sin and Satan in men's hearts! and yet the gospel, attended by the influence of God's Spirit, gloriously triumphs over all opposition, and wins men to Christ. It is necessary that ministers sometimes vindicate their conduct, and show the integrity, self-consistency, and order of it. But as ever either ministers or Christians would be approved by God, they must beware of pride, and glory only in Christ.