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| 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: |
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| 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. |
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| 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
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| 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
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Weapons of our warfare – All laboring upon the walls of Zion, as with Nehemiah, need to be equipped with the weapons of 1 Thes. 5:8 and Eph. 6:17 every moment R3675:6
Are not carnal – But spiritual. R1744:5
The Lord's great army will use carnal weapons. D543
Carnal weapons are not merely swords, spears and guns, but anger, malice, hatred, strife, and a contesting, combative spirit. R3274:4
There is no commission in the Bible for God's consecrated people to war--to take from others either life or property. R5760:6
The spiritual Israelite fights against a different kind of enemy and with different weapons. R2681:6
We have various weapons of defense given us by our Captain, a helmet of salvation, etc., but we only have one weapon for offensive warfare, the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. NS239:4
Under the typical Jewish dispensation carnal weapons were proper. R2015:3, 768:4
Mighty through God – Through the Spirit, the power of God. E250
God's truth is mighty. R3089:5, 1627:5*
Without him we can do nothing, but in him we become eventually mighty through God to the pulling down of the strongholds of error and to the setting up of the Kingdom of God under the whole heavens. NS502:2
Pulling down of strong holds – Of error. R3675:5
Of error and superstition. R3089:5
Of error and iniquity. R1744:5
Of error and sin. E250; R5592:6, 3858:1
These are in ourselves, sin in our minds, in our imaginations--mental strongholds. R5889:3
The spiritual Israelite is to watch and pray to pull down error and gain victory over sin and self and Satan. R2681:6
Deceptive errors and influences must be pelted to death by the stones of truth. R768:4
Of the devil. CR437:5
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| 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; |
Imaginations – Human reasonings. D543
False doctrines, superstitions – ignorance, pride, unholy ambitions, idle speculations, etc. R5889:3[R5889:3]
Every high thing – Those which exalt themselves against the true knowledge of God, the Spirit of God. R5889:5[R5889:5]
Against – We should not accept any theory that does not prove itself from God's Word, and also be very certain that our heart is empty of self will and plans which we want to see carried out. R1223:1[R1223:1]
To wrest the Scriptures in order to establish a theory is a terrible crime. If we begin with a theory we want to prove, the Adversary will be ready to assist us. R1223:1[R1223:1]
The knowledge of God – The members of the Church are required to avail themselves of knowledge, as a part of being copies of God's dear Son, the righteous Servant who shall justify many by his knowledge. (Isa. 53:11) NS506:2
Bringing into captivity – That we may realize the seductive influences and treachery of our fallen natures and utterly destroy them, and thus come into the condition mentioned by the Apostle. R3103:4, 5646:3, 4527:2
Absolute holiness is to be the standard. R5127:4, 3307:4
This should be our constant aim. He who would be perfect must find his chief delight in learning and doing the will of Christ, even as Christ Jesus delights to do the will of Jehovah. R765:3*
By increased limitations of one's own liberty. F149
Judging ourselves--we scrutinize, criticize, so as to bring our very thoughts into captivity. R4524:1
Setting guards upon their lives, those who have suffered disease of the soul can manifest to themselves and others that they have sought and used Jesus' assistance in gaining victories over their weaknesses. F149
The saints' weapons are mighty among those who are influenced by them (to the true people of God, his Word is sharper than any two-edged sword) but these weapons do not operate upon the world thus. D543
Every thought – And so far as possible, every word and act. R2878:3
Wishes, desires of our hearts. R2480:5, 5127:4; CR432:4
If we are filled with love there is no room left in our hearts for evil. R4241:4*
Whatsoever things are pure, lovely, etc., think on these things. (Phil. 4:8) R1802:5*
The subjection of the Church to Christ is a willing subjection, inspired by love, veneration, gratitude, implicit confidence and trust in his superior wisdom to do what is best for us. R1552:5
This is the holiness that belongs to the Temple class. CR458:4
Through all his tribulations the Apostle pressed toward the mark for the prize of the high calling. The mark to be attained was the holiness which brings every thought into captivity to God and Christ. R1885:2
The Vow has helped many in this respect. R4227:3
Obedience of Christ – To the will of God in Christ. R5488:2, 5127:4, 2480:5
He who would be perfect must find his chief delight in learning and doing the will of Christ, even as Christ Jesus delights to do the will of Jehovah. It should be his constant aim. R1075:3,4
Obedience to the Lord's Word is the first condition of acceptance with him. R2415:6, 2416:1
Heart-loyalty to the Lord requires effort. It is our first duty, our continual duty, the end of duty. "Be ye holy, for I am holy." "This is the will of God, your sanctification." (1 Pet. 1:16; 1 Thess. 4:3) R5127:4, 4524:1, 765:3
In proportion to our zeal for the Lord, will we be zealous in putting down all idols. R2381:4
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| 6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. |
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| 7 Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's. |
Even so are we Christ's – False brethren had charged that Paul was not Christ's servant. (2 Cor. 11:23) R4517:6
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| 8 For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed: |
For though I should boast – False brethren had charged that Paul was given to self-commendation (2 Cor. 3:1; 5:12). R4517:6
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| 9 That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters. |
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| 10 For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible. |
His bodily presence – Greek: parousia; one of two places where properly rendered "presence." B158, B159; R2979:1; HG24:4
Contemptible – Intimating that Paul was but lightly esteemed at Corinth. R3127:3
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| 11 Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present. |
In deed when we are present – Paul declares he would speak in the same denunciatory manner if he were present with them. R2514:4
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| 12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. |
Measuring themselves by themselves – We are not to measure ourselves by one another, but by the standard "Be ye perfect, even as your Father." (Matt. 5:48) R5123:4
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| 13 But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you. |
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| 14 For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ: |
We stretch not ourselves – False brethren had charged that Paul assumed unauthorized authority. R4517:6
We would like to awaken the foolish virgins to a realization of their proper position and need of prompt action and redoubled energy in cleansing the robe and embroidering it. SM260:1
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| 15 Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly, |
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| 16 To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand. |
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| 17 But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. |
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| 18 For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth. |
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