OUR SPIRITUAL WEAPONS ". . . wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh." -- Tomorrow:
"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." (2 Cor 10:1-6)
Devotion 17 of 44
You might have thought that with all of the words of commendation Paul addressed to the Corinthians, all of the problems there had been resolved. "For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter" (2 Cor 7:11).
On the surface, it may have sounded as though ALL of them were on the rebound, concerning ALL of the problems that were addressed in Paul's first letter. However, as we will see, there were some "marshy places" (Ezek 47:11) in Corinth that had not yet been healed – situations that had by no means been resolved, and people who had not recovered.
Paul's strong commendation in the seventh chapter had to do with the expulsion of the fornicator. It did not touch on their hesitancy to complete the collection for the poor saints in Jerusalem – a collection they had promised to gather a year ago. There was no mention of them recovering from their waywardness at the Lord's table? Nor, indeed, had everyone finally come to see that Paul was who he claimed to be: the apostle of the Gentiles, chosen of God, and sent forth by the Lord Jesus Christ. He is now addressing those who remain in doubt about this particular matter, and are actually casting aspersions upon him as though he was nothing more than a Jewish troublemaker.
BOLD AGAINST SOME
" . . . wherewith I think to be bold against some . . . '" Other versions read, "by which I intend to be bold against some" (NKJV), "with which I propose to be courageous against some" (NASB), "bold as I expect to be toward some people" (NIV), "I need to show boldness by daring to oppose some" (NRSV), "confidence as I count on showing against some" (RSV), "I intend to act boldly against some" (NAB), "the same self-assurance as I reckon to use when I am challenging those" (NJB), "I am quite sure I'll have to challenge those" (IE), "I think to take a daring stand against some people" (WILLIAMS), "boldness as I intend to show those few" (AMPLIFIED), and "I shall have to do some plain speaking to those of you" (PHILLIPS).
This is a most arresting consideration: "bold AGAINST," courageous AGAINST" (NASB), "daring to OPPOSE" (NRSV), "challenging those" (NJB), and "stand AGAINST" (WILLIAMS).
These are not people in the government like Herod, or blasphemers in the synagogues, scoffers in Athens, or opposing silversmiths in Ephesus. These are people IN THE CHURCH – people Paul says he WILL oppose, challenge, and act boldly against.
I can tell you that he would be the target of criticism in our day. His language is too strong for the scholarly sophists of our time. His motives would be judged to be ignoble and unbefitting of a teacher who was meek and gentle. But who is wrong? The transgressor or the one who opposes him? Which person is in error? The one who stands against the truth or the one who rebukes him for it? Will men rise to justify those who aggressively stood against the one Christ sent?
Some in Corinth felt they could oppose Paul with impunity. However, in meekness he pleads with them not to do this. He does not want to come against them. Yet, he knows there are some in Corinth who are so obstinate that he will have to do this and he will certainly do so.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, raise up men who will firmly stand against those who oppose the truth and those who faithfully deliver it.