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Insights into the Life, Ministry, and Challenges of the Apostle Paul
by Samuel E. Ward
April 3, 2011
Review
I. Paul's Defense of His Conduct and Ministry, 2 Cor 1-7. (Paul's answers to critics challenging his character and motivation for ministry.)
II. The Gift, 2 Cor 8-9 (Paul's instruction concerning the Corinthians pledge to help in easing the plight of saints in Jerusalem.)
III. Paul Asserts His Apostolic Authority, 2 Cor 10-13. (Paul stands against those who were seeking to draw the Corinthians away from following Paul's leadership.)
This is not new in the history of God's leaders. Consider Aaron's and Miriam's challenge to Moses' leadership after leading them across the Red Sea.
(Num 12:2 NIV) "Has the LORD spoken only through Moses?" they asked. "Hasn't he also spoken through us?" And the LORD heard this.
And what of Absalom, David's son who used to undermine his father's authority and sought to turn the hearts of the people to himself.
(2 Sam 15:5-6 NIV) Also, whenever anyone approached him to bow down before him, Absalom would reach out his hand, take hold of him and kiss him. {6} Absalom behaved in this way toward all the Israelites who came to the king asking for justice, and so he stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
Humility and love will cause some of God's servants to not to assert their proper authority, as in the case of Moses and David, but Paul had no reservations about doing so. It is interesting to note that humility and love are also seen in Paul's approach to dealing with the challenges made to his authority.
A. Paul Asserts His Authority to Chastise and Punish, 2 Cor 10:1-6
B. Paul Answers Critics of His Authority, 2 Cor 10:7-11
C. Paul Claims Only the Fruit of His Own Labors, 2 Cor 10:12-18.
Continuing Paul's assertions concerning his apostolic authority, . . .
D. Paul Warns About Accepting False Teaching, 2 Cor 11:1-6
Paul knew well how people could be easily deceived by those who were able to manipulate words and ideas to fit their own agenda. King David wrote about such individuals who on one had claimed to be your friend while with the other were seeking to claim you for their own purpose. He characterized them in Psa 55:21 and in verse 22 explained how to avoid their snares.
(Psa 55:21-22 NIV) His speech is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords. {22} Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.
1. Paul's concern springs from a godly jealousy over them, 2 Cor 11:1-2.
(2 Cor 11:1-2 NIV) I hope you will put up with a little of my foolishness; but you are already doing that. {2} I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him.
2. Paul's fear is that they may have been deceived and led astray, 2 Cor 11:3.
(2 Cor 11:3 NIV) But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
3. Paul's observation is that they are too easily swayed, 2 Cor 11:4.
(2 Cor 11:4 NIV) For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.
4. Paul's teaching should not be considered less authoritative than others simply because his presentation of it has not been oratorically "polished." It has, however, been perfectly clear, 2 Cor 11:5-6.
(2 Cor 11:5-6 NIV) But I do not think I am in the least inferior to those "super-apostles." {6} I may not be a trained speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way.
E. Paul Questions His Loss of Standing with the Corinthians, 2 Cor 11:7-15.
(2 Cor 11:7-15 NIV) Was it a sin for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge? {8} I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you. {9} And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so. {10} As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, nobody in the regions of Achaia will stop this boasting of mine. {11} Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do! {12} And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. {13} For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. {14} And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. {15} It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.
1. Was he less in their eyes because they did not have to pay for his services?
2. Was it wrong for him not to burden hem with his expenses?
3. Was it ill-advised for him to accept the support of other churches so that he could build theirs?
4. Was it an indication to them that they were loved less than others?
5. It was actually for the purpose of proving his love superior to the false apostles who were more than willing to appear to be what they were not in order to take advantage of them.
6. The masquerade of the false apostles will bring them the results they deserve.
F. Paul "Boasts" as a "Fool", 2 Cor 11:1-12:13
1. The Corinthians are all too willing to accept the boasting of others, so he will engage in a little himself,2 Cor 11:16-21a.
(2 Cor 11:16-21a NIV) I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then receive me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting. {17} In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would, but as a fool. {18} Since many are boasting in the way the world does, I too will boast. {19} You gladly put up with fools since you are so wise! {20} In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or pushes himself forward or slaps you in the face. {21a} To my shame I admit that we were too weak for that!
2. Paul indulges in some boasting of his own, 2 Cor 11:21b.
(2 Cor 11:21b-29 NIV) What anyone else dares to boast about--I am speaking as a fool--I also dare to boast about. {22} Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham's descendants? So am I. {23} Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. {24} Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. {25} Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, {26} I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. {27} I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. {28} Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. {29} Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?
a. He boasts of his Jewish status, 2 Cor 11:22.
b. He boasts of his servant status to Christ, 2 Cor 11:23.
c. He boasts of his concern for the churches, 2 Cor 11:28.
d. He boasts of his empathy for suffering saitnts, 2 Cor 11:29.
3. Though others may boast of their strength, Paul will boast of his weakness, 2 Cor 11:30-33.
(2 Cor 11:30-33 NIV) If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. {31} The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying. {32} In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me. {33} But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.
4. Though others may boast of their accomplishments, Paul will boast of his visions and revelations, and consequent weakness, 2 Cor 12:1-6.
a. Paul was taken on an awesome spiritual journey to heaven, 2 Cor 12:1-4.
(2 Cor 12:1-4 NIV) I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. {2} I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know--God knows. {3} And I know that this man--whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows-- {4} was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell.
The only other person in the New Testament that can make a claim to having been caught up into heaven and return from the experience is the Apostle John, his experience coming some forty years later after being given revelation that became the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
b. Paul was more proud of the weaknesses which God had placed upon him, 2 Cor 12:5-6.
(2 Cor 12:5-6 NIV) I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. {6} Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say.
5. Though others may boast of their own power, Paul will boast only of Christ's power in him due to his weakness, 2 Cor 11:7-10.
a. Perhaps like Job, Satan was allowed to afflict Paul to frustrate his ministry, 2 Cor 12:7.
(2 Cor 12:7 NIV) To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.
b. Perfectly understandable, Paul seeks release from his affliction, 2 Cor 12:8
(2 Cor 12:8 NIV) Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.
c. Perfecting Paul by his weakness, God allows the affliction to continue and thus prove that Paul's true strength is in God, 2 Cor 12:9.
(2 Cor 12:9 NIV) But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
d. Persuaded of God's grace and submissive to His will, Paul chooses to boast of his weaknesses because of the power of Christ that comes to him, 2 Cor 12:10.
(2 Cor 12:10 NIV) That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
6. Paul substantiates his claim to authoritative apostleship, 2 Cor 12:11-13.
a. He was not comfortable with his boasting but it was necessary to prove his status as a true apostle among false apostles, 2 Cor 12:11.
(2 Cor 12:11 NIV) I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the "super-apostles," even though I am nothing.
b. He had the credentials of apostleship others among them could not produce, 2 Cor 12:12.
(2 Cor 12:12 NIV) The things that mark an apostle--signs, wonders and miracles--were done among you with great perseverance.
c. He had proven their value as a church by ministering untiredly among them without expecting anything in return except their respect, 2 Cor 12:13.
(2 Cor 12:13 NIV) How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!
Applications
1. False teaching often comes as a message that has the appearance of offering light but actually confuses or clouds the truth. Beware!
(2 Pet 2:1-3 NIV) But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves. {2} Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. {3} In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.
2. Though it is not wrong for ministers to receive a comfortable living from their service (the church determines what is honorable) he should not be placed in a situation where he must negotiate the value of his ministry.
a. The responsibility of the church, 1 Tim 5:17-18)
(1 Tim 5:17-18 NIV) The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. {18} For the Scripture says, "Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain," and "The worker deserves his wages."
b. The responsibility of the minister, 1 Pet 5:2-3. See also Titus 1:7-9.
(1 Pet 5:2-3 NIV) Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers--not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; {3} not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
(Titus 1:7-9 NIV) Since an overseer is entrusted with God's work, he must be blameless--not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. {8} Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. {9} He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.
