Knowing The Word in 2 Corinthians 10:9-12, Weighty Letters

9 I do not want to appear to be frightening you with my letters. 10 For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.” 11 Let such a person understand that what we say by letter when absent, we do when present.12 Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.

Paul’s aim is to sober up his converts and make them aware of the danger of the false apostles. The argument of the opponents is that Paul’s letters are strong but his physical appearance is lacking, and that he does not use Sophistic rhetoric. His dresses more like the ragged Cynic philosophers than the sophisticated Sophists. Sophists were itinerate teachers who taught on certain subjects and were employed by individuals. Paul was also an itinerate teacher, but he accepted no payment. He did not seek either financial gain or to equip people to be more intelligent than others. Instead, Paul walks the talk of being a servant leader and his opponents do not. The outside offenders are not measuring themselves by God’s divine standards but by worldly standards. They are setting a “human bar” for the Corinthians. Paul’s bar is divine. The Sophists wanted to make their employers “sophisticated” while Paul wanted to bring people into a relationship with Christ that transformed them into servants of the gospel.

Grant, O God, that we may keep a constant guard upon our thoughts and passions, that they may never lead us into sin; that we may live in perfect charity with all mankind, in affection to those that love us, and in forgiveness of those, if any there are, that hate us. Give us good and virtuous friends. In the name of our blessed Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Warren Hastings, 1732-1818