How often do we take a text of Scripture and apply that truth personally in our lives, only to discover, once understood in its biblical context, an even greater reality? That’s exactly what happened to me this week. Since I had never studied 2 Corinthians in my undergraduate, graduate, or postgraduate courses, nor had I ever taught or preached from it, except for a few isolated texts, I was startled by a text I assumed I understood.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

I simply took this to mean that we needed to submit our thoughts that were contrary to the word of God and make them obedient to Christ. It seemed to me that spiritual warfare was primarily in our minds. It is certainly true that the battle we fight is primarily a spiritual battle in our minds, but understanding exactly what Paul meant by these texts in their context goes way beyond that premise.

 In 2 Corinthians, Paul defends himself against criticisms of his life and ministry stemming from a distorted understanding of the gospel. This distortion led by outsiders had affected a minority group in the church who were being led astray.

Two things come to mind. What were these false ideas that needed to be corrected? Secondly, when and how should we defend ourselves to others who are verbally attacking and criticizing us in regard to our understanding of the gospel? How does this idea fit into Jesus’ remarks on the Sermon on the Mount regarding ‘turning the other cheek '?

Matthew 5:39

But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.

Jesus is speaking against retaliation and in favour of the willingness to let God vindicate us. But is there ever a time that we need to stand up and speak against evil? Someone might argue that Jesus is speaking about not defending ourselves, but here Paul, in writing in 2 Corinthians, is dealing with the personal attacks in the form of criticisms directed at him to undermine his credibility and ministry among the Corinthians.

So, one of the issues that we need to understand is: what is at stake? Paul is defending himself and his ministry because the very essence and nature of the gospel is being attacked and distorted. Outsiders are trying to discredit both Paul, the messengers, and his message. How does what was transpiring then affect what is happening today?