2 Cor 10 — Paul Defends His Ministry
2 Cor 11 — False Apostles, Paul’s Sufferings as an Apostle
2 Cor 12 — Paul’s Vision and His Thorn
2 Cor 13 — Final Warnings
Thoughts about serving others
This link includes a list of posts about Serving the Least, the Lost, and the Lonely.
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Let the Word evoke words. May your life encourage lives.
According to many scholars, these chapters (10-13) comprise Paul’s “harsh” letter to the Corinthians. Apparently, someone accused Paul of speaking so boldly only when he was away from Corinth (2 Corinthians 10:1). “For some say, ‘His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person his is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing.’ Such people should realize that what we are in our letters…we will be…when we are present” (10:10-11). That’s pretty straight-forward!
Paul begins by speaking of our battle as one where “we do not wage war as the world does” (10:3) to explain the significance of the spiritual battle was face daily. He doesn’t hold back any punches when he say, “And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete” (10:6). There are those in the church that are undermining it for their own purpose and promotion, “super-apostles” (11:5) and misguided teachers. They are boasting in themselves rather than boasting in the Lord (10:17). But Paul’s motivation is not for selfish purposes. “Our hope is that…our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand, so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you” (10:15-16).
Paul is unafraid to respond to those who are teaching falsely. “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. For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ” (11:12-13). Pretty blunt! Lord, I don’t know if you will put me in any position to call out false prophets or teachers, but if you do, I pray for Paul’s boldness and wisdom in confronting those who were trying to destroy the church from within.
Note: the third heaven refers to the place where Jesus reigns, beyond the stars (2nd heaven), beyond the sky (1st heaven). Paul uses this to emphasize his humility and offers these significant words from Christ himself: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (12:9). Lord keep me humble and yet bold enough to do your work within your will. Sometimes it’s hard to understand the balance and I say things I shouldn’t, but be patient with me, your lowly servant, use me where you want, where I can be most effective. Teach me to examine myself, not for the pleasure of others, but to know I “will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed” (13:7), always recognizing that all authority comes from Christ, from the Triune God through the Holy Spirit. May I be quick to point to Jesus Christ at all times!