# 2 Corinthians 10 đź“–: Taking Every Thought Captive
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> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#🧠Chapter Summary]]
> [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#🔎 Key Observations / 🛟 Life Application]]
> [[#đź’¬ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#đź”— Related Passages]]
> [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#đź“‚ Internal Notes]]
## đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
### Paul’s Authority from the Lord
**Principle**: Spiritual warfare is obvious and necessary.
[[#Verse 01.]] Now I, Paul, appeal to you personally by the meekness and gentleness of Christ (I who am meek when present among you, but am full of courage toward you when away!)—Â
[[#Verse 02.]] now I ask that when I am present I may not have to be bold with the confidence that (I expect) I will dare to use against some who consider us to be behaving according to human standards.Â
[[#Verse 03.]] For though we live as human beings, we do not wage war according to human standards,Â
[[#Verse 04.]] for the weapons of our warfare are not human weapons, but are made powerful by God for tearing down strongholds.We tear down argumentsÂ
[[#Verse 05.]] and every arrogant obstacle that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to make it obey Christ.Â
[[#Verse 06.]] We are also ready to punish every act of disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.
[[#Verse **0**6.]] We are also ready to punish every act of disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.Â
[[#Verse 07.]] You are looking at outward appearances. If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should reflect on this again: Just as he himself belongs to Christ, so too do we.Â
[[#Verse 08.]] For if I boast somewhat more about our authority that the Lord gave us for building you up and not for tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of doing so.Â
[[#Verse 09.]]Â I do not want to seem as though I am trying to terrify you with my letters,Â
[[#Verse 10.]] because some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but his physical presence is weak and his speech is of no account.”Â
[[#Verse 11.]] Let such a person consider this: What we say by letters when we are absent, we also are in actions when we are present.
### Paul’s Mission
**Principle**: Don't compare yourself to anyone else.
[[#Verse 12.]]Â For we would not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who recommend themselves. But when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding.Â
[[#Verse 13.]] But we will not boast beyond certain limits, but will confine our boasting according to the limits of the work to which God has appointed us, that reaches even as far as you.Â
[[#Verse 14.]]Â For we were not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach as far as you, because we were the first to reach as far as you with the gospel about Christ.Â
[[#Verse 15.]] Nor do we boast beyond certain limits in the work done by others, but we hope that as your faith continues to grow, our work may be greatly expanded among you according to our limits,Â
[[#Verse 16.]] so that we may preach the gospel in the regions that lie beyond you, and not boast of work already done in another person’s area.Â
[[#Verse 17.]] But **_the one who boasts must boast in the Lord_**. [[Jeremiah 09]]
[[#Verse 18.]]Â For it is not the person who commends himself who is approved, but the person the Lord commends.
## đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
###### Verse 02.
###### Verse 03.
###### Verse 04.
###### Verse 05.
###### Verse **0**6.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
###### Verse 08.
###### Verse 09.
###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
###### Verse 12.
###### Verse 13.
###### Verse 14.
###### Verse 15.
###### Verse 16.
###### Verse 17.
###### Verse 18.
## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. Many scholars note a sharp change of tone in chapters 10 to 13, and some think these chapters were once a separate letter.
2. "Strongholds" (10:4) refers to fortresses, which ancient armies besieged with siege works.
3. "Take captive" (10:5) pictures prisoners of war being led away.
4. Critics said Paul's letters were weighty but his personal presence was weak and his speech of no account (10:10).
5. A second-century writing, the *Acts of Paul and Thecla*, describes Paul as short and bald.
6. Paul uses the word "boast" more in 2 Corinthians than in any of his other letters.
7. "Limits" or "sphere" (10:13) can refer to an assigned area of work, like a measured field.
8. In 10:17 Paul quotes Jeremiah 9:24, the same verse he used in 1 Corinthians 1:31.
9. Paul hoped to preach in regions beyond Corinth (10:16), likely westward toward Rome and Spain (Romans 15:24).
10. "Meekness" (*praütēs*) describes strength under control, not weakness.
## 🧠Chapter Summary
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the Lord to whom every thought must be made captive and obedient (10:5). Paul appeals by the meekness and gentleness of Christ (10:1; Matthew 11:29), and the one who boasts should boast in the Lord (10:17).
## 🔎 Key Observations / 🛟 Life Application
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đź’¬ Discussion Questions
1. The weapons of our warfare are not human weapons (10:3-4). What spiritual weapons has God given us?
2. We take every thought captive to obey Christ (10:5). What thoughts do you need to bring under Christ's authority?
3. Paul says approval comes from the Lord, not from commending ourselves (10:18). Whose approval are you living for?
## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember
- đź“– verse 1: Paul appeals by the meekness and gentleness of Christ.
- đź“– verses 4-5: Our weapons have divine power to tear down strongholds, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ.
- đź“– verse 17: Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.
- đź“– verse 18: The one the Lord commends is approved.
## đź”— Related Passages
- đź”— [[Matthew 11#Verse 29.|Matthew 11:29]] - I am gentle and humble in heart (10:1).
- đź”— [[Ephesians 06#Verse 10.|Ephesians 6:10-18]] - The armor of God (10:4).
- đź”— [[Romans 12#Verse 02.|Romans 12:2]] - Renewing the mind; thinking on what is true (10:5).
- đź”— [[Philippians 04#Verse 08.|Philippians 4:8]] - Renewing the mind; thinking on what is true (10:5).
- đź”— [[2 Corinthians 13#Verse 10.|2 Corinthians 13:10]] - Authority given for building up, not tearing down (10:8).
- đź”— [[1 Corinthians 02#Verse 01.|1 Corinthians 2:1-4]] - Paul's deliberate plainness in preaching (10:10).
- đź”— [[Galatians 06#Verse 04.|Galatians 6:4]] - Test your own work without comparing (10:12).
- đź”— [[Jeremiah 09#Verse 23.|Jeremiah 9:23-24]] - Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord (10:17).
- đź”— [[1 Corinthians 01#Verse 31.|1 Corinthians 1:31]] - Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord (10:17).
- đź”— [[Romans 02#Verse 29.|Romans 2:29]] - Praise from God, not from people (10:18).
## 🙏 Devotional Reflection
đź“ť SOAP: [[2 Corinthians 10 - SOAP|We Fight From Victory, Not For It]]
## đź“‚ Internal Notes