2 Corinthians 10:1

Contextual Overview

¹ I, Paul, am begging you with the gentleness and the kindness of Christ. Some say that I am bold when I am writing you from a distance, but not when I am there with you. ¹ I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ--I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold to you when I am away! -- ¹ I Paule my silfe beseche you by the mekenes and softnes of Christ which when I am present amoge you am of no reputacio but am bolde towarde you beinge absent. ¹ Now I Sha'ul, myself, entreat you by the humility and gentleness of Messiah; I who in your presence am lowly among you, but being absent am of good courage toward you. ¹ Now I, Paul, myself urge you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am meek when face to face with you, but bold toward you when absent!¹ I, Paul, am begging you with the gentleness and the kindness of Christ. Some people say that I am easy on you when I am with you and bold when I am away. ¹ Now I Paul myself entreat you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I who in your presence am lowly among you, but being absent am of good courage toward you: ¹ 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 towards you: ¹ I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!— ¹ Now I Paul, myself, entreat you by the humility and gentleness of Christ; I who in your presence am lowly among you, but being absent am of good courage toward you.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

I Paul: 1 Corinthians 16:21, 1 Corinthians 16:22, Galatians 5:2, 2 Thessalonians 3:17, Philemon 1:9, Revelation 1:9

beseech: 2 Corinthians 10:2, 2 Corinthians 5:20, 2 Corinthians 6:1, Romans 12:1, Ephesians 4:1, 1 Peter 2:11

by: Psalms 45:4, Isaiah 42:3, Isaiah 42:4, Zechariah 9:9, Matthew 11:29, Matthew 12:19, Matthew 12:20, Matthew 21:5, Acts 8:32, 1 Peter 2:22, 1 Peter 2:23

presence: or, outward appearance, 2 Corinthians 10:7, 2 Corinthians 10:10

base: Rather, lowly, or humble, פבנויםןע [Strong's G5011], which some think refers to his lowness of stature. 2 Corinthians 10:10, 2 Corinthians 11:30, 2 Corinthians 12:5, 2 Corinthians 12:7-9, 2 Corinthians 13:4, 1 Corinthians 2:3, 1 Corinthians 4:10, Galatians 4:13

bold: 2 Corinthians 3:12, *marg. 2 Corinthians 7:4, 2 Corinthians 11:21, 2 Corinthians 13:2, 2 Corinthians 13:3, Romans 10:20, Romans 15:15

Reciprocal: Numbers 12:3 - very Psalms 18:35 - gentleness Isaiah 11:4 - for the meek Matthew 18:10 - heed Luke 22:51 - And he John 13:14 - ye also John 18:23 - If 1 Corinthians 1:10 - I beseech 1 Corinthians 4:21 - and 1 Corinthians 5:3 - as absent 2 Corinthians 11:7 - in Galatians 6:1 - in the Ephesians 3:1 - I Philippians 4:12 - how to be 1 Thessalonians 2:6 - when 1 Thessalonians 2:7 - we 1 Thessalonians 4:1 - we 2 Timothy 2:24 - but Titus 3:2 - gentle Philemon 1:8 - bold Hebrews 13:22 - suffer James 3:13 - with meekness James 3:17 - gentle 1 Peter 2:18 - the good 1 Peter 3:4 - a meek 3 John 1:10 - I will

Cross-References

Genesis 2:4
These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens.

Genesis 2:4
These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that Yahweh God made earth and heaven.

Genesis 2:4
This is the story of the creation of the sky and the earth. When the Lord God first made the earth and the sky,

Genesis 2:4
This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created—when the Lord God made the earth and heavens.

Genesis 2:4
These [are] the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens.

Genesis 2:4
This is the history of the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that Yahweh God made earth and the heavens.

Genesis 2:4
This is the history of [the origin of] the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day [that is, days of creation] that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens—

Genesis 2:4
These ben the generaciouns of heuene and of erthe, in the day wherynne the Lord God made heuene and erthe,

Genesis 2:4
These [are] births of the heavens and of the earth in their being prepared, in the day of Jehovah God's making earth and heavens;

Genesis 2:4
This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made them.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Now I Paul myself beseech you,.... The apostle having said what was necessary and proper to stir up the Corinthians to a liberal contribution for the poor saints at Jerusalem, returns to the vindication of himself against the false apostles; and earnestly entreats the members of this church,

by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, not to regard their reproaches, and join with them in them; for did they but consider the meek and gentle deportment of Christ, so worthy of his and their imitation, they would see there was no reason to reflect on him for that part of his conduct, in which he followed his Lord and master; whose meekness was to be seen in the assumption of human nature, in the whole of his life and conversation, and in his sufferings and death; and his "gentleness" of Spirit to be observed in his coming into this world, not to judge and condemn it, but that the world might be saved; in bearing all indignities and insults, without being provoked to wrath and revenge; in rebuking his disciples for the severity of their spirits, declaring he came to save, and not take away the lives of men; in praying for his enemies, and in his silence under all the ill treatment he met with from the worst of men. As the apostle had this excellent example before him, which served both to regulate his conduct, and support him under the hard measures he met with, so he was desirous to direct others to the observance of it, which might be a check upon the ill usage of him. He here speaks of himself in the language of his adversaries, who meant by these characters to expose him to scorn and contempt: "I Paul myself"; whose name the false teachers played upon, it signifying "little"; and he being of little stature, they reproached him for it, and would insinuate, that as his name was "little", and his person mean, his bodily presence weak, and his speech contemptible, that he had a little soul, was a man of small knowledge, mean parts, and a very insignificant minister. Now it is as if the apostle should say, I am not ashamed of my name, nor of my person, and I am willing to own myself the least of the apostles, yea, less than the least of all saints; but I beg of you by the mild and gentle Spirit of my Lord and master, whom I am not ashamed to imitate, that you would not join in those sneers. I am Paul, αυτος, the "same" in my principles and practice, in my doctrine and life, when present and absent; though my enemies say the contrary, as that I am such an one,

who in presence am base, or "humble among you": they suggested, that when he was at Corinth he was humble and modest in his conversation, mild and gentle in all his expressions and deportment; and which they interpreted of a meanness and baseness of spirit, as though he crept and cringed to curry favour with men, to avoid offence, and gain and keep an interest among them:

but being absent, am bold toward you; wrote blustering, hectoring, terrifying letters, threatening to come with his apostolic rod and deliver them up to Satan, to fright them into a compliance with him.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Now I Paul myself beseech you - I entreat you who are members of the church not to give me occasion for the exercise of severity in discipline. I have just expressed my confidence in the church in general, and my belief that you will act in accordance with the rules of the gospel. But I cannot thus speak of all. There are some among you who have spoken with contempt of my authority and my claims as an apostle. Of them I cannot speak in this manner; but instead of commanding them I entreat them not to give me occasion for the exercise of discipline.

By the meekness and gentleness of Christ - In view of the meekness and mildness of the Redeemer; or desiring to imitate his gentleness and kindness. Paul wished to imitate that. He did not wish to have occasion for severity. He desired at all times to imitate, and to exhibit the gentle feelings of the Saviour. He had no pleasure in severity; and he did not desire to exhibit it.

Who in presence - Margin, In outward appearance. It may either mean that when present among them he appeared, according to their representation, to be humble, mild, gentle 2 Corinthians 10:10; or that in his external appearance he had this aspect; see on 2 Corinthians 10:10. Most probably it means that they had represented him, as timid when among them, and afraid to exercise discipline, however much he had threatened it.

Am base among you - The word used here (ταπεινὸς tapeinos) usually means low, humble, poor. Here it means timid, modest, the opposite of boldness. Such was formerly the meaning of the English word base. It was applied to those of low degree or rank; of humble birth; and stood opposed to those of elevated rank or dignity. Now it is commonly used to denote that which is degraded or worthless; of mean spirit; vile; and stands opposed to that which is manly and noble. But Paul did not mean to use it here in that sense. He meant to say that they regarded him as timid and afraid to execute the punishment which he had threatened, and as manifesting a spirit which was the opposite of boldness. This was doubtless a charge which they brought against him; but we are not necessarily to infer that it was true. All that it proves is, that he was modest and unobtrusive, and that they interpreted this as timidity and lack of spirit.

But being absent am bold toward you - That is, in my letters; see on 2 Corinthians 10:10. This they charged him with, that he was bold enough when away from them, but that he would be tame enough when he should meet them face to face, and that they had nothing to fear from him.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

CHAPTER X.

The apostle vindicates himself against the aspersions cast on

his person by the false apostle; and takes occasion to mention

his spiritual might and authority, 1-6.

He shows them the impropriety of judging after the outward

appearance, 7.

Again refers to his apostolical authority, and informs them

that when he again comes among them he will show himself in

his deeds as powerful as his letters intimated, 8-11.

He shows that these false teachers sat down in other men's

labours, having neither authority nor influence from God to

break up new ground, while he and the apostles in general had

the regions assigned to them through which they were to sow

the seed of life; and that he never entered into any place

where the work was made ready to his hand by others, 12-16.

He concludes with intimating that the glorying of those false

apostles was bad; that they had nothing but self-commendation;

and that they who glory should glory in the Lord, 17, 18.

NOTES ON CHAP. X.

Verse 2 Corinthians 10:1. I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness — Having now finished his directions and advices relative to the collection for the poor, he resumes his argument relative to the false apostle, who had gained considerable influence by representing St. Paul as despicable in his person, his ministry, and his influence. Under this obloquy the apostle was supported by the meekness and gentleness of Christ; and through the same heavenly disposition he delayed inflicting that punishment which, in virtue of his apostolical authority, he might have inflicted on him who had disturbed and laboured to corrupt the Christian Church.

Who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you] He seems to quote these as the words of his calumniator, as if he had said; "This apostle of yours is a mere braggadocio; when he is among you, you know how base and contemptible he is; when absent, see how he brags and boasts." The word ταπεινος, which we render base, signifies lowly, and, as some think, short of stature. The insinuation is, that when there was danger or opposition at hand, St. Paul acted with great obsequiousness, fearing for his person and authority, lest he should lose his secular influence. See the following verse.