IN DEFENSE OF PAUL’S MINISTRY

2 CORINTHIANS 10:1-18

NASB

1 Now I, Paul, myself urge you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ —I who am [a]meek when face to face with you, but bold toward you when absent! 2 I ask that when I am present I need not be bold with the confidence with which I propose to be courageous against some, who regard us as if we walked according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but [a]divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, 6 and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.

7[a]You are looking at [b]things as they are outwardly. If anyone is confident in himself that he is Christ’s, let him consider this again within himself, that just as he is Christ’s, so also are we. 8 For even if I boast somewhat [a]further about our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be put to shame, 9[a]for I do not wish to seem as if I would terrify you by my letters. 10 For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his [a]personal presence is unimpressive and his speech contemptible.” 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.

12 For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves with [a]some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding. 13 But we will not boast beyond our measure, but [a]within the measure of the sphere which God apportioned to us as a measure, to reach even as far as you. 14 For we are not overextending ourselves, as if we did not reach to you, for we were the first to come even as far as you in the gospel of Christ; 15 not boasting beyond our measure, that is, in other men’s labors, but with the hope that as your faith grows, we will be, [a]within our sphere, enlarged even more by you, 16 so as to preach the gospel even to the regions beyond you, and not to boast [a]in what has been accomplished in the sphere of another. 17 But HE WHO BOASTS IS TO BOAST IN THE LORD. 18 For it is not he who commends himself that is approved, but he whom the Lord commends.

10:1 [a]Lit lowly  10:4 [a]Or mighty before God  10:7 [a]Or Look at... or Do you look at...?  [b]Lit what is before your face  10:8 [a]Or more abundantly  10:9 [a]Lit so that I may not seem  10:10 [a]Lit bodily presence is weak  10:12 [a]Or any  10:13 [a]Lit according to the measure  10:15 [a]Lit according to our sphere  10:16 [a]Lit to the things prepared in the 

NLT

1 Now I, Paul, appeal to you with the gentleness and kindness of Christ —though I realize you think I am timid in person and bold only when I write from far away. 2 Well, I am begging you now so that when I come I won’t have to be bold with those who think we act from human motives.

3 We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. 4[*]We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. 5 We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. 6 And after you have become fully obedient, we will punish everyone who remains disobedient.

7 Look at the obvious facts.[*] Those who say they belong to Christ must recognize that we belong to Christ as much as they do. 8 I may seem to be boasting too much about the authority given to us by the Lord. But our authority builds you up; it doesn’t tear you down. So I will not be ashamed of using my authority.

9 I’m not trying to frighten you by my letters. 10 For some say, “Paul’s letters are demanding and forceful, but in person he is weak, and his speeches are worthless!” 11 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.

12 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!

13 We will not boast about things done outside our area of authority. We will boast only about what has happened within the boundaries of the work God has given us, which includes our working with you. 14 We are not reaching beyond these boundaries when we claim authority over you, as if we had never visited you. For we were the first to travel all the way to Corinth with the Good News of Christ.

15 Nor do we boast and claim credit for the work someone else has done. Instead, we hope that your faith will grow so that the boundaries of our work among you will be extended. 16 Then we will be able to go and preach the Good News in other places far beyond you, where no one else is working. Then there will be no question of our boasting about work done in someone else’s territory. 17 As the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the LORD.”[*]

18 When people commend themselves, it doesn’t count for much. The important thing is for the Lord to commend them.

[10:4] English translations divide verses 4 and 5 in various ways.   [10:7] Or You look at things only on the basis of appearance.   [10:17] Jer 9:24.  

Not all critics seek to demoralize or destroy. Sometimes criticism comes from a sincere heart, like the wife who says, “Not that tie, honey,” or the loving father who says, “Son, I know this isn’t the best work you can do.” Other times, criticisms may be meant well but delivered too harshly, like the instructor teaching a student to drive saying, “If you keep driving like that, you’ll kill us both!” (It’s probably true, but not the most constructive way to put it.) Even constructive criticism, well-intentioned and well-delivered, can hurt our feelings. Sometimes that’s inevitable. But there’s a difference between hurting another’s feelings and harming another’s character and reputation.the most constructive way to put it.) Even constructive criticism, well-intentioned and well-delivered, can hurt our feelings. Sometimes that’s inevitable. But there’s a difference between hurting another’s feelings and harming another’s character and reputation.

The kind of criticism that actually harms a person comes from carping, caustic detractors whose words fly like arrows from bows of opinion or just plain ignorance. Their goal? To take their target down, not to build them up or help them. Like the countless varieties of biting or stinging insects, critics swarm in many species. I’m sure we have all been stung by spiteful criticism’s harsh barbs. Such experiences —especially for people involved in ministry —are unavoidable. Since we can’t escape it, we might as well learn to expect it, or even better, prepare for it. If we don’t prepare ourselves for the vicious onslaught of mean-spirited criticism, we may very well feel like throwing in the towel or switching to sucker punches in retaliation.

I didn’t have a class on handling criticism during my years in seminary. To my knowledge, there isn’t such a class in any seminary. It’s something you learn either by watching your mentors deal with it, or by enduring it yourself, “on the job.” This explains why 2 Corinthians 10 is so vital for those involved in ministry. As we work through this chapter, we will see Paul dive headfirst into the subject of ministry-related criticism. A close look at his words reveals several slanderous criticisms that had been hurled Paul’s way, and how he dealt with them.

— 10:1-6 —

Unfortunately, we don’t have a specific list of the Corinthians’ complaints or the criticisms of Paul’s opponents that incited them to treat the man with such coldness and hostility. Paul likely had gotten wind of the slander, misrepresentations, and exaggerations through personal reports from his trusted assistants, Timothy and Titus. His letter doesn’t rehearse the charges, but simply sets forth his defense. We can decipher the unfounded criticism leveled against Paul through his response (10:1-2).

The first verse addresses the accusation of two-faced hypocrisy. They criticized Paul for being bold with his letters but lacking courage in person. Paul’s language needs to be read with a tone of sarcasm, as he virtually quotes the crowd of critics in Corinth. They were saying, essentially, “You’re meek when you are with us, but you write bold letters when you’re away from us. You’re two-faced! When you actually have to face people, you’re Mr. Nice Guy, but when it’s just a pen and a piece of paper, you boldly unleash! Would the real Paul please stand up?”

The second verse combats the criticism of fleshly motives. They accused him of walking in the flesh, of harboring impure motives, and of using manipulative methods. The Judaizing false teachers especially would have regarded Paul as an “anything goes” liberal because he didn’t follow the Law to a tee. To a legalist, nonlegalists always appear too worldly. They also accused Paul of false motives —grasping for power, prestige, and maybe even money. Those who did not want to follow through on the Corinthians’ commitment to the Jerusalem Relief Fund would have tried to characterize the project as a moneymaking scam by the apostle himself. Finally, they would have perceived Paul’s multiple letters and messengers as means of manipulating them for his own selfish ends.

Despite the inaccurate defamatory remarks by his critics, Paul approached the Corinthians with “the meekness and gentleness of Christ” (10:1). This tone reflects a calm, controlled response to the Corinthians who had come under the spell of the malicious accusers. Meekness, however, doesn’t mean weakness. Meekness isn’t rolling over and playing dead as people kick and prod you. Christ used the same term for “meek” to describe Himself in Matthew 11:29, but He didn’t hesitate to unleash a tirade of rebuke against Jewish hypocrites (Matt. 23:13-33). Depending on the circumstances and the context, the same person can be meek and humble or angry and severe.

Near the end of the letter, Paul reveals the reason for the difference in tone: “For this reason I am writing these things while absent, so that when present I need not use severity, in accordance with the authority which the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down” (2 Cor. 13:10). A reasonable explanation, right? Yet in the minds of unreasonable critics, unwilling to grant Paul the benefit of the doubt, the smallest hint of inconsistency got blown out of proportion.

In an attempt to clear the fog from the minds of the Corinthians, Paul pulls back the curtain of the physical world to persuade them that the battle against the criticism of the false teachers is a spiritual one (10:3-5). It therefore requires methods of spiritual warfare rather than a carnal approach to handling controversy (10:3). Paul knew he couldn’t just show up in Corinth and start knocking heads together. Nor could he simply pull rank like a general and give them all a tongue-lashing. Instead, Paul had to do battle in the hearts and minds of the Corinthian congregation, drawing them away from the deception of the false teachers and critics and allying them once again with their founding apostolic teachers. To this end, Paul had to destroy “speculations” and challenges to the “knowledge of God” by “taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (10:5).

In biblical days, cities constructed defenses to protect them from enemy invasion. These included fortresses, elevated places with lookout towers, and lofty, sturdy walls to prevent invaders from gaining easy access. The image of the strongly fortified city stands at the fore of Paul’s mind as he compares the spiritual battle with an earthly city siege. The “fortress” is our mind. “Speculations” represent the walls built around that fortress. Thus, the presuppositions, biases, and preconceived notions can shield the mind from the invasion of the truth, while the mind itself stands immovable in the face of the attack. Not until the Lord penetrated that thick wall of defense could Paul hope to attain a victory over the hearts and minds of the Corinthian Christians. They were kept captive under the influence of a handful of manipulative, deceptive false teachers doing everything they could to keep Paul and his apostolic associates outside the wall they had constructed.

So, what was Paul’s spiritual strategy in this desperate battle against the false teachers? First, he needed to gain the full allegiance of the true believers in Corinth. To be sure, many already were on his side. Nevertheless, far too many wavered in their loyalty between the orthodox Christians and the false brethren. That group needed to be won back to a fully obedient commitment to Christ (10:6). When that happened, Paul could confront the pockets of ingrown disobedience and rebellion with a united front, resulting in the Corinthian church being liberated from its deceptive oppressors.

— 10:7-18 —

Unfazed by the trumped-up criticisms of his opponents, Paul responded with four reasonable answers to their unreasonable attacks: He corrected their perspective (10:7), he clarified his motive (10:8-9), he confessed his authenticity (10:10-12), and he communicated the facts (10:13-18).

First, Paul corrected their perspective (10:7). Very simply, he charged his critics with focusing on the external rather than the internal. The critics revealed their shallowness with this criticism, but its pain cut deep. Of all their complaints, his less-than-impressive physical appearance had a ring of truth, as confirmed by a traditional description of Paul from the second century. Paul was “a man small in size, bald-headed, bandy-legged, well-built, with eyebrows meeting, rather long-nosed, full of grace.”[152]

Clearly Paul didn’t turn any heads. The crowd wasn’t attracted to his physical appearance. Yet the critics who complained against Paul for his less-than-impressive presence had completely forgotten that God loves to demonstrate His power and glory through earthen vessels (4:7). In fact, had those carping Judaizing snobs paid closer attention to their own Old Testament Scriptures, they would have recalled that “God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7). People sometimes criticize because they don’t look deep enough. They have not peered below the surface or stood in the other’s shoes —like the Corinthian critics. Had they looked beyond the surface of Paul’s life, they would have seen Christ in him, just as they should see Christ within themselves (2 Cor. 10:7).

Second, Paul clarified his motives in ministry (10:8-9). Having turned their attention from the externals to the internals, Paul made sure his opponents understood what was in his heart. Paul had a goal in his apostolic ministry to always build up, never tear down (10:8). Even though he may have had authority as an apostle to rebuke and correct the Corinthians for their sins, he wanted to edify, not terrify (10:9). Here Paul is completely transparent about his motives in ministry. In contrast to his power-hungry opponents who constantly tore Paul down in order to extend their own authority over the Corinthians, Paul assured them that he had a positive ministry of construction, not a negative ministry of destruction.

Third, Paul confessed his authenticity (10:10-12). 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 (10:11). Now, his particular tone might change depending on the situation, but that’s to be expected. Paul himself didn’t change his views on Christ, his attitudes toward holiness and sin, or his methods of preaching the gospel and calling believers to a committed Christian life.

The critics’ accusations that Paul was a heavyweight in his letters but a lightweight in person were unfounded. Paul was just being himself, through and through. But not everyone can make that claim. Not everybody backs up their boasting with reality. Authenticity —WYSIWYG —deserves no criticism. Paul didn’t compare, didn’t compete. He had no dirty secrets in his life that he needed to hide from the searchlight. Paul had a specific group of people in mind who felt the need to “commend themselves” (10:12) —that is, compare themselves by their own standards, trying to demonstrate their superiority over other ministers.

I have never seen such vicious and ambitious competition in ministry as I see today in North American Christianity. So many pastors —especially younger ones —compete for the limelight, trying to grow bigger, look better, come across as edgier, cooler, more relevant. Ultimately, they won’t be able to keep up the charade. It takes an incredible amount of energy to pretend to be something that you are not. People need to be who they are. They need to get out of the way and turn the spotlights back onto Jesus. I would say to any and all in ministry, point your fans in His direction, and model authenticity, even if it means people will no longer embrace you as some sort of semidivine superstar. After all, you’re not!

Fourth, Paul communicated the facts about ministry (10:13-18). In our legal system defense attorneys sometimes have to provide legal counsel for less-than-desirable clients. When asked how they are going to defend such clients, they often answer, “With the facts. We can only argue the facts.” In other words, you can’t make things up. You just tell it the way it is, deal with the facts, and let the wheels of justice roll on. You can only argue the facts.

In ministry, there is nothing like facts to help in times of unjust criticism. Paul rapidly rehearsed the facts about his own ministry scope as it involved the Corinthians.

Whereas Paul had reason to boast based on the facts, his opponents had no reason to boast. Yet Paul remained meek, humble, and patient in the midst of their criticisms, while they boasted all the more boldly in their hijacking of the churches. In fact, Paul quotes Jeremiah 9:24, “He who boasts is to boast in the LORD,” not in their own accomplishments, riches, or strength (2 Cor. 10:17). Ultimately, God alone is the Judge whose commendation counts. Self-promotion and self-approval are meaningless, the hollow words of braggarts. True servants of God present the facts as they are and then let the Lord God sort it out.

APPLICATION: 2 CORINTHIANS 10:1-18

Facing Criticism in the Throes of Ministry

One of my favorite questions to ask someone at an ordination council, in an interview for a ministry position, or at the threshold of a promotion to a position of leadership at a company or business, is: “How do you handle criticism?” It is a vital question seldom considered, much less actually asked and answered.

As we reflect on Paul’s own response to the mental, emotional, and spiritual attacks that came to him in the form of unjust criticism from unrighteous people, we need to come to terms with the reality of criticism in ministry. Trust me when I say that everybody involved in any level of ministry —full-time, part-time, or volunteer —needs to understand the challenges of criticism and be prepared to handle them in a wise, godly manner. Let me share three facts about criticism that will arm you for the spiritual battle that’s coming.

First, no one is immune to criticism. Unfortunately, it is an unavoidable part of living among human beings. Do your best not to get paranoid. Expect criticism, but don’t obsess over it. Don’t run in fear of it. Face it with strong resolve. Since we can’t escape it, we might as well ready ourselves for it. Decide beforehand that you will neither lie down and give up nor stand up and engage in an ugly fight over every nit-picking critique.

Second, criticism can be taken too lightly or too seriously. If we take criticism too lightly and let every less-than-positive comment bead off of us like rain on a windshield, we might ignore valuable instruction that could help us. Where would we be without our parents’ correction? Or without that close friend who lives out Proverbs 27:6 and points out our blind spots? Taking criticism lightly can deprive us of opportunities for personal development and growth. We will remain juvenile and immature, unteachable and stubborn.

On the other hand, if we take criticism too seriously, we could lose heart. If we obsess over every biting comment, every harsh e-mail, every disapproving frown, every anonymous letter, we might shrink back with lack of confidence in everything we do. Second-guessing every decision. Regretting every minor mistake. Crafting our messages or lessons to please individual people. These overreactions will literally demoralize a pastor and paralyze a ministry. We might eventually decide never to dream again. Worse, we might quit before finishing the task.

A balanced approach is to listen to legitimate criticism, but take unjust criticism with a grain of salt. Several things I have learned over the years:

Third, some criticism needs to be answered; much of it doesn’t. If a criticism is based on a misunderstanding, clear it up as soon as possible. Those are usually easy to dispense with, and once the air is cleared, you will gain not only a sympathizer but a supporter. If at all possible, meet in person; if not, keep the dialogue open to make sure you can avoid further miscommunication.

If it’s a matter of minor disagreement, consider a meeting of the minds. If good might come from an exchange of thoughts, put your heads together and think through the major issues. Even if there is no change of mind on either side, it’s a noble goal to come to a mutual understanding of each other’s perspective. Sometimes you simply agree to disagree.

If responding to the criticism, however, would lead only to more argument, it might be best to let the criticism remain unanswered. You can usually tell by the level of venom involved. If it sounds mean-spirited, it probably is. Or if the critic is known as a chronic grouch, experience already has taught you that engaging in that kind of combat will result only in a stalemate. There is no need to become a pen pal with someone looking for a fight! I repeat: Let it go.

We will all face criticism in ministry (and in life). We need to prepare ourselves so we don’t pass it off too lightly or worry over it too seriously. And we need to discern whether the criticism needs to be answered. When we go into ministry situations with our eyes wide open, we will be able to see criticism coming and deal with it wisely.