The Truth comes to Corinth Part 2 Volume 35

Paul continues to Authenticate His Apostleship

2 Corinthians 10:7-11 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. 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: That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters. For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible. 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. KJV

Paul cautions the Corinthian believers to not be wowed or swayed by the “outward appearance” of the false apostles (the Judaizes) with their great swelling words and their apparent materialistic prosperity thinking that these things authenticate true salvation and love for our Lord Jesus Christ. The English phrase “outward appearance” is from the Greek word prosopon which means the surface or countenance or the outside view; it also has the idea of gazing at someone or something that appears remarkable to the eye or view. It was sure or certain that these false apostles that accused Paul of not being an Apostle to the Corinthian believers were clothed or attired in the finest robes and adorned with expensive jewelry having broadened phylacteries and the appearance of tremendous blessings from God.

Our Lord Jesus Christ warned the original Apostles of these very kind of Jews when He said, “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them. They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger. But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments. They love the place of honor at banquets and the chief seats in the synagogues, and respectful greetings in the market places, and being called Rabbi by men” (Matthew 23:2-7).

Paul wanted the Corinthian believers to see through the earthly and material to discern the substance. Essentially, Paul is asking them what spiritual blessings these men brought them, while he (Paul) spent 18 months teaching them the Word of God (Acts 18:11). Paul did not want to allow pride to gain a foot hold in his heart and therefore, he did not desire to praise himself, although he had every right to do so toward them seeing how it was through his preaching that they believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and were saved (Acts 18:8). What had these newly self-proclaimed and self-professed apostles done for these Corinthian believers other than try to get them entangled in the Jewish law and dong outward rituals that had nothing to do with their regeneration and new birth and was no part of Paul’s preaching to them.

Paul declared to them in his first letter with these words, “And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God” (1 Corinthians 2:1-5). Paul was not going to back down to these phony men for one second and he wanted to bring to the Corinthian believers memory that his authority does not come from some Church or Jewish counsel, but from our Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Paul wanted them to understand fully that though he appeared weak outwardly by his clothing, countenance, and circumstances, yet the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ coursed through his veins along with His Divine Power as he already declared in verses 1-6.

Whether these men belonged to our Lord Jesus Christ or not was not Paul’s place to judge as he also declared to them already in his first letter when he said, “But to me it is a very small thing that I may be examined by you, or by any human court; in fact, I do not even examine myself. For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord. Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God” (1 Corinthians 4:3-5).

Paul wanted them to know with all earnestness that it was his full intention to carry out his Apostolic duties as it had been given to him by our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul was so serious in his writing to the Corinthian believers to correct those things that were wrong, that these false apostles perceived him to be a mean tyrant in his absence and influenced a faction of the Corinthian Church to think likewise. However, Paul solemnly declares that his words (in the letters) will match and line up with his actions in their presence, for he was sincere in his faith and committed to carrying out the duties of his office for their good and for Christ Glory.

My own personal Note: It serves no good to ourselves to try and justify or affirm our authority “from Christ” and “in Christ”, when it is Christ who knows all who truly belong to Him. As it is written, “Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand” (Romans 14:4) and as it is written, “Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, ‘The Lord knows those who are His,’ and, ‘Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness’” (2 Timothy 2:19).

“In outward appearance, Paul was mean and despicable with some; he did not make a figure, as perhaps some of his competitors might do: but this was a false rule to make a judgment by. It should seem that some boasted mighty things of them, and made a fair show. But there are often false appearances. A man may seem to be learned who has not learned Christ, and appear virtuous when he has not a principle of grace in his heart” Matthew Henry

 If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…