Desire Not to be Bold When Present 2 Corinthians 10:2

Paul the apostle shared with the church members in Corinth, “by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you”, and in chapter ten and verse two of Second Corinthians, Paul pleads with the church members “that he may not be bold when he” was “present” with them where we read:

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.

The verse begins, “But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, ...” Paul began with the word, “but” which is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be written takes precedence over what was just stated “I beseech you” or “Paul desired for, asked and wanted the church members”, “that I may not be” which means “so Paul would not be” “bold” or “exercising courage and confidence” “when I am present” or “at the time Paul arrives, is ready, at hand and at command” “with that confidence” which means “with that trust and reliance”. Paul wanted the church members to comply with his requests immediately to avoid having to be “bold” with them when he came to them.

The verse continued, “... wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.” Paul continued with the word, “wherewith” or “which” “I think” which means “Paul thought, reckoned, calculated and took into account” “to be bold” or “to be courageous, daring and enduring” “against some” which means “in position opposite to certain ones”, “which think of us” or “who reckon, calculate and take into account Paul and his companions” “as if we walked” which means “as though they make their progress and conducted themselves” “according” or “down from, throughout, toward and along” “to the flesh” which means “the mere human and earthly nature of man apart from divine influence and therefore prone to sin and opposed to God”. Paul thought about boldly confronting “certain ones” within the church who thought he and his companions only acted in a way that was “sinful” and “opposed” to God.

When we meditate upon these words of Paul, we see how he knew he would have to be “bold” with certain ones of the church members. Those within the church who thought he and his companions lived “according to the flesh” needed to be confronted, and Paul was purposed to do so as occasion presented itself. Jesus Christ desires for people to believe and trust in Him, and when they do, they are to align with His ways. If they do not, leaders within the church such as Paul are to “confidently” remind and encourage them to alter their ways.

Next time we see Paul tells the church members, “though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then,

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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