2 Cor 10.1-18 tells us how Paul deals with false teachers using satire and sarcasm hoping the Corinthians will change their assessment towards him; his credentials as a shaliach.
v 1…Now I, Paul, myself urge you by meekness and gentleness of Messiah (don’t force me to be otherwise)-I who am meek when face to face with you, but bold toward you when absent (he was being accused by some of being this way; don’t join in with their sneers or reproaches)!
v 2…I ask that when I am present I may not be bold with confidence with which I propose to be courageous against some (don’t make me use my authority and power if these accusations are still being discussed), who regard us as if we walked according to the flesh (thought he was all talk, pushy, selfish, etc).
v 3…For though we walk in the flesh (our natural bodies), we do not war according to the flesh (upon fleshly principles, carnal and wek views),
v 4…for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (according to the flesh), but divinely powerful (dynamic) for the destruction (pulling down) of fortresses (fortifications in the heart, desires that have seized our passions),
v 5…destroying speculations (imaginations and plans of a wicked world in our reasonings) and every lofty thing (exalted opinions, pride; and high citadels of ego) raised up against the knowledge of God (like being “puffed up” against Yehovah) and taking every thought (of fleshly passion) captive (under control) to the obedience of Messiah (in a Torah-based faith and service),
v 6…and we are ready to punish all disobedience (of those who persist in it, either by karet or cherem, or with the power that was seen with Peter and Ananias and Sapphira, Paul with Elymas the sorcerer, Hymenaeus and Philetus, etc) whenever your obedience is complete (when they were fully reformed from their previous issues; had better order and obedience in his directions).
v 7…You are looking at things as they are outwardly (when making judgments of people and issues). If any one is confident in himself that he is Messiah’s (redeemed), let him consider this again within himself, that just as he is Messiah’s (exists by him), so also are we (and Paul could produce more proof that he belonged to Yeshua more than any of them).
v 8…For even if I should boast somewhat further about our authority (as a shaliach, sent by Yehovah), which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I shall not be put to shame (as if he has told them an untruth; he said he could back up what he has said),
v 9…for I do not wish to seem as if I would terrify you by my letters (as if to frighten them).
v 10…For they say (the fault-finders at Corinth), “His letters are weighty and strong (logical, make sense), but his personal presence is unimpressive (weal, not physically impressive), and his speech contemptible (unpleasant, not refined, offensive-this seemed to offend the Greeks who looked up to great orators so they weren’t impressed by Paul and were not going to listen to him).”
v 11…Let such a person consider this, that we are in word by letters when absent, such persons we are also in deed when present (the reviler should know that Paul can back up what he says).
v 12…For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves, and compare (measure) themselves with themselves (wise in their own eyes; a legend in their own mind), they are without understanding (don’t know what they are doing, unwise).
v 13…But we will not boast beyond measure (say we went to places and did things that they never did like the false prophets and teachers did), but within the measure of the sphere which God apportioned to us as a measure (but to speak of things which they actually did), to reach even as far as you.
v 14…For we are not overextending ourselves (the bounds were given by the direction of God), as if we did not reach to you, for we were the first to come even as far as you (in Corinth) in the gospel of Messiah (they not only went to other places as they said but as far as Corinth);
v 15…not boasting beyond our measure, that is, in other men’s labors (the Corinthians were Paul’s converts and not from the labor of others), but with the hope that as your faith grows (and they did not need so much supervision), we shall be within our sphere, enlarged even more by you (to give him a greater sphere of labor and influence, and expand because his presence was not as needed);
v 16…so as to preach the gospel even to the regions beyond you (western Greece, Rome, Spain, etc), and not to boast in what has been accomplished in the sphere (of influence) of another (to claim achievement where others have labored, planted assemblies, etc).
v 17…But he who boasts, let him boast in the Lord (Jer 9.23-24).
v 18…For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends (as genuine and real).
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