2 Corinthians 10:1

2 COR. 10

There is a break in thought with the beginning of this chapter, but it is nothing which can reasonably reflect on the unity of the epistle. Any man writing on a number of subjects in a single letter, and having something rather sensitive to communicate, would quite naturally reserve it until the concluding part of the letter. All of the scholarly guesses about a "severe" letter having been penned at a time between the two canonical letters, such letter having first been lost, then a part of it discovered, and then inserted by some unknown "editor" at this particular place in 2Corinthians is too preposterous a surmise to have any weight at all. Why would any "editor" have placed such a recovered lost letter in a place like this? All such speculations perish in the total absence of any manuscript authority, and of any tradition whatever that any such thing ever happened. Even Filson admitted that it is only upon internal evidence that the "severe letter" hypothesis can be advocated.[1]

The so-called internal evidence evaporates under scholarly analysis; and, as Philip E. Hughes declared:

Paul's sternest remarks refer not to the Corinthians in general, but to the false teachers (designated "some" in 2 Corinthians 10:2). Besides, it is not difficult to show that passages in this concluding section are plainly very much of a piece with themes and matters introduced in earlier chapters.[2]

The proposition that there is nothing severe in the first nine chapters is likewise false, and can be advocated only by misreading the hyperbole in 7:13ff (see notes above). Also, the notion of some "ring leader" is contrary to the picture of several factions as given in the first epistle. It is amazing that critical scholarship should be so insistent about something so valueless as their "severe letter" fantasy. Even if it existed, and even if 2 Corinthians 10-13 is part of it, it is admitted by all that Paul wrote it, that it is inspired, canonical and absolutely trustworthy. So what is to be gained by all this imaginative, intellectual tap-dancing about the "severe letter"? It is more than extraordinarily worthless.

[1] Floyd V. Filson, The Interpreter's Bible (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1950), pp. 270-271.

[2] Philip E. Hughes, Paul's Second Epistle to the Corinthians (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1962), p. 343.

Now I Paul myself entreat you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I who in your presence am lowly among you, but being absent am of good courage toward you. (2 Corinthians 10:1)

Paul was about to deal with "some" who were still incorrigible sinners at Corinth (2 Corinthians 10:2); but his attitude toward his beloved converts has not changed. He "entreats," as always, being filled with the meekness and gentleness of Christ.

In your presence ... lowly ... From the days of Chrysostom, this has been thought to echo some of the slanders of Paul's enemies who had been saying that "when present he was mild and timid, but when absent full of boldness."[3]