In Chapter 10 of the Second Letter to the Corinthians, St. Paul turned his attention to the intruding missionaries.
Father Thomas Stegman, SJ, explained: “Paul begins by presenting himself as a soldier in God’s army in the battle to bring about Christlike obedience within the community (10:1–6). He explains that his God-given authority is for building up the Corinthians (10:7–11). Finally, he sets forth what constitutes proper missionary boasting (10:12–18). All the while, Paul contrasts himself with the intruding missionaries.”
St. Paul wrote, “We destroy arguments and every proud obstacle to the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5).
Catholic author Stephen Ray commented: “‘Proud obstacle’ can be understood as wrong thoughts and faulty arguments that are entrenched in the mind against God. Sometimes these may be rational arguments; other times they might be sentiments or emotions that are ‘caught’ from other people like one catches the measles. It is often easier to knock down a fortress of timber and stone than it is to destroy a stronghold of mental lies and deceptions.”
Christians are engaged in spiritual warfare. The sacrament of Confirmation seals us as soldiers of Christ. St. Paul used military terminology with the words: “being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete” (2 Cor. 10:6).
St. Paul wrote, “Look at what is before your eyes. If anyone is confident that he is Christ’s, let him remind himself that just as he is Christ’s, so also are we” (2 Cor. 10:7).
St. John Chrysostom said, “Paul criticizes not only the deceivers but the deceived as well, for they are also accountable for their actions. Furthermore, he rebukes each one in the way which is most appropriate to their case. Those who imagine they belong to Christ must consider who Paul belongs to. If the answer is also Christ, then they must listen to what he has to say to them.”
Regarding the authority of St. Paul, the fourth-century Ambrosiaster pointed out that “Paul takes advantage of his authority only to the extent that he glories in the progress of believers, so that his power may be conducive to salvation and not self-aggrandizement.”
St. Paul “did not boast beyond the power that was given to him, nor did he claim any authority in places where his preaching had not been heard.”
St. Paul states: “For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends” (2 Cor. 10:18).
St. John Chrysostom commented: “Paul did not claim this for himself but left it to the Lord. Paul is modest, but not to the point where he neglects to tell the truth about himself.”
The saint added: “It is possible to do harm by ill-timed modesty or to do good by saying something admirable of oneself at the right time. There was a real danger that the disciples might be persuaded to have a low opinion of Paul, precisely because of his modesty. Paul did not seek human praise, but when he was accused of being a braggart he defended himself.”
Inspired by the words of St. Paul, St. Bernard said, “Why am I so solicitous for the judgment of another, or for my own, if their opprobrium will not condemn me nor their praises save me? My brothers, if I had to present myself before your tribunal, rightly would I be happy to receive your praise. And if I had to be judged by my own conscience and made do with my own opinion of myself, I would be glad of my self-esteem. But since I have to appear, not before your judgment or my own, but before the judgment of God, how foolish, how deluded I would be to take refuge in your testimony or in my own, especially since God is such that everything is bare and open to his gaze, and he has no need of anyone’s testimony about man?”
Stephen Ray pointed out that: “the only cause one has for boasting comes from God. And legitimate boasting is only legitimate when a man’s works is worthy of God’s commendation.”
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保祿以權柄護衛宗徒職權
在格林多後書第10章中，聖保祿將注意力轉向那些擅自闖入的傳教者。
耶穌會士Thomas Stegman神父解釋說：「保祿一開始以天主軍隊中的士兵自居，為的是要在團體中建立以基督為榜樣的服從（格後10:1-6）。他說明自己從天主領受的權柄，是為了建樹於格林多人中（格後10:7–11）。最後，他指出了什麼才是對福傳工作真正合宜的誇耀（格後10:12–18）。在整個過程中，保祿一直以自己與那些闖入的傳教者作對比。」
聖保祿寫道：「以及一切為反對天主的知識所樹立的高寨，並擄獲一切人的心意。」（格後10:3-5）
天主教作家Stephen Ray評論說：「所謂『所樹立的高寨』，可理解為那些根深柢固、抗拒天主的錯誤思想與謬誤邏輯。有時這些或是看似理性的論據，有時則可能是從他人那裡『擄獲』來的情緒與觀點，像感染麻疹一樣。我們往往更容易摧毀石木築成的堡壘，卻難以打破心靈中的虛假與謊言。」
基督徒正身處靈性戰爭之中。堅振聖事標記我們成為基督的士兵。聖保祿以軍事術語說：「並且我們已準備停當，及至你們完全服從時，來懲罰一切的不服從。」（格後10:6）
他又寫道：「你們看看擺在眼前的事實罷! 如果有人自信是屬於基督的，他自己該再想想：他怎樣屬於基督，我們也怎樣是。」（格後10:7）
金口聖若望指出：「保祿不但責備欺騙人的人，也責備那些受騙的人，因為他們同樣要為自己的選擇負責。他也根據每人不同的情況，用最適當的方式糾正他們。那些自以為屬於基督的人，必須先認清保祿是否也屬於基督；若是，他們就該聽從他所說的話。」
關於聖保祿的權威，四世紀教父安博西亞斯特(Ambrosiaster)指出：「保祿之所以運用他的權柄，是為了光榮信友信德的長進。他的能力是為了拯救，而不是為了自我誇耀。」
保祿「誇耀卻不越過範圍，也不在未曾傳報福音之地自稱擁有權柄。」
他寫道：「因為不是自己舉薦自己的，那人是可取的，而是天主所舉薦的。」（格後10:18）
金口聖若望註解道：「保祿沒有為自己求推薦，而是留給上主來判斷。他的謙遜從不妨礙他說出關於自己的真相。」
他又補充說：「有時過度的謙遜反而會造成傷害；相反地，在適當的時候說自己出值得讚美的事，卻可能帶來益處。門徒們可能會因為保祿過於謙遜而小看他，因此保祿不得不自我辯護。他不求人的讚美，但當被控過分誇耀時，他要站出來自證清白。」
聖伯爾納鐸（St. Bernard）受保祿話語啟發曾說：「若別人的羞辱不能定我罪，別人的讚美也不能救我，那麼，我為何如此在意別人或自己的評斷呢？弟兄們，如果我要接受你們的審判，你們的稱讚也許還有意義；如果我要憑著自己的良知審斷自己，那麼自我肯定也許有價值；但我面對的審判，是來自天主，那麼若我仍依賴你們或自己的證言，這是何等愚昧！尤其是天主無所不知，一切在祂面前都是赤裸顯露的，祂不需要任何人為人作證。」
Stephen Ray總結道：「人的誇耀若不是出於天主，就沒有真正的價值。只有當人的行為蒙天主讚許時，他的誇耀才是合法的。」
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