The Truth comes to Corinth Part 2 Volume 34

Paul begins to Authenticate His Apostleship

2 Corinthians 10:1-6 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: 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. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 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; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. KJV

Paul now turns the focus of his writing upon himself. He begins by declaring to the Corinthians that when he is in their presence acting with meekness being patient and long suffering toward them, that it is not because he is a coward (as the false apostles said he was), but on the contrary, it was Paul drawing on Christ Spirit. However, Paul wanted to remind them that just as our Lord Jesus displayed His anger at hardness of heart (Mark 3:1-5), so would he (Paul) act likewise if he absolutely needed to. Paul just like our Lord Jesus Christ did not regard men and their outward appearance or actions because Paul knew that the battle was not being waged in the physical realm, but it was a constant, ceaseless, and continual spiritual battle that he was engaged in.

Therefore, Paul declares his authority “in Christ” and also begins to authenticate his commission “from Christ” to the Corinthians disputing the attacks from the false apostles. First, Paul indicates to them that he does not “war” or the Greek word strateuomai which means to be a soldier in a military campaign and to execute his appointed apostolic office in the army of our Lord Jesus Christ with mere human strength or effort, but Paul receives spiritual power from God the Father through God the Son and implemented, carried out, and put into force by God the Holy Spirit. Paul declares his authenticity and validity comes to him from God and he does not need to dispute with principalities, powers, and wicked spiritual host working in and through those fake, fraudulent, and false apostles as he also declared to Brother Timothy in 1 Timothy 1:1-20. Paul uses the English word “fables” in 1 Timothy 1:4 when exhorting and instructing him as he is also doing to the Corinthians.

The English word fables is from the Greek word muthos which means tales or stories of fiction and myth and this is exactly what these Jewish Judaizes were spreading among the Corinthian believers trying to get them to declare Paul’s Apostleship invalid. Paul knew that his war was not with these men, but instead with Satan and his demons working through them in order to cripple the true work of God through him. This is why Paul said this to Timothy, “This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare” and the English word war used here by Paul is translated exactly as here in 2 Corinthians 10:3 with the Greek word strateuomai.

Paul goes on to declare that unlike these false apostles, he (through God’s Power) was enabled to pull down or destroy “strongholds” and this English word is from the Greek word ochuroma which is an old word found in the Apocrypha. Note: The Apocrypha is defined as the 14 books of the Old Testament included in the Vulgate (except for II Esdras) but omitted in Jewish and Protestant versions of the Bible; eastern Christian churches (except the Coptic Church) accept all these books as canonical; the Russian Orthodox Church accepts these texts as divinely inspired but does not grant them the same status. The Greek word ochuroma means to fortify with the idea of holding something in that fortified status safely, like in the old days Castles were fortified by high walls that were deemed to be impenetrable by enemy armies or forces and it means figuratively arguments.

Paul then declares that just like a mighty army would design a method to penetrate the enemies high walls in order to get in and defeat its opposition, he through the Power of God using the inerrant, infallible, and indisputable Word of God penetrates the high and lofty arguments and fables of the false apostles to the faction of the doubting Corinthian Church of his authenticity. Paul never needed to rant and rave declaring who he was “in Christ”, but instead used the Word of God as his weapon. For as it is written, “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12)

My own personal Note: There is no need for any true regenerated, redeemed, and resurrected son or daughter of the Living God to despair from the attacks from principalities and powers through human instruments such as witches, wizards, and the devils goats or to dispute with them working through false or fake brethren over our authenticity, because it is God who has wrought His work of grace in us (Philippians 1:6) and it is Him alone who authenticates us before His Throne.

“Paul here makes his defense. Some who resisted his authority spoke disparagingly of his weak body and ineloquent speech. Why should they yield so absolute a submission to his words? Others suggested that he was little better than a schemer for his own ends, and that he walked after worldly maxims. There is considerable comfort to others who are placed in the driving storm of adverse criticism, to know that this great saint passed by the same road. Be of good cheer, comrade, if you are misunderstood and maligned! It is best to leave these reproaches with your Lord. He will shield and vindicate you. ‘No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn,’” Isaiah 54:17. F. B. Meyer

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…