ll CORINTHIANS LESSON 12


     We will begin this lesson in II Corinthians 10:1 "Now I Paul
myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in
presence [am] base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:"

     "Base", in the verse above, means humiliated, depressed, cast
down, humble, or of low degree. Paul is saying, that his person is not
overwhelming to anyone. We will find in this chapter that Paul is
answering some of the accusations made by people who were trying to
change the church at Corinth and its teachings. Jesus was meek and
gentle, until someone started making God's house a house of
merchandise. Paul is saying, that he can say what is really in his
heart in this letter. His boldness comes from righteous indignation
for the false teaching that was trying to creep into the church at
Corinth. He might seem base to them, but when it came to matters of
God, he was bold. Paul was a small man, possibly plain in appearance,
and was not an overwhelming speaker. He was, however, very talented in
writing his thoughts down.

     II Corinthians 10:2 "But I beseech [you], that I may not be bold
when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold
against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the
flesh."

     It seemed as if the person who was bringing in the false teaching
was, also, attacking the character of Paul. They had accused Paul as
walking after the flesh. Paul would stand up boldly and denounce this
false accusation.

     II Corinthians 10:3 "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not
war after the flesh:"

     I have said, over and over, that the Christian is in the world,
but not of the world. Paul is saying, here, I may be housed in flesh,
but I am not a flesh man. The battles that Paul had been fighting
were spiritual battles. His weapons were spiritual, as well. He
describes his armour in Ephesians chapter 6, beginning with the 11th
verse.

     II Corinthians 10:4 "(For the weapons of our warfare [are] not
carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)"

     The war that Paul was fighting is still going on today. It is the
battle between the flesh and the spirit. Ephesians 6:12 "For we
wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities,
against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world,
against spiritual wickedness in high [places]." We will find in all of
Paul's battles, he did not use a sword to fight a physical battle.
God fought Paul's battles for him. One very good example of that, is
when the viper bit Paul at the fire. Paul shook off the poisonous
serpent, and won the people over. God was Paul's very present help in
trouble and He is ours, as well. We must learn to trust Him as Paul
did.

     II Corinthians 10:5 "Casting down imaginations, and every high
thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing
into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;"

     You can sit around and imagine all sorts of terrible things. Paul
says cast them down. Do not allow yourself to start imagining all
sorts of terrible things. Run away from anything, or anyone, opposed
to the knowledge of God. The mind is where evil imaginations begin.
We find in the next Scripture that it our responsibility to guard over
our own mind. I Peter 1:13 "Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind,
be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto
you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;"  The devil tempts man in his
mind. The mind is an enemy of God. A true Christian takes on the mind
of Christ.  This means our mind obeys Christ to the utmost.

     II Corinthians 10:6 "And having in a readiness to revenge all
disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled."

     Paul is saying, that these disobedient will conform to Christ in
truth. He says, that he had rather his preaching and explaining would
win them, but he will do more if he has to. Paul chooses preaching to
win them, but if that doesn't work, he will go further.

     II Corinthians 10:7 "Do ye look on things after the outward
appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him
of himself think this again, that, as he [is] Christ's, even so [are]
we Christ's."

     It appears that these trouble-makers had even gone so far as to
say that Paul was not of Christ. Paul is warning the Corinthians to
not look at outward appearance. Paul is the one who led them to
Christ. How could he lead them to Christ if he were not of Christ
himself? He says, if you are of Christ, then certainly I am of Christ.

     II Corinthians 10:8 "For though I should boast somewhat more of
our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not
for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:"

     Paul is saying, if anyone has a right to boast it would be me.
The Lord Jesus Christ had appeared to Paul on the road to Damascus,
and gave him authority to minister to the Gentiles. Paul is not
meaning this to brag on himself, but to shame them for their bragging.
The Lord had raised Paul up, not Paul.

     II Corinthians 10:9 "That I may not seem as if I would terrify
you by letters."

        We know that Paul wrote at least 2 letters. Paul's letters
were very strong, but that is what they needed to keep them
straightened out.

     II Corinthians 10:10 "For [his] letters, say they, [are] weighty
and powerful; but [his] bodily presence [is] weak, and [his] speech
contemptible."

     Some of this was certainly true. Paul did write powerful letters
to them. He, also, was a small man in stature. "Paul" means small. He
was not a flashy minister. Even his speaking was not as powerful as
his letters. God called each of us to our own calling. One can write,
another preach, another teach, another heal, and so on. We should use
the ability that God has given us to the very fullest amount we can.
Frankly, some of the speaches Paul made in Jerusalem and in Cesarea
seemed very powerful to me.

     II Corinthians 10:11 "Let such an one think this, that, such as
we are in word by letters when we are absent, such [will we be] also
in deed when we are present."

     Paul is saying, do not think that I will let up when I come to
you in person. What I have been giving you is truth, and will remain
the truth. Paul says, it is the same message, whether I write it to
you, or give it in a speech before you.

     II Corinthians 10:12 "For we dare not make ourselves of the
number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but
they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves
among themselves, are not wise."

     When you have to brag on yourself, there is not much there to
brag about. Paul refuses to be of that sort.

     II Corinthians 10:13 "But we will not boast of things without
[our] measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath
distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you."

     It is not bragging to tell of the call of God in your life. That
is just stating a fact.

     II Corinthians 10:14 "For we stretch not ourselves beyond [our
measure], as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as
to you also in [preaching] the gospel of Christ:"

     This is Paul saying, let my preaching speak for itself. Paul
reminds them that the church at Corinth was under his jurisdiction,
since he started the church there. He knew others would come, but he
was the very first to minister to them, and he felt it his
responsibility to keep them in sound doctrine.

     II Corinthians 10:15 "Not boasting of things without [our]
measure, [that is], of other men's labours; but having hope, when your
faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our
rule abundantly,"

     Paul had not gone into a church that someone else started and
tried to impose his way. This was a church he had started himself, and
another had come and tried to change it. Paul has every right to
defend the church he started, and himself.

     II Corinthians 10:16 "To preach the gospel in the [regions]
beyond you, [and] not to boast in another man's line of things made
ready to our hand."

     Paul went into areas where they had not heard the gospel, and
started new works. He was not building on someone else's work, but on
his own.

     II Corinthians 10:17 "But he that glorieth, let him glory in the
Lord."

     The following Scripture says it much better than I could.
Galatians 6:14 "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross
of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and
I unto the world."  To God be the glory for all things.

     II Corinthians 10:18 "For not he that commendeth himself is
approved, but whom the Lord commendeth."

     Let us look at a very good explanation of this from the
Scriptures. Luke 18:10 "Two men went up into the temple to pray; the
one a Pharisee, and the other a publican."  Luke 18:11 "The Pharisee
stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not
as other men [are], extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this
publican." Luke 18:12 "I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all
that I possess."  Luke 18:13 "And the publican, standing afar off,
would not lift up so much as [his] eyes unto heaven, but smote upon
his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner."  Luke 18:14 "I
tell you, this man went down to his house justified [rather] than the
other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he
that humbleth himself shall be exalted."  To exalt yourself means that
no one else will do it. God is the Judge of all. Pray that He will
exalt you.



















                     ll Corinthians 12 Questions


1.  What does "base", in verse 1, mean?
2.  What is Paul doing in this chapter?
3.  When was Jesus not meek and gentle?
4.  What does Paul's boldness come from?
5.  Describe Paul's outward appearance.
6.  He was very talented in what?
7.  What terrible thing had they been saying about Paul in verse 2?
8.  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not ____ after the ______.
9.  What kind of battles had Paul been fighting?
10. Where can you find the armour worn by a Christian?
11. Quote Ephesians chapter 6 verse 12.
12. Who fought for Paul?
13. Give a good example of this?
14. What did Paul say to do with imaginations?
15. Quote 1 Peter chapter 1 verse 13.
16. A true Christian takes on the _______ of Christ.
17. In verse 7, what does Paul tell them is proof he is of Christ?
18. Who had the most right to boast?
19. What things were true about the description they had given of
    Paul?
20. What are some of the different things God calls us to do?
21. What is Paul saying to them in verse 14?
22. Why did Paul have the right to correct these at Corinth?
23. Let him glory in the ______.
24. Quote Galations chapter 6 verse 14.
25. Who is approved in verse 18?