Catholic Commentary on 2 Corinthians 10

"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:5)

The Meekness and Gentleness of Christ

Paul begins the final and most combative section of the letter. He appeals by the meekness and gentleness of Christ: when he is present he seems timid, but when absent he is bold. He begs them not to force him to be bold when he arrives. For though he lives in the world, he does not wage war as the world does. The weapons of his warfare are not the weapons of the world but have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. The spiritual warfare Paul describes is primarily intellectual and interior: the strongholds are false ideas, proud arguments, every thought that sets itself against the knowledge of God. The weapons are the word of God, prayer, and the apostolic authority exercised in meekness.

Boasting in the Lord

Paul defends himself against critics who say his letters are weighty and forceful but his physical presence is unimpressive and his speaking contemptible. He refuses to compare himself with those who commend themselves: comparing themselves with themselves and measuring themselves by themselves, they are without understanding. He will not boast beyond his proper limits but only within the sphere of influence God has assigned to him, which reaches to Corinth. He does not boast in the work of others. His hope is that as the Corinthians' faith grows, his area of activity will be greatly expanded. But he who boasts, let him boast in the Lord. For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends. The Catechism identifies this as the principle of apostolic authority: it is not self-appointed but conferred, and its validation comes not from human approval but from the fruitfulness that God gives (CCC 875).

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. This is the programme of the spiritual life applied to the interior world: not just actions but thoughts. Not just what we do but what we dwell on, what we rehearse, what we allow to run unchallenged through our minds. Take those thoughts captive. Ask of every thought: is this obedient to Christ? If not, demolish it. The strongholds Paul speaks of are often in the mind, not the world.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, give us the weapons of divine power to demolish every argument and pretension that sets itself against your knowledge. Take captive our thoughts and make them obedient to you. Let us boast only in you, who commend us not by our self-promotion but by the fruit of your grace in us. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

10
Paul’s Apostolic Authority
1 Now by the mildness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am humble when face to face with you, but bold when away. 2 I beg you that when I come I may not need to be as bold as I expect toward those who presume that we live according to the flesh.
 
3 For though we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh. 4 The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the world. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We tear down arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 6 And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, as soon as your obedience is complete.
 
7 You are looking at outward appearances. If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should remind himself that we belong to Christ just as much as he does. 8 For even if I boast somewhat excessively about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than tearing you down, I will not be ashamed.
 
9 I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you by my letters. 10 For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but his physical presence is unimpressive, and his speaking is of no account.” 11 Such people should consider that what we are in our letters when absent, we will be in our actions when present.
 
12 We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they show their ignorance. 13 We, however, will not boast beyond our limits, but only within the field of influence that God has assigned to us—a field that reaches even to you. 14 We are not overstepping our bounds, as if we had not come to you. Indeed, we were the first to reach you with the gospel of Christ.
 
15 Neither do we boast beyond our limits in the labors of others. But we hope that as your faith increases, our area of influence among you will greatly increase as well, 16 so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. Then we will not be boasting in the work already done in another man’s territory.
 
17 Rather, “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”* 10:17 Jeremiah 9:24 18 For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

*10:17 10:17 Jeremiah 9:24

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