10:1 ¶ 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 toward you: 2 But I
beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that
confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if
we walked according to the flesh. 3 For
though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but
mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high
thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into
captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 6 And having in a readiness to revenge all
disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
Paul is saying here that when he was with the Corinthians he was base, that is, lowly. See the definition
in the following Old Testament verses as the opposite of honorable or to be
held in high regard. Base is a matter of low status and honorable as like those
having great authority.
2Samuel 6:22 And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken
of, of them shall I be had in honour.
Isaiah 3:5 And the people shall be oppressed, every one
by another, and every one by his neighbour: the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honourable.
Ezekiel 17:14 That the kingdom might be base, that
it might not lift itself up, but
that by keeping of his covenant it might stand.
Malachi 2:9 Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all
the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the
law.
And in the New Testament, in fact, in Paul’s own writings.
1Corinthians 1:28 And base things of the world, and
things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that
are:
Bearing Christ’s meekness and gentleness when he was with them
Paul has been bold in his letters. He doesn’t want to be bold or harsh among
them lest he be thought of as carnal and physically aggressive because his warfare
is spiritual and must be understood that way. Paul then talks about spiritual
warfare, which unlike the Hebrew a thousand years before, was not the warfare
of armies, swords, taking cities and prisoners. Christian warfare is internal,
spiritual, to the pulling down of every imagination, every thought and, indeed,
anything that places itself above God in the spirit of our minds. It cannot be
forced and must be the result of a willing mind.
Verse 6 points to spiritual discipline as a Christian. Paul
reminded other churches to do the same as in 1Thessalonians 5:14 when he says,
“…warn them that are unruly…”
Colossians 1:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and
teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in
Christ Jesus:
Church discipline and rebuking open sin in the congregation was
one of the reasons for writing the first letter, if you remember. A man had
sinned against God and against his own father. Jesus talked about church
discipline when one person sins against another and about forgiveness when the
person is repentant.
Matthew 18:15 ¶ Moreover if thy brother shall trespass
against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall
hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 16
But if he will not hear thee,
then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three
witnesses every word may be established. 17
And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let
him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. 18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall
bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall
be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say unto
you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they
shall ask, it shall be done
for them of my Father which is in
heaven. 20 For where two or three are
gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
21 ¶ Then came Peter to him, and
said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till
seven times? 22 Jesus saith unto him, I
say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
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