2 Corinthians 10:6 Commentary and Bible Study

The apostle says this, in effect: ‘When in Corinth you dear people have finally realised you cannot entertain these errorists, these false teachers, then they must be completely put out and rebuked.’ This, says the apostle, he is ready to do, so that it would be very unwise for any to continue to think of him as base and weak when he is physically present with them. It is a fearful thing to come under church discipline, for when the church follows Scripture and puts out of its number those who are worthy of excommunication, that verdict will be echoed by heaven itself. Those who refuse to accept the authority of church officers appointed over them in the Lord will find that they have to face the Lord God instead and his anger is overwhelming. It is easy for the rebellious to underestimate God’s ministers, especially when they come to us in kindness and gentleness, but it was not a mere man that the Corinthians dealt with, it was the apostle of the Lord. Although Paul was reluctant to draw attention to his authority and preferred to deal with the churches by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, when it was called for he would also show them the full extent of his apostolic authority. Let none therefore underestimate him because of his preferred stance of gentleness. Paul is ready to come and endorse their act of church discipline, but first there needs to be a greater understanding of the error of the Judaisers, and a clearer insight into how foolish they have been. He will come once he is assured that they have reached a sounder mind on this whole subject, and he will not find himself at odds with the Corinthian believers themselves. He is confident that they will be restored to a right way of thinking, but he awaits the confirmation of this. He does not therefore rush to Corinth, but waits for his exhortations and rebukes to have the desired effect, in order to maximise the number of those who repent.