2 Corinthians 10:7-18 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is 2 Corinthians 10:7-18. Let’s go!
2 Corinthians 10:7-14 (NIV)
7 You are looking only on the surface of things. If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much as he.
8 For even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than pulling you down, I will not be ashamed of it.
9 I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you with my letters.
10 For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing.”
11 Such people should realize that what we are in our letters when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present.
12 We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.
13 We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the field God has assigned to us, a field that reaches even to you.
14 We are not going too far in our boasting, as would be the case if we had not come to you, for we did get as far as you with the gospel of Christ.
On verses 7-14: One criticism being thrown at Paul was that Paul had been boasting excessively about his authority in the church. This criticism was probably coming from the “super apostles”, a group that featured speakers who were more eloquent than Paul but who did not have the authority that Paul had as founding pastor of the church. Paul tells his church, “Stop judging by mere appearances and enough with these silly comparisons.” (v7)
It seems that these “super apostles” were trying to undermine Paul’s authority as the spiritual leader of the church by pointing at his lack of speaking skills and saying to the church in Corinth something to the effect of, “Who does Paul think he is, commanding and ordering you guys this way in his letters? And then when he actually shows up, look how unimpressive his speaking skills are!” To paraphrase Paul’s response in verse 8: “I’m not going to be ashamed of using the authority God has given me to lead the church.”
What’s probably going on here is that Paul was not really “boasting”; rather he was simply using his authority as founding pastor of the church to rebuke and to remind the church in Corinth. However, the “super apostles” and their groupies saw this as boasting, even though ironically they wanted the very authority and position that Paul had. These “super apostles” did not respect Paul’s authority as a founding leader of the church.
What can we learn from this? Be confident in who you are and what God has given to you. From time to time people will criticize, but remember, as Pastor Craig Groeschel says, that just because they’re the loudest does not mean they’re the most. Don’t play the comparison game. Don’t live for the approval of others. For as Paul writes in verse 18, ” it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.” Instead, keep a sweet, strong heart and continue to serve God with humility, integrity and confidence.
2 Corinthians 10:15-16 (NIV)
15 Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our area of activity among you will greatly expand,
16 so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. For we do not want to boast about work already done in another man’s territory.
On verses 15-16: Just as Paul and his team desired that their ministry would “greatly expand” and go beyond its current borders, I believe God wants us to dream big for Him and to always strive to see our ministries expand — not for our glory, but because people matter to God. As long as there are people in our city and in our world who don’t know Jesus, we have reason to want our ministry to “greatly expand”, to reach people and places that we are not yet reaching. Jesus had the same mentality. In John 10:16 he says, “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.”
In other words, Jesus wasn’t content to have the people that he did. He wanted to see his people grow and God’s kingdom expand. In the same way, may you never settle and think, “I’ve done enough. No need to reach out to more people.” For as long as there are people in our city and in our world who don’t know Jesus, you and I have a mission to bring the hope of Jesus to them.
May God expand our hearts and our ministries for His glory.
2 Corinthians 10:17-18 (NIV)
17 But, “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”
18 For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.
On verses 17-18: Don’t get caught in the comparison game. Maybe today the biggest mistake you’re making is that you keep comparing yourself to someone who is totally different from you, someone whose skill set, personality, background, and destiny are completely different from yours. Instead of saying, “Why can’t I be more like that person?”, remember that God made you with a unique destiny. Embrace it!
Or maybe today the mistake you’re making is that you keep comparing someone close to you with someone whom you only see from a distance. For as long as you do that, you’re going to make life miserable for yourself and for that person who is close to you.
Remember that God doesn’t make copies; He only makes originals. So instead of being controlled by comparisons, embrace your uniqueness in Jesus Christ. Don’t live for the approval of others, but live to please God. Boast in Him, not in yourself.
Heavenly Father, thank You that because You made me uniquely I don’t need to be caught up in the comparison game. Help me to be confident and secure in who I am and what You have given to me. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
