Kress Biblical Resources :: Christ-Sufficient Authority Is Self-Restrained and Employs Spiritual Means - Not Worldly Tactics and Self-Exaltation (2Co 10:1-6)

Detailed Outline of 2 Corinthians

Defending the New Covenant Gospel Ministry of Grace and the Sufficiency of Christ

IV. God-Ordained authority and the sufficiency of Christ (2Co 10; 11; 12; 13:1-10)

1. Christ-Sufficient authority is self-restrained and employs spiritual means—not worldly tactics and self-exaltation (2Co 10:1-6)
   1. Spiritual authority is characterized by both meekness and might (2Co 10:1-2)
      1. An appeal based on the meekness and gentleness of Christ (2Co 10:1a)
      2. An accusation implicitly referenced (2Co 10:1b)
      3. An appeal for a spiritual response of obedience (2Co 10:2)
         1. The request for humble obedience (2Co 10:2a)
         2. The response would be bold/mighty if the gentle request was disregarded (2Co 10:2b)
   2. Spiritual authority wields spiritual weapons—which are divinely powerful to both deliver and destroy (2Co 10:3-6)
      1. The spiritual war introduced (2Co 10:3)
      2. The spiritual weapons introduced (2Co 10:4ab)
         1. Man-made or fleshly--no (2Co 10:4a)
         2. Mighty weapons of God—divinely powerful (2Co 10:4b)
      3. The spiritual weapons for destruction and deliverance (2Co 10:4c-6)
         1. The destruction of strongholds (2Co 10:4c-5ab)
            1. The destruction summarized (2Co 10:4c)
            2. The destruction of speculations (2Co 10:5a)
            3. The destruction of every thought opposed to God’s truth (2Co 10:5b)
         2. The deliverance of thinking that is captive to the Word of God/the obedience of Christ (2Co 10:5c-6)
            1. The principle (2Co 10:5c)
            2. The practical application for the Corinthians Church (2Co 10:6)