Second Corinthians shows Paul as a pastor. He passionately desires to win the Christians in Corinth back to himself, convinced that the Good News is above all a message of reconciliation. Paul faced criticism and accusations from fellow Christians who doubted him as a leader. Forced to defend himself, he opens his heart to this congregation to a degree not found in his other letters. Paul faced…
1Yo Pablo os ruego por la mansedumbre y ternura de Cristo, yo que estando presente ciertamente soy humilde entre vosotros, mas ausente soy osado para con vosotros;
2ruego, pues, que cuando esté presente, no tenga que usar de aquella osadía con que estoy dispuesto a proceder resueltamente contra algunos que nos tienen como si anduviésemos según la carne.
3Pues aunque andamos en la carne, no militamos según la carne;
4porque las armas de nuestra milicia no son carnales, sino poderosas en Dios para la destrucción de fortalezas,
5derribando argumentos y toda altivez que se levanta contra el conocimiento de Dios, y llevando cautivo todo pensamiento a la obediencia a Cristo,
6y estando prontos para castigar toda desobediencia, cuando vuestra obediencia sea perfecta.
7Miráis las cosas según la apariencia. Si alguno está persuadido en sí mismo que es de Cristo, esto también piense por sí mismo, que como él es de Cristo, así también nosotros somos de Cristo.
8Porque aunque me gloríe algo más todavía de nuestra autoridad, la cual el Señor nos dio para edificación y no para vuestra destrucción, no me avergonzaré;
9para que no parezca como que os quiero amedrentar por cartas.
10Porque a la verdad, dicen, las cartas son duras y fuertes; mas la presencia corporal débil, y la palabra menospreciable.
11Esto tenga en cuenta tal persona, que así como somos en la palabra por cartas, estando ausentes, lo seremos también en hechos, estando presentes.
12Porque no nos atrevemos a contarnos ni a compararnos con algunos que se alaban a sí mismos; pero ellos, midiéndose a sí mismos por sí mismos, y comparándose consigo mismos, no son juiciosos.
13Pero nosotros no nos gloriaremos desmedidamente, sino conforme a la regla que Dios nos ha dado por medida, para llegar también hasta vosotros.
14Porque no nos hemos extralimitado, como si no llegásemos hasta vosotros, pues fuimos los primeros en llegar hasta vosotros con el evangelio de Cristo.
15No nos gloriamos desmedidamente en trabajos ajenos, sino que esperamos que conforme crezca vuestra fe seremos muy engrandecidos entre vosotros, conforme a nuestra regla;
16y que anunciaremos el evangelio en los lugares más allá de vosotros, sin entrar en la obra de otro para gloriarnos en lo que ya estaba preparado.
17Mas el que se gloría, gloríese en el Señor;
18porque no es aprobado el que se alaba a sí mismo, sino aquel a quien Dios alaba.
TYNDALE OPEN STUDY NOTES
I
Versículo 1
I. 10:1–13:13 In this section, Paul defends his ministry as an apostle. • These chapters pose severa…
10:1–13:13 In this section, Paul defends his ministry as an apostle. • These chapters pose several problems arising from a distinct change of tone and style. Chapters 1–9 are full of joy stemming from the reconciliation of sinners with God and of the Corinthians with Paul. Yet from this point on, Paul is on the defensive. These chapters are full of harsh words, bitter recriminations, passionate irony, and rebuke. The remarkable break at 10:1 has inspired a number of explanations: (1) These chapters might be a separate letter, perhaps the “severe letter” sent earlier to Corinth (2:3-4; 7:8-9). (2) It might be that, while the majority of the church members were obedient to the appeal for reconciliation, there was still a rebellious minority to whom Paul addressed these four chapters. (3) More likely, a new situation had arisen since Titus first brought back his glowing report of restored harmony (7:5-16). In this scenario, some anti-Paul missionaries had arrived in Corinth and launched a virulent campaign against the apostolic message of good news (see 11:4, 13-15). They claimed that Paul was no real apostle or even a true Christian (10:7) and that he had no right to come to Corinth with the gospel message since it was territory that belonged to them (10:15-16). They brought an alien message (11:4) and exercised a domineering spirit. In short, they were doing Satan’s work (11:13-15). Paul, concerned upon hearing of this new situation, reasserts his apostolic authority and engages in a form of writing that is distasteful to him (11:1, 16-17; 12:1) by boasting of his weaknesses and trials. Paul’s apostolic authority is real and powerful, yet it is conditioned and controlled by the love exhibited by the crucified Jesus (10:1; 13:4-10).
10:1-6 Paul states his own clear intentions and sincerity by defending himself against the suspicion that he is acting from human motives.
10:1 you think I am timid in person: See 10:10. Paul could write bold letters at a distance, but they mistook his personal gentleness and kindness as weakness. However, they forgot that he had the authority of Christ (12:19; 13:3-5, 7, 10; 1 Cor 4:21).
II
Versículo 3
II. 10:3-5 A military metaphor enforces Paul’s rebuttal: Paul’s weapons have divine power over spirit…
10:3-5 A military metaphor enforces Paul’s rebuttal: Paul’s weapons have divine power over spiritual strongholds (see 4:3-4).
III
Versículo 7
III. 10:7-11 The rival teachers were evidently claiming to be Christ’s representatives in some superio…
10:7-11 The rival teachers were evidently claiming to be Christ’s representatives in some superior way that excluded Paul because of his weakness. Here he defines having true authority as distinct from being a domineering authoritarian. His authority was to build up God’s people, not to demolish them (see 13:10), yet he intended to deal firmly with these rivals when he came to Corinth (see 13:1).
IV
Versículo 10
IV. 10:10 Paul’s letters are sometimes difficult and demanding, as other Christians also found (cp. 2…
10:10 Paul’s letters are sometimes difficult and demanding, as other Christians also found (cp. 2 Pet 3:16). • in person he is weak: Paul had no domineering presence, bulldozing people into submission (cp. 2 Cor 1:24; 1 Cor 2:1-5). The earliest descriptions of Paul’s personal appearance (Acts of Paul and Thecla, around AD 200) depict him as “a man of small height, almost bald, with crooked legs, but with a good body and eyebrows meeting. His nose was hooked, full of grace, for sometimes he appeared like a man and sometimes had the face of an angel.” • his speeches are worthless: Unlike Apollos (Acts 18:24), Paul was not an eloquent preacher or captivating orator when he came to Corinth (2 Cor 11:6; 1 Cor 2:3-4). His message, however, was charged with a power no human rhetoric could command, as it was given in the Holy Spirit.
V
Versículo 12
V. 10:12 Paul now charges his enemies with a set of false values, since they attached great importan…
10:12 Paul now charges his enemies with a set of false values, since they attached great importance to themselves.
VI
Versículo 13
VI. 10:13-16 Paul had not trespassed on the limits God set for his missionary service, which includes…
10:13-16 Paul had not trespassed on the limits God set for his missionary service, which includes our working with you. So he justifies his integrity and authority, insisting that when he first came to Corinth (Acts 18:1-17) he did so in response to God’s call. Paul was determined not to enter someone else’s territory (see Rom 15:20), but he was the first to travel all the way to Corinth with the Good News of Christ. His more recent opponents visited the church much later (2 Cor 11:4), so their claim to Corinth as their territory was empty.
VII
Versículo 17
VII. 10:17-18 Paul quotes Jer 9:24 to the effect that all missionaries are directed by the Lord. So bo…
10:17-18 Paul quotes Jer 9:24 to the effect that all missionaries are directed by the Lord. So boasting doesn’t count for much. Only as the Lord praises us for our service can success have any significance.
Nuevo Testamento
2 Corinthians — Capítulo 10
Second Corinthians shows Paul as a pastor. He passionately desires to win the Christians in Corinth back to himself, convinced that the Good News is above all a message of reconciliation. Paul faced criticism and accusations from fellow Christians who doubted him as a leader. Forced to defend himself, he opens his heart to this congregation to a degree not found in his other letters. Paul faced…
Texto — Reina-Valera 1960
1Yo Pablo os ruego por la mansedumbre y ternura de Cristo, yo que estando presente ciertamente soy humilde entre vosotros, mas ausente soy osado para con vosotros;
2ruego, pues, que cuando esté presente, no tenga que usar de aquella osadía con que estoy dispuesto a proceder resueltamente contra algunos que nos tienen como si anduviésemos según la carne.
3Pues aunque andamos en la carne, no militamos según la carne;
4porque las armas de nuestra milicia no son carnales, sino poderosas en Dios para la destrucción de fortalezas,
5derribando argumentos y toda altivez que se levanta contra el conocimiento de Dios, y llevando cautivo todo pensamiento a la obediencia a Cristo,
6y estando prontos para castigar toda desobediencia, cuando vuestra obediencia sea perfecta.
7Miráis las cosas según la apariencia. Si alguno está persuadido en sí mismo que es de Cristo, esto también piense por sí mismo, que como él es de Cristo, así también nosotros somos de Cristo.
8Porque aunque me gloríe algo más todavía de nuestra autoridad, la cual el Señor nos dio para edificación y no para vuestra destrucción, no me avergonzaré;
9para que no parezca como que os quiero amedrentar por cartas.
10Porque a la verdad, dicen, las cartas son duras y fuertes; mas la presencia corporal débil, y la palabra menospreciable.
11Esto tenga en cuenta tal persona, que así como somos en la palabra por cartas, estando ausentes, lo seremos también en hechos, estando presentes.
12Porque no nos atrevemos a contarnos ni a compararnos con algunos que se alaban a sí mismos; pero ellos, midiéndose a sí mismos por sí mismos, y comparándose consigo mismos, no son juiciosos.
13Pero nosotros no nos gloriaremos desmedidamente, sino conforme a la regla que Dios nos ha dado por medida, para llegar también hasta vosotros.
14Porque no nos hemos extralimitado, como si no llegásemos hasta vosotros, pues fuimos los primeros en llegar hasta vosotros con el evangelio de Cristo.
15No nos gloriamos desmedidamente en trabajos ajenos, sino que esperamos que conforme crezca vuestra fe seremos muy engrandecidos entre vosotros, conforme a nuestra regla;
16y que anunciaremos el evangelio en los lugares más allá de vosotros, sin entrar en la obra de otro para gloriarnos en lo que ya estaba preparado.
17Mas el que se gloría, gloríese en el Señor;
18porque no es aprobado el que se alaba a sí mismo, sino aquel a quien Dios alaba.
TYNDALE OPEN STUDY NOTES
Versículo 1
I. 10:1–13:13 In this section, Paul defends his ministry as an apostle. • These chapters pose severa…
Versículo 3
II. 10:3-5 A military metaphor enforces Paul’s rebuttal: Paul’s weapons have divine power over spirit…
Versículo 7
III. 10:7-11 The rival teachers were evidently claiming to be Christ’s representatives in some superio…
Versículo 10
IV. 10:10 Paul’s letters are sometimes difficult and demanding, as other Christians also found (cp. 2…
Versículo 12
V. 10:12 Paul now charges his enemies with a set of false values, since they attached great importan…
Versículo 13
VI. 10:13-16 Paul had not trespassed on the limits God set for his missionary service, which includes…
Versículo 17
VII. 10:17-18 Paul quotes Jer 9:24 to the effect that all missionaries are directed by the Lord. So bo…