As we continue our study in 2 Corinthians, we continue to see how Paul defends his ministry against false accusations. In this section, Paul takes us through his argument and more importantly, helps us to see what it looks like to be one that is commended by the Lord.
(A) The Man the Lord Commends: Weak, but of Christ (2 Cor 10: 7-11)
Here in 2 Cor 10:7, Paul is addressing the accusations that people have levelled at him. He is continuing his defence against his accusers who were saying that Paul didn't have the authority he claimed to have. If he did, why did his life look like that and why did he look so weak? They were also comparing among themselves, and therefore, also with Paul. Based on what he looked like, they questioned his legitimacy.
But how did Paul respond? He told them to look at everything he has done and what they are aware of. He called their attention not to some vision or a dream, but really to something that they could see and know about Paul. He based his defence on things they could see plainly. If anyone is confident that he is Christ’s, they should also remember that Paul is too (2 Cor 10:7b). This is a simple statement but we see Paul’s rock-solid confidence of his identity in Christ. He is calling them to remember how and why they heard the gospel in the first place — because of the work of the apostles who brought them the word!
His confidence doesn’t come from things that he has done — number of churches he has planted, people he has converted, number of times he has been thrown in jail. As Paul begins his defence, it is helpful for us to see where he starts! Christ is our unshakeable anchor and it is worth us emulating. His confidence comes from knowing that he is Christ’s and Christ is his. He is confident in his identity. Where does our confidence lie? Is it in what we do and what we’ve read? Or does our confidence lie in our identity in Christ?
Paul boasts of their authority, which he says was given to build them up and not for destroying (2 Cor 10:8). Paul has an apostolic authority and was called as a minister of the new covenant (c.f. 2 Cor 3:4-6, Jer 31). This is his second point of defence. He and the apostles are ministers of this new covenant from God (2 Cor 3:4-6). Paul was boasting of his calling! This calling was given to him from God for the building up of the church. What would it look like if we were like Paul? What would our conversations sound like? What would we be putting out on our social media accounts or filling our relationships with?
Paul makes a reference to “they” in 2 Cor 10:10, a likely reference to his accusers and they accused Paul of being inconsistent. They said he appeared fierce in his letters but was weak in person. If so, they argued, how can he be an apostle and how can his word have any weight? But Paul insists that he is consistent. He displayed an unshakeable and consistent character in person and also in word.
Paul’s accusers laid charges of inconsistency but Paul could defend it simply and clearly because he is confident of his identity in christ, his calling as a minister of the new covenant, and he could present his life as an open book for them to evaluate. This is the kind of man the Lord commends — weak but of Christ.
How would we respond to our accusers when we have any? What will people see? What is our character and how do we act, think and serve when no one is watching? We need to live consistently and strive for holiness. We need to set up ways to confess sins to each other and help each other to live out what we believe.
(B) The Man the Lord Commends: Boasting rightly in the Lord with gospel ambition (2 Cor 10:12-18)
Paul draws a divide between him and his accusers - with understanding, and without; wise, and unwise (2 Cor 10:12). His accusers’ boastings led to no understanding and led to nowhere.
Paul proceeds to work out how the apostles do not boast in 2 Cor 10:13-15a. They will only boast within the location and the work that God has given them for their ministry and preaching (2 Cor 10:13-14)! Their ministry was limited to Corinth (geographical) and this was their area of influence. And consistently, the boasting is not about Paul but really all about God.
In 2 Cor 10:15, he goes on to expand the argument to show how his accusers are wrong. He will not boast in the labours of others, for the accusers were actually boasting in the labours of him and the apostles.
Who gets the glory when we serve? To the accusers, it was all about their glory. But for Paul, it was God and God alone that gets the glory. We use the phrase “give God the glory” really easily but what do we mean by that? Often we think in terms of personal success to show how good it is to be a Christian. But to glorify God is to fulfil our very purpose on this earth. In the new covenant, God will be our God and we will be His people (c.f. Jer 31:31-34).
Why are we doing this and all the things that we do in church? If it is not for God’s glory, then what? If it is not for the fact that more may know Him, then what for?
As opposed to his accusers, Paul’s primary hope and goal in boasting rightly is that their faith will increase, that they will continue to grow in holiness and turn away from their sins (2 Cor 10:15b-16). Through their obedience, Paul’s area of influence will be enlarged (2 Cor 10:15b). But this is not the end goal. Because of their growth, Paul seeks to preach the gospel “in lands beyond you” so that they can bring the gospel where it has not gone to before. They wanted to extend their gospel ministry beyond Corinth!
Friends, to what end do we teach and study doctrine/emphasise church life? It’s so easy for us to lose sight and to be caught up with the things of this world. Do we have gospel ambition? We are too often happy to be left in our comfortable Christian circles.
The passage ends with Paul writing that the one whom the Lord commends is the one who is approved. And this is one who boasts in the Lord. What does it look like practically? Jer 9:23-24 gives us a picture of what it is like. This is a man who does not boast inn the things of the world — wisdom, might, riches — but boasts in knowing the God who practices steadfast love, justice and righteousness in the earth. This is the man the Lord delights in. What would it look like for you to practically “boast in the Lord” in our everyday lives?