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Expanded Comments |
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| 1 Same and I Paul beseech you on account of the meekness and gentleness of the Anointed, who according to face indeed humble among you, being absent but am bold toward you; |
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| 2 I pray but, that not being present to be bold with the confidence, with which I reckon to have daring toward some those reckoning us as according to flesh walking. |
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| 3 In flesh for walking, not according to flesh warring. |
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| 4 (the for arms of the warfare of us not fleshly, but powerful in the God for a casting down of fortresses,) |
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 reasonings casting down and every height raising itself up against the knowledge of the God, and leading captive every mind into the obedience of the Anointed, |
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 in preparation having to punish every disobedience, when may be fulfilled of you the obedience. |
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| 7 The things according to face do you see? If any one has persuaded himself of Anointed to be, this let him consider again from himself that even as he of Anointed, so also we. |
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 If indeed for even more abundantly somewhat I should boast concerning the authority of us, which gave the Lord to us, for building up and not for casting down of you, not I shall 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 So that not I may seem as I would terrify you by means of the letters; |
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| 10 (because the indeed letters, he says, weighty and powerful; the but presence of the body weak, and the word having been despised;) |
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 this let consider the such an one, that such ones were by the word through letters being absent, such like ones also being present in the work. |
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 Not for we dare to rank or to compare ourselves with some of those themselves commending; but they by themselves themselves measuring, and comparing themselves with themselves, not are intelligent. |
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 We and not for the things unmeasured we will boast, but according to the measure of the rule, of which distributed to us the God of measure, to reach to even you. |
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| 14 Not for, as not reaching to you, we over stretch ourselves; (to for even you we came in the glad tidings of the Anointed;) |
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 for the things unmeasured boasting in others labors, a hope but having, being increased of the faith of you, by you to be enlarged according to the rule of us into superabundance, |
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| 16 to the parts beyond of you to announce glad tidings; not by another rule for the things ready to boast. |
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| 17 The but one boasting, in Lord let him boast. |
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| 18 Not for he himself commending, he is approved, but whom the Lord commends. |
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