Matthew Poole Commentary - 2 Corinthians 10:1 - 10:1

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Matthew Poole Commentary - 2 Corinthians 10:1 - 10:1


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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:

2 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 10



2Co_10:1-11 Paul entreateth the Corinthians not to leave him

cause to exert against them that spiritual power,

with which he was armed, and meant to chastise those

who undervalued his person and apostolical character.

2Co_10:12-18 He pointeth out the difference between those who,

for want of looking beyond themselves, were arrogant

and vain intruding into, and taking merit from, the

labours of others, and himself, who kept strictly

within the province allotted him by God, and,

avoiding self-commendation, sought honour from the

commendation of Christ.



Chapter Introduction Hitherto the apostle, who in his former Epistle had blamed this church for so many things, and dealt sharply with them, in this Epistle hath treated them as if they had been a people that had had no faults, or none but what, in obedience to his former Epistle they had reformed, and become a new lump: which argueth, that the major part of the members of it were a good and an obedient people, by whose prevalent vote they had reformed much that was amiss. But in these four last chapters, to let us know that there was yet some of the old leaven amongst them, he useth another style; taking notice, that he understood there was amongst them another (though possibly the lesser) party who had much vilified him; and justifying himself against their whisperings and calumnies, not witlmut some sharp reflections upon them.







Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ: meekness respecteth the spirit or inward man, being a virtue that moderateth inward anger and rash passions.



Gentleness more respecteth the outward conversation. The apostle mentioneth both these virtues, as eminent in Christ, who is our great example, and to whom all Christians are bound to be conformable.



Who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you: he here repeateth the words of those who, in this church, reproached him; they reported him a man, who, when he was there in presence with them, was lowly and humble enough; but when he was absent from them, then he wrote imperiously and confidently enough. The sense of the words is plainly this: I Paul, (of whom some amongst you say, that when I am there with you I am low and humble enough, even to some degrees of baseness; but when I am absent, then I write like a lord, boldly and confidently), I beseech you to consider the temper of our common Lord and Saviour, to remember how free he was from rash anger and passion, how gentle he was in his conversation; and by the obligation that is upon you, to love and practise those virtues which you saw, or have heard of, in him.