2 Coríntios 10
Kent Hughes · Citado em PreceptAustin
2 Coríntios 10
Hughes - Paul declares that those who walk according to the flesh mind the things of the flesh, that is, their living is not centred in God but governed by self-interest. In our epistle he has already (2Co 1:17+ = "Or what I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh") alluded to the accusation of his enemies that it was his custom to make plans “according to the flesh” (yet another link between the earlier part and these concluding chapters of the letter). Both there and here the integrity of the Apostle’s character is impugned: he writes one thing and does another, and such a man is not merely inconsistent but thoroughly unreliable. This imputation Paul constantly repudiates. If necessity requires, they will find that his deed is as good as his word. But he takes no delight in being severe, and accordingly begs the Corinthians to ensure that, in expectation of his arrival, his personal integrity and apostolic authority are acknowledged by all. (The Second Epistle to the Corinthians -- The New International Commentary on the New Testament) John
2 Coríntios 10
Hughes - The satanic forces against which the soldiers of Christ’s army contend are not forces of flesh and blood; therefore to attempt to withstand them with weapons of the flesh would be nothing short of folly. The armour of Saul, though splendid in the eyes of men, cannot avail to overcome the Philistine giant. Only the panoply of God will serve for this purpose (Eph. 6:11ff.). Only spiritual weapons are divinely powerful for the overthrow of the fortresses of evil. This constitutes an admonition to the Church and particularly to her leaders, for the temptation is ever present to meet the challenge of the world, which is under the sway of the evil one, with the carnal weapons of this world—with human wisdom and philosophy, with the attractions of secular entertainment, with the display of massive organization. Not only do such weapons fail to make an impression on the strongholds of Satan, but a secularized Church is a Church which, having adopted the standards of the world, has ceased to fight and is herself overshadowed by the powers of darkness....And what precisely are these mighty weapons? They are the weapons, scorned by the world and yet most feared by the powers of darkness, of truth, righteousness, evangelism, faith, salvation, the Word of God, and prayer, enumerated by Paul in Eph. 6:14ff. They are the very weapons which he wielded in the unremitting warfare that he was called upon to wage as Christ’s apostle, which enabled him at last to testify that he had fought the good fight, and which won for him the victor’s crown of righteousness (2 Tim. 4:7f.). (The Second Epistle to the Corinthians -- The New International Commentary on the New Testament) Kruse on weapons - Paul does not in this passage identify his weapons, but statements elsewhere in the Corinthian correspondence suggest they consist in the proclamation of the gospel, through which divine power is released (1 Co1:17–25; 2:1–5; 2 Co 4:1–6; cf. Ro 1:16). (Online Tyndale NT Commentary on 2 Corinthians - chapter 10) Weapons is that which is necessary to accomplish a task. It’s a shovel if you’re going to dig a hole. It’s a pen if you’re going to write a letter, but when it’s used in a military sense as it is only two other times in the New Testament, it means weapons or armor that are necessary to defeat one in battle Divinely powerful is more literally “mighty through God.” Our weapons are mighty because they’re from God. Some OT examples - the weapons of David vs. Goliath – sling shot and some stones, the weapons of Gideon , the weapons of Joshua – literally knocking down fortresses
2 Coríntios 10
Hughes - literally, “We destroy every high thing lifted up against the knowledge of God. As Carson (From Triumphalism to Maturity) points out, Paul’s language of destruction here is not merely about winning arguments or debates. “He means something far more: his weapons destroy the way people think, demolish their sinful thought patterns, the mental structures by which they live their lives in rebellion against God.” In Paul’s own words, his spiritual weapons tear down “every high thing lifted up against the knowledge of God.” Paul is referencing the citadels of sin in our lives—every high thing, every haughty thought, every action that forms a barrier to the knowledge of the living God. Happily, the gospel regularly destroys the high things lifted up against the knowledge of God. Paul declared in Romans, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (1:16)..... When people come to believe, it is not because of their cleverness or charisma or the cut of their clothing or their clever cant, but because the gospel has cut down the high towers in their souls that were once set against the knowledge of God. (2 Corinthians: Power in Weakness) Adrian Rogers on speculations...lofty thing - imaginations, knowledge, thought. It’s obvious that there is a war. Satan is behind it, and your mind is the battleground. Satan’s desire is to conquer and to control your thought life, and then to make your thought life a citadel from which he can war against God, because, look, if you will, here—it says here, “Casting down … every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God” (2 Corinthians 10:5). Satan wants your mind. Barber on lofty thing "is that which has been raised up like the tower of Babel in Genesis 11, above what God’s Word has to say. It’s something that is humanistic; it’s something that man has come up with and built it to such a structure that it won’t allow itself to hear the Word of God.
2 Coríntios 10
Hughes - The word “thought” refers more specifically to the mind as the intellectual center of our being. The idea is that Christ does not simply help people to think holy thoughts, but that “their mental structures, the plans and schemes, are taken over and transformed as they come to a new allegiance” (Carson). Most Americans are materialistic, and many are metaphysical materialists as they functionally accord things with a religious “Diamonds are forever” weight. But Christ transforms such thought patterns and installs new paradigms. Likewise, a Buddhist’s agnosticism and indifference is revolutionized when his thoughts are taken captive by the gospel of Christ. Could anything be more wonderful than to have every thought experience captive obedience to Christ? Could we wish anything better for others? Could anything be more beautiful (2 Corinthians: Power in Weakness) Murray Harris on taking captive - It is not a case of the Christian's effort to force all his thoughts to be pleasing to Christ. Rather the picture seems to be that of a military operation in enemy territory that seeks to thwart every single hostile plan of battle, so that there will be universal allegiance to Christ. (1 and 2 Corinthians The Expositor's Bible Commentary) Henry Morris on every thought - "Thought" (noema) here is the same word as "mind." Judicious use of our spiritual weapons--especially the one offensive weapon, "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Ephesians 6:17)--will result in opening the blinded "minds" (2 Corinthians 4:4) of those who have rejected God and His Word and capture them for Christ. Thus, we are not to use such carnal weapons as bullets--or even ballots--in our battle for the human mind but the mighty spiritual weapons in "the whole armor of God" (Ephesians 6:11). Lowery - No thought (noema ; cf. 2Co 2:11), including those of his opponents, is beyond the reach of the One who "catches the wise in their craftiness" and "knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile" (1 Cor. 3:19-20; cf. Job 5:13; Ps. 94:11). (The Bible Knowledge Commentary) Kruse - The imagery is of a stronghold breached and those sheltering behind its walls taken captive. So the apostle’s purpose is not only to demolish false arguments but also to bring people’s thoughts under the lordship of Christ. His calling as an apostle was ‘to bring about the obedience of faith … among all the nations’ (Ro 1:5). (Online Tyndale NT Commentary on 2 Corinthians - chapter 10)
2 Coríntios 10
Hughes - If they would but look into their hearts and face the irrefutable facts of their spiritual experience, they would perforce have to acknowledge that Paul was in truth their own genuine apostle and reject the unsubstantial claims of those spurious apostles who had intruded themselves into their community. (The Second Epistle to the Corinthians -- The New International Commentary on the New Testament) Utley on the repetition of the reflexive pronoun himself - Paul uses the term heautou twice in this verse. These false teachers had deceived themselves. This is the hardest spiritual condition to reason with or to affect. (2 Corinthians 10 Commentary)
2 Coríntios 10
Hughes - This is an effective thrust, for the picture of Paul, whom they knew so well, acting the part of a distant despot terrorizing them by his correspondence must have struck the Corinthians as altogether ridiculous. As a riposte to the calumnies of those who were defaming him in Corinth it was both adroit and legitimate. The particular slander in question was in fact most damaging to his authority. It was being said that between the tone of his letters and the manner of his conduct when present there existed the greatest discrepancy, that the former was impressive and forceful, whereas the latter was marked by weakness and indecision. The charge, in short, was one of radical inconsistency and inconstancy. (The Second Epistle to the Corinthians -- The New International Commentary on the New Testament) 2 Corinthians 10:10 For they say, "His letters are weighty and strong, but his personal presence is unimpressive and his speech contemptible." NIV For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing.” AMP For they say, His letters are weighty and impressive and forceful and telling, but his personality and bodily presence are weak, and his speech and delivery are utterly contemptible (of no account). NLT For some say, “Paul’s letters are demanding and forceful, but in person he is weak, and his speeches are worthless!” NRSV For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.” NTMS:ITEETRGT For they say, “his letters are authoritative and forcible, but his personal presence is unimpressive, and as to eloquence, he has none.” YLT ‘because the letters indeed—saith one—are weighty and strong, and the bodily presence weak, and the speech despicable.’ NEB ‘His letters’, so it is said, ‘are weighty and powerful; but when he appears he has no presence, and as a speaker he is beneath contempt.’ NET because some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but his physical presence is weak and his speech is of no account.” The Living Bible “Don’t bother about his letters,” some say. “He sounds big, but it’s all noise. When he gets here you will see that there is nothing great about him, and you have never heard a worse preacher!” MLB:BV For, “His letters,” they say, “are weighty and forceful, but his physical presence is insignificant and his speech is contemptible.” The Message “His letters are brawny and potent, but in person he’s a weakling and mumbles when he talks.” CJB Someone says, “His letters are weighty and powerful, but when he appears in person he is weak, and as a speaker he is nothing.” EXPNT Some people say, “Paul’s letters are powerful and sound important, but when he is with us, he is weak. And his speaking is nothing.” REB ‘His letters’, so it is said, ‘are weighty and powerful; but when he is present he is unimpressive, and as a speaker he is beneath contempt.’ ESV For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.” MEV “For his letters,” they say, “are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.” EMPH Because The letters､ it is true (saith one), are weighty and strong, But the presence of the body is weak､ and the discourse contemptible;— CSB For it is said, “His letters are weighty and powerful, but his physical presence is weak and his public speaking amounts to nothing.” NCPB ‘For his letters,’ say they, ‘are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.’ GNB Someone will say, “Paul’s letters are severe and strong, but when he is with us in person, he is weak, and his words are nothing!” NKJV “For his letters,” they say, “are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.” KJV 1900 For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible. they: Gr. saith he, 2Co 10:11 but: 2Co 10:1 2Co 12:5-9 1Co 2:3,4 Ga 4:13,14 and his: 2Co 11:6 Ex 4:10 Jer 1:6 1Co 1:17,21 2:1-4 STRONG LETTERS WEAK CHARISMA For they say, "His letters are weighty (barus) and strong (ischuros) - NJB = Someone said, ‘His letters are weighty enough, and full of strength."’ TLB = “Don’t bother about his letters,” some say. “He sounds big, but it’s all noise." There is certainly some truth in this statement, for Paul did not hold back when addressing sin and discord in the church in his first letter. It could not be denied that some of his letters were "weighty (barus) and strong (ischuros)" as in the strong command about handing men over to Satan for the destruction of their flesh (1Co 5:5; cf. Acts 13:11; 1Ti 1:20), but his actions would authenticate his words. A T Robertson on weighty and strong - These adjectives can be uncomplimentary and mean "severe and violent" instead of "impressive and vigorous." The adjectives bear either sense. . (2 Corinthians 10) but his personal presence is unimpressive (asthenes)(KJV - "his bodily presence is weak") and his speech contemptible (exoutheneo) - NIV = "but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing.”" NJB = "but when you see him in person, he makes no impression and his powers of speaking are negligible." TLB = "When he gets here you will see that there is nothing great about him, and you have never heard a worse preacher!” The opponents knew how much the Corinthians esteemed brilliant oratory, so here they attempt to disparage his ability to speak. They were saying in a sense his "bite did not match his bark!" A T Robertson on his personal presence is unimpressive (KJV - "his bodily presence is weak") - This certainly is uncomplimentary. "The presence of his body." It seems clear that Paul did not have a commanding appearance like that of Barnabas (Acts 14:12). He had some physical defect of the eyes (Galatians 4:14) and a thorn in the flesh (2 Cor. 12:7). In the second century Acts of Paul and Thecla he is pictured as small, short, bow-legged, with eye-brows knit together, and an aquiline nose. A forgery of the fourth century in the name of Lucian describes Paul as "the bald-headed, hook-nosed Galilean." However that may be, his accusers sneered at his personal appearance as "weak" . (2 Corinthians 10) Kruse on unimpressive - may reflect his opponents’ reaction to a physical ailment which was never healed (cf. 2Co 12:7-9; Gal. 4:15), or his unimpressive physical make-up (cf. Acts of Paul and Thecla 3: ‘a man of small stature, with a bald head and crooked legs, in a good state of body, with eyebrows meeting and nose somewhat hooked’), or most likely to what they regarded as a lack of a commanding presence because Paul did not provide displays of authority and spiritual charismata. (Online Tyndale NT Commentary on 2 Corinthians 10) Henry
2 Coríntios 10
Hughes says "Anything that might distract his hearers’ attention from or overlay the dynamic truth of his message was to be avoided at all costs. It was essential that their faith should stand, “not in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God”." (The Second Epistle to the Corinthians -- The New International Commentary on the New Testament) Unimpressive (sick, weak) (772) asthenes from a = without + sthénos = strength, bodily vigor) (See study of related verb astheneo - note the concentration of asthenes/astheneo in the epistles to the Corinthians - almost 50% of NT uses) is literally without strength or bodily vigor. Asthenes describes one's state of limited capacity to do or be something and is used literally of physical weakness (most of the uses in the Gospels) and figuratively of weakness in the spiritual arena (weak flesh, weak conscience, weak religious system or commandment [Gal 4:9, Heb 7:18], etc) and thus powerlessness to produce results. Contemptible (1848) exoutheneo from ek = an intensifies + outhenéo = bring to naught) is a strong verb which means to despise someone or something on basis that it is worthless or of no value. To consider as nothing. To treat someone contemptuously as if completely worthless or despicable. To treat something or someone with contempt or to treat as of no account. To set at naught. To make something of no account (disregard, disdain, reject with contempt, despise). 2 Corinthians 10:11 Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when absent, such persons we are also in deed when present. AMP Let such people realize that what we say by letters when we are absent, [we put] also into deeds when we are present— NLT Those people should realize that our actions when we arrive in person will be as forceful as what we say in our letters from far away. NRSV Let such people understand that what we say by letter when absent, we will also do when present. NEB People who talk in that way should reckon with this: when I come, my actions will show the same man as my letters showed in my absence. NET Let such a person consider this: What we say by letters when we are absent, we also are in actions when we are present. NJB We are not venturing to rank ourselves, or even to compare ourselves with certain people who provide their own commendations. By measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves to themselves, they only show their folly. REB We should not dare to class ourselves or compare ourselves with any of those who commend themselves. What fools they are to measure themselves on their own, to find in themselves their standard of comparison! such: 2Co 12:20 13:2,3,10 1Co 4:19,20 PAUL DENIES HE WAS TWO FACED Two-faced means duplicitous, habitually presenting a different version of oneself at different times, acting one way in certain situations and then in a contrary manner in others. Swindoll - In technological lingo, we often see the term WYSIWYG—an acronym for “what you see is what you get.” This is particularly important in desktop publishing with the desire for the layout on the computer screen to look exactly the same as what the printer spits out. As far as Paul’s ministry was concerned, it was WYSIWYG. Paul was Paul—whether in their midst or through his letters (Insights on 1 & 2 Corinthians) Let such a person consider (logizomai) this - It is as if he has a particular unnamed individual in mind, perhaps the lead spokesman of his accusers. To this person he gives a command in the present imperative. Put the following truth into your mind and "calculate" (logizomai) what it means. Paul is not playing word games but word war! He is in effect using his pen as a "battering ram" to destroy fortresses and speculations (2Co 10:4-5+) Hughes - Like so many who judge things according to the outward display of this world, Paul's opponents interpreted meekness as weakness, forbearance as cowardice, and gentleness as indecision (cf. v. 1; 2Co 11:21 )-or at least they had sought to induce the Corinthians to place this interpretation on Paul's character." (The Second Epistle to the Corinthians -- The New International Commentary on the New Testament) That what we are in word (logos) by letters (epistole) when absent, such persons we are also in deed when present (pareimi) - Paul directly refutes the accusation that he was "meek when face to face with you, but bold toward you when absent!" (2Co 10:1) Paul was not duplicitous. His words matched his words, whether absent or present. THOUGHT - Do my works match my words? Could I with confidence and clear conscience say "Yes?" A T Robertson on Paul's quality in his letters when absent (apontes) and in his deeds when present (parontes - pareimi) is precisely the same. . (2 Corinthians 10) Kruse - The one who writes the strong letters is prepared to stand up to his critics when he comes on the third visit. No-one should mistake his efforts to be conciliatory as evidence that he lacks authority. (Online Tyndale NT Commentary on 2 Corinthians 10) 2 Corinthians 10:12 For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding. NIV 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. AMP Not that we [have the audacity to] venture to class or [even to] compare ourselves with some who exalt and furnish testimonials for themselves! However, when they measure themselves with themselves and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding and behave unwisely. NLT Oh, don’t worry; we wouldn’t dare say that we are as wonderful as these other men who tell you how important they are! But they are only comparing themselves with each other, using themselves as the standard of measurement. How ignorant! NEB We should not dare to class ourselves or compare ourselves with any of those who put forward their own claims. What fools they are to measure themselves by themselves, to find in themselves their own standard of comparison! The Living Bible Oh, don’t worry, I wouldn’t dare say that I am as wonderful as these other men who tell you how good they are! Their trouble is that they are only comparing themselves with each other and measuring themselves against their own little ideas. What stupidity! The Message We’re not, understand, putting ourselves in a league with those who boast that they’re our superiors. We wouldn’t dare do that. But in all this comparing and grading and competing, they quite miss the point. CJB We don’t dare class or compare ourselves with some of the people who advertise themselves. In measuring themselves against each other and comparing themselves with each other, they are simply stupid. Phillips Of course we shouldn't dare include ourselves in the same class as those who write their own testimonials, or even to compare ourselves with them! All they are doing, of course, is to measure themselves by their own standards or by comparisons within their own circle, and that doesn't make for accurate estimation, you may be sure. we are not bold to class or compare ourselves 2Co 3:1 5:12 Job 12:2 Pr 25:27 27:2 Lu 18:11 Ro 15:18 Related Passages: 2 Corinthians 3:1 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some, letters of commendation to you or from you? USING THE FALSE STANDARD OF HUMAN COMPARISONS Paul now takes the offensive. In this passage he uses sarcasm which is a sharp, often satirical or ironic utterance designed to mock or convey contempt. THOUGHT - Spiritual principle from this passage = avoid human comparisons! For we are (ou - absolutely) not bold (tolmao) to class or compare (sunkrino) ourselves with some of those who commend (sunistemi/sunistao) themselves - Amplified - "Not that we [have the audacity to] venture to class or [even to] compare ourselves with some who exalt and furnish testimonials for themselves!" Phillips Paraphrase = "Of course we shouldn't dare include ourselves in the same class as those who write their own testimonials, or even to compare ourselves with them! " TLB = "Oh, don’t worry, I wouldn’t dare say that I am as wonderful as these other men who tell you how good they are!" Class is egkrino used only here in the Bible and conveying the meaning of classing someone in a certain group or consider them as belonging to that group. Paul is describing his opponents as those is a "mutual admiration society." Paul refuses to compare himself with His self-commending opponents, for they are using a false standard. When you write your own letter of recommendation, that is a major problem, not to mention pure presumption! Possibly some were accusing Paul of not be bold or courageous enough to even try to compare himself with them. Paul, guided by the Spirit, adopted the basic classical understanding. He did not want to “reckon himself among” those who were “self-endorsing” (literally “who commend themselves”). Paul did not wish to be considered a part of that group which boasted of its own success. Paul wanted, rather, to confine his boasting “to the field God has assigned” (2 Corinthians 10:13NIV). Kruse - A popular method used by teachers to attract pupils in Paul’s day was to compare themselves with other teachers (cf. Oxyrhynchus Papyrus, 2190). (Online Tyndale NT Commentary on 2 Corinthians 10)
2 Coríntios 10
Hughes - Paul now indulges in a note of sarcasm. Though defending his own boldness and disavowing the timidity of cowardice, he declares with strong irony that there are, however, limits to his boldness: he would not be so daring as to put himself on an equality or even to compare himself with certain individuals whose daring is so extraordinary that they rest their authority upon self-commendation! That is a boldness with which he does not compete! Always Paul was acutely conscious that, in himself, he was utterly unworthy of God’s call to apostleship, that everything he was he owed entirely to the sovereign grace of God (cf. 12:11; 1 Cor. 15:9f., 3:6f.; Eph. 3:7f.). His commendation, his authority, was of God, not of men, and least of all of self....these men are so puffed up with arrogant ambition and self-esteem that self is their only measure of authority and their sole standard of comparison. (The Second Epistle to the Corinthians -- The New International Commentary on the New Testament) But when they measure (metreo) themselves by themselves and compare (sunkrino) themselves with themselves, they are (ou = absolutely) without understanding (suniemi) - NLT = "But they are only comparing themselves with each other, using themselves as the standard of measurement. How ignorant!" Phillips = " All they are doing, of course, is to measure themselves by their own standards or by comparisons within their own circle, and that doesn't make for accurate estimation, you may be sure." Paul disassociates himself with those who “measure” their character relatively, in relation to others but do not use the standard that is eternal and unchanging, Christ Jesus! The standards his opponents are using were invented by themselves and they took pride in meeting those human standards. This is why they thought so highly of themselves. Clearly they did not know or understand the proverb which says "Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him." (Pr 26:12) The were without understanding of Biblical, spiritual truth for they were without the Spirit of Truth! A T Robertson on measure themselves by themselves - Or "in themselves." Keenest sarcasm. Setting themselves up as the standards of orthodoxy these Judaizers always measure up to the standard while Paul falls short. (2 Corinthians 10)
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Hughes - The picture Paul has in mind is that of a course measured out by God for each of His servants—and, more particularly here for each of His apostles. These intruders, however, had not been chosen of God; no sphere or track had been divinely marked out for them, certainly not in Corinth. The claims they were boastfully making were, therefore, entirely without foundation. Paul, on the other hand, confines his glorying to what are its only legitimate limits, namely, the course of evangelism which God, not self, had so clearly marked out for him and which, in the dispensation of God’s strategic will, had brought him even as far as Corinth (the farthest point West which he had so far reached with the gospel). In coming to the Corinthians he had not overrun the prescribed limits, as would have been the case had the course appointed him by God not reached as far as them. The others who had come to them were unauthorized interlopers who had illegally trespassed on the lane marked out, not for them, but for him. (The Second Epistle to the Corinthians -- The New International Commentary on the New Testament)