2 Corinthians 10 & 11: Why do you gotta' be so mean?

(NRSV, 1989)

As mentioned in the introduction episode, with its radical shift in tone and subject matter, there is a thought among scholars that 2 Corinthians 10-13 represent another Pauline letter addressed to the church—a fifth. In my estimation, this is a reasonable position. Reread the chapters before this one and tell me that Paul’s words haven’t become harsh; some argue that this is not a fifth letter but the harsh letter that Paul refers to at the beginning of 2 Corinthians. Decide for yourself, of course. 

1 I myself, Paul, appeal to you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!— 2 I ask that when I am present I need not show boldness by daring to oppose those who think we are acting according to human standards. 3 Indeed, we live as human beings, but we do not wage war according to human standards; 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not merely human, but they have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments 5 and every proud obstacle raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ. 6 We are ready to punish every disobedience when your obedience is complete.

“I ask that when I am present I need not show boldness by daring to oppose those who think we [Paul] are acting according to human standards.” Someone in the Corinthian church—or maybe even a group within it—has charged Paul with “acting according to human standards”, and that he is unfit to follow. He states that he may be merely human, but when the gospel message is threatened his weapons will “have divine power to destroy strongholds.” These accusers are hindering the church in its knowledge of God, but Paul’s arguments will overcome their efforts and will “take every thought captive to obey Christ.” This matters so much that Paul, himself, is writing these words, as he expresses his readiness to go to war and “punish every disobedience” when the congregation has come to fully obey God. Perhaps the church was beginning to side with Paul’s accusers?

7 Look at what is before your eyes. If you are confident that you belong to Christ, remind yourself of this, that just as you belong to Christ, so also do we.

Things don’t seem to be going too well in the church, and Paul’s comment here seems to indicate that the Corinthians have allowed themselves to be led astray. “If you are confident that you belong to Christ, [you better look at me and ask yourself if you really still do. Compare your life with Christ with mine.]”

 8 Now, even if I boast a little too much of our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of it. 9 I do not want to seem as though I am trying to frighten you with my letters.

I can’t help but hear Cartman here. “You will respect my authoritah.” Of course Paul isn’t using his apostolic authority in the same way at all. His has been given to him in order to build the church and not destroy it. He reminds of this with the caveat that he doesn’t want them to think that he is trying to frighten them back to their unhindered walk with Christ. Paul’s statement implies that his accusers may well be claiming authority within the church but are using it like Cartman would. 

 10 For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.” 11 Let such people understand that what we say by letter when absent, we will also do when present.

Let’s not call them accusers; let’s call them challengers. They say, “He talks a big game on paper, but in person he’s too afraid to.” Paul responds that he will speak what he has written when present with them in the church. 

12 We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another, and compare themselves with one another, they do not show good sense. 13 We, however, will not boast beyond limits, but will keep within the field that God has assigned to us, to reach out even as far as you.

He understands his limits and will not even attempt to give the Corinthians an opportunity to choose between him and the challengers by comparison. They are boastful and proud and—apparently—number more than one since “they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another.” By doing so, “they so not show good sense.” They are behaving like the Corinthians were in Paul’s first letter to them—each trying to stand above the other. Paul, on the other hand, submits himself to God and will not go beyond the boundaries that have been divinely set for him. He knows his limitations and strengths, but more importantly he knows why he does what we does: He does it for God. 

14 For we were not overstepping our limits when we reached you; we were the first to come all the way to you with the good news of Christ. 15 We do not boast beyond limits, that is, in the labors of others; but our hope is that, as your faith increases, our sphere of action among you may be greatly enlarged, 16 so that we may proclaim the good news in lands beyond you, without boasting of work already done in someone else’s sphere of action. 17 “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” 18 For it is not those who commend themselves that are approved, but those whom the Lord commends.

You see, God had sent him to the Corinthians and equipped him appropriately reach them with the good news. He doesn’t claim to be able to do more, since all he wants to do is what God would have him to, and God has approved Paul. 

(NRSV, 1989)

1 I wish you would bear with me in a little foolishness. Do bear with me! 2 I feel a divine jealousy for you, for I promised you in marriage to one husband, to present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by its cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

Now we see that these challengers are presenting the Corinthians with an alternative message; they are tempting the church to say that it doesn’t need the gospel with which Paul preached to and formed them. He, as their spiritual father, had betrothed them to Christ as a bride. He was convinced that they would rise to challenge and become chaste again, but now he is not so sure. 

He's unsure about their ability to persevere because they seem willing to embrace any false teaching or “different spirit” that comes their way.

4 For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you submit to it readily enough. 5 I think that I am not in the least inferior to these super-...