2 Corinthians 10:1-18 - Authority in Valiant Warfare

2 Corinthians 10:1-18 

The Spiritual War

1 Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you. 2 But I beg you that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

Reality of Paul’s Authority

7 Do you look at things according to the outward appearance? If anyone is convinced in himself that he is Christ’s, let him again consider this in himself, that just as he is Christ’s, even so we are Christ’s. 8 For even if I should boast somewhat more about our authority, which the Lord gave us for edification and not for your destruction, I shall not be ashamed— 9 lest I seem to terrify you by letters. 10 “For his letters,” they say, “are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.” 11 Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such we will also be in deed when we are present.

Limits of Paul’s Authority

12 For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. 13 We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us—a sphere which especially includes you. 14 For we are not overextending ourselves (as though our authority did not extend to you), for it was to you that we came with the gospel of Christ; 15 not boasting of things beyond measure, that is, in other men’s labors, but having hope, that as your faith is increased, we shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere, 16 to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s sphere of accomplishment.

17 But “he who glories, let him glory in the LORD.” 18 For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.

The authority Paul was given was by Christ to fight the good fight (1 Timothy 6:12, 2 Timothy 4:7) of the gospel without holding back in humble confidence of his calling.  His boldness was tempered with the meekness and gentleness of Christ Himself as mild and fair yet with power in truth.  He made it abundantly clear that he and his coworkers labored for the gospel in the Spirit and not according to their own human abilities and reasoning.  Their weapons are ours as well, heavenly instruments of divine power and authority to defeat the lies of the adversary set against the truth as the world is steeped in.  Spiritual weaponry alone can pull down the fortresses of opposition to the Lord with all the worldly arguments and rationalization of pride in man’s limited knowledge and understanding as influenced from the first lie in Eden’s Garden which questioned God’s word (Genesis 3:1, 2 Corinthians 11:3-4) and His design of only good intentions for us.  This God-given wisdom received in humility by faith is exercised in faithfulness to take down everything that lifts itself above God and His word such as perversions of the gospel that change God’s terms of repentance and faith or deny the sin which earns His wrath into which we all enter this world at birth.  This means all philosophical and religious arguments that do not align with scripture and the associated reasoning to make the lies palatable and desirable as the forbidden fruit was to Eve are to be decimated by the truth of God’s word that we wield in our battles for the glory of God.  This same word is the sword of God’s Spirit (Ephesians 6:17, Hebrews 4:12) that is both our defensive and offensive weapon given to us to fight the good fight and bring every thought of man into captivity to obey Christ according to His gospel as the living Word of God (John 1:1, 12-14) or suffer the eternal consequences of disobedience to this same gospel.  Paul was given a unique authority as an apostle which now is encapsulated in the writings given him as equally authoritative because they are directly from God as no other Christian writers can claim since that time.  His letters then were disputed by some as today but still hold true and binding on every believer and when we faithfully teach and preach them we are acting as ambassadors of this same truth and our common Lord Jesus Christ.  We do not proudly call attention to ourselves or this authority that is entrusted to us and not our own but follow Paul’s example here to bring the word of God faithfully to those He brings us to and give all glory to God the Father through the words and work of His Son as testified by His Spirit living inside of us.  The one whom the Lord commends is commendable.  We cannot exalt ourselves in this work of duty (Luke 17:10) to our calling and command (Matthew 28:18-20) as we present and bear witness to the gospel in our living and proclamation of it.  This is our authority in warfare as we fight the good fight of valiant warfare for the truth as the apostles passed on to us as stewards.