II Corinthians

Chapter 10
{Note: Paul has been using a secretary to write this Epistle until now. He is going to answer Corinthian criticism toward him using sarcasm and Semantics.}

{Mental Attitude Dynamic - Chapter 10 consists of 3
  paragraphs . . . Verses 1-4 - The briefing for the Spiritual Conflict}
1~~Myself . . . and only myself . . .
I . . . even I . . . Paul
exhort you all
through the grace orientation
and grace application of The Christ . . .
who {Paul} in personal appearance . . .
groveling
  {meek before them}
among you all . . .
but being constantly absent . . .
having moral courage
even mental courage {tharrheo}
toward you.

{Note: Paul is laying out the incorrect Corinthian critics attitude toward him . . . which he will then counter in the next verses. They are saying he was real friendly when Paul was face to face with them, but when he went away he wrote such a scathing letter that he was a different person -a split personality - a squeaking mouse to a roaring lion - false accusation.}

2~~But I request,
not to have inner courage {tharrheo again}
by means of the confidence when I am present . . .
inner courage
with which I assume to demonstrate overt courage
  {Paul switched to tolmao}
over some {Paul's critics} . . .
who are constantly assuming us
as 'Walking according to the standard of the flesh' {sarx}.

{Note: Paul's critics were well taught by Paul about the Old Sin Nature. When Paul yelled at them in I Corinthians, some would say 'Paul is out of fellowship' - walking according to the flesh (old sin nature).}

3~~For we Walk around
in the sphere of the flesh {sarx}
  {means his soul is in his human body} . . .
we, ourselves,
do not fight
  {in the angelic conflict}
according to the flesh.
  {sarx - here does mean the 'old sin nature' - Paul changes the
  meaning - uses semantics}

{Note: Semantics is the science of meanings in contrast to Phonetics which is the science of sounds. Paul is using 'Semantical' sarcasm against his critics here.}

4~~For the weapons of our conflict
are not of 'human attributes'/'fleshly'
  {sarkikos - from sarx } . . .
but {in contrast}
the attributes of divine power
- by means of God -
against the demolition of {Satan's} fortified positions . . .

{Verses 5-12 Mental Attitude in the Angelic Conflict}
5~~assaulting and demolishing
satanic systems of thought
  {logismos-reasoning - Satan's outer parameter of his
  fortifications} . . .
and every obstacle of pride
attacking against the objective knowledge {gnosis}
of The God
  {inner parameter - indicating the attach is serious} . . .
and making a prisoner
of every 'human viewpoint system of thought' {noema}
to the authority of The Christ.

{Note: In the Church Age, the devil is on the DEFENSE. He is still very dangerous in counter-attacking us however. Believers are the assault troops against him! Satan counter-attacks at the point of gnosis. When doctrine has been accepted and converted to epignosis, he can not attack it any more. Logismos is the Greek word for the system of thought when Satan is winning - influencing your viewpoint. Paul uses 'Noema' for the systems of thought when they succumb to the authority of The Christ.}

6~~Holding in readiness
  {military idiom - the posting of guards for security of your soul}
to punish all deviation from obedience {revolution} . . .
on the occasion when your obedience
  {deficiency of doctrine}
has been filled
so as to fully influence your soul.
  {by the daily function of GAP resulting in an edification complex of
  the soul}

{Note: This is a warning to post security in your soul against revolution - negative volition toward doctrine, scar tissue in your soul, emotional revolt, reversionism of the soul, general apostasy or human view in the soul. Each doctrine in your soul is a 'security troop' that makes up the divine garrison that protects your soul from cosmic viewpoint attack.}

7~~You all are in the habit of looking at things
according to the standard of superficial appearance!

If any one {believer/critic of Paul}
has confidence regarding himself . . .
that he belongs to Christ
- and he does {have this confidence} -
keep on thinking this {!}
  {doctrine of eternal security is true}
to himself again . . .
on the one hand,
even as he is Christ's
  {the critic still has eternal security} . . .
on the other hand . . .
so are we Christ's.

{Note: Paul is saying the critics are so deep in reversionism all they have left is what they can NOT lose - Union with Christ - doctrine of eternal security. BUT, Paul has eternal security also . . . and in the next verses, he will now PULL RANK over them as an Apostle.}

8~~For if I should glory a little to much concerning our authority
- maybe I will, maybe I will not -
which {authority}
the Lord {God the Holy Spirit}
has given us for the purpose of edification {oikodome},
and not for the purpose of your reversion {kathairesis} . . .
I do not receive shame!

{Note: Paul's authority comes from the Lord as all spiritual gifts come from God. Paul is not ashamed to use his authority when he lays it on the line to them because his doing so matches up with the Word of God . . . and his responsibility under the Lord.}

Note: Kathairesis means destruction/'tear down' and Paul uses it here meaning the 'opposite of edification or building up' so would be 'tearing down' the edification complex of the soul . . . reversionism.}

9~~For the purpose that
I may not appear
as though I would frighten you
  {literally - frighten out from - so is to frighten them out of their
  skin}
by letters/epistles.

{Note: Another false accusation against Paul was that he wrote many nasty letters trying to dominate the recipient through the use of fear.}

10~~Because the letters, they allege,
are severe and vehement . . .
and his physical appearance is sickly . . .
and his speech has been rejected with contempt
as crude and unrefined.

11~~ Let such ones {critics} ponder this . . .
that,
  {paraphrase of critics are saying}
of what kind we keep on being in the word . . .
through letters . . .
being absent . . .
such types . . . also being present.

{Note: Whether writing or teaching Paul says he is consistent. He says what has to be said based on the situation. Principal - withhold criticism if you do not have the facts to support your viewpoint.}

{Sarcasm of Boldness of those in a Mutual Admiration Society in Corinthian Church}
12~~For we do not have the boldness
to judge {egkrino} ourselves worthy {sarcasm}
or compare {sugkrino} ourselves favorably
with certain ones
who constantly recommend themselves favorably . . .
but . . . they alone . . .
always measuring themselves by means of themselves . . .
and comparing themselves favorably to themselves . . .
they are not inculcated with doctrine {suniemi}.

{Note: Sarcastically Paul is saying his critics are SO MUCH GREATER than he that he would not dare to join them - he is too low!}

{Note: 'Krino' means to judge - so egkrino and sugkrino is a parathen-masia (sic) - humor and sarcasm in the Greek - he is saying they are judging him and thinking themselves so good.}

{Note: Suniemi means to be inculcated with doctrine. It means 'wise' or to be able to apply doctrine to the situation.}

{Verses 13-18 Divine Viewpoint Dynamics}
13~~But we will not glory
with reference to things not measured
  {by the yardstick of divine viewpoint/doctrine},
but according to the norm or standard
of the measure of the canon
  {kanon - a 'rule' - the canon of scriptures}
which The God has distributed to us . . .
a measure
  {divine viewpoint}
to reach as far as you all.

14~~For not reaching toward you with the gospel . . .
as we did not over-extend ourselves {sarcasm} . . .
for we have advanced as far as you also
in preaching the gospel of Christ.

15~~ Not boasting
with reference to things beyond measure
or things not measured
  {outside standards of bible doctrine} . . .
that is, in the sphere of other men's exhaustive labors.

But having and holding confidence,
that when your doctrine . . .
being in receipt of increase . . .
doctrine shall be magnified
in the sphere of you all
to the maximum.

16~~To proclaim the gospel
to 'the beyond of you'
  {from your doorstep to 10,000 miles} . . .
not to boast in another believer's false standards . . .
with reference to things prepared.

17~~ "But, in contrast,
he that boasts -
keep on boasting/glorying
in the Lord."

{Note: This was a partial quote from Jeremiah 9:23 warning believers about reversionism.}

18~~ For not one
that recommends himself for favorable attention
is approved . . .
but whom the Lord recommends
for favorable attention {is approved}.

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