2 Cor. 11 Video Notes

The Irony in Paul’s Boasting

Hey, I’m Tony Graffanino and today we are in 2 Corinthians chapter 11

The focus of what I’ll be talking about will be in verses 16 through 33 and I’m calling this, The Irony in Paul’s Boasting

In this chapter Paul is dealing with his “enemies”, more than likely Judaizers, and the perception and the influence they are having in the Corinthian church

He’s using sarcastic language to prove his point, since they are inclined to listen to those that look the part, but are really false teachers, or fools as Paul calls them.

If that’s the case, then he too will talk “foolishly” for a second.

You see, the people in Corinth were like most people, they were caught up in the externals

They cared too much about who these teachers were, what they had accomplished, and what people thought of them, rather than what was true

Paul sarcastically says, if you think you are so wise do you not see that you are putting up with and listening to fools??

These false teachers are enslaving you, taking advantage of you, they take all you have, they even mistreat you, and you put up with it.

Those are some of the evidences of a false teacher,

they’re manipulative, controlling, even obligating you to them, as they mistreat you and take advantage of you for their own personal gain

Is it not obvious he’d say??

But what they do is excite the worldliness in all of us

They “look good” they play the part and make empty promises that appeal to our pride and sinful nature

Paul sarcastically admits that he and his crew have been too “weak” to do that.

He says, “man if what you care about are credentials, then here, let me list mine”

I’m a Hebrew, I’m an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, which must have been all they were as well, because Paul could’ve gone on if he really wanted to boast

He was a student of Gamaliel, a Pharisee of the strictest order, quickly rising up the ranks, but he was rescued by Christ

Personally encountered Him on the Damascus road, and potentially was taught by Him in Arabia

Paul says that he received his gospel message directly from Jesus, not any other man, and he was appointed an apostle and commissioned by Jesus Himself to go and preach to the Gentile world

Those are impressive credentials to say the least and would have appealed to the Corinthians

But ironically, that’s not where Paul goes

He says that he is a servant or slave of Jesus’

I think he’d say, “but are they true servants of Jesus???”

Do you want to know how to tell??

It’s not by how many churches he’s planted,

or how many disciples he’s made, leaders he’s appointed

or how many people he’s baptized,

or how many souls he’s saved

Those are all things he’s done and would definitely look good on a resume,

they would indicate he’s a success,

And aren’t those the same things we point to, report back on to our churches or supporters, or to anyone who will listen on how we’re doing ministry, if we are.

Not Paul, that’s not what he talks about

He says that in his service to Jesus,

he’s been whipped more,

faced death more,

in fact 5 different times the Jewish leaders gave him 40 lashes minus one, 40 is said to bring death

3 times he was beaten with rods,

once he was stoned, and the purpose of stoning is not to punish, it’s to kill

3 times he was shipwrecked

Once he spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea

He continues in verse 26

New Living Translation Chapter 11

26 I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. 27 I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.

This is how Paul defends his ministry, his authority,

through his sufferings

I feel like Jesus said something like that

In His beautiful discourse in John 15 on abiding in the vine and bearing fruit that will last, His command to love one another, the true evidence of being a disciple,

Jesus then goes on to say this.

If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. However, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of it, the world hates you. Remember the word I spoke to you: “A servant is not greater than his master.” If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.

He says, they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because of your association to and service of Me, and it’s all because they don’t know the one who sent me.

Paul knows this though, or better yet, he learned it.

Towards the tail end of his 1st missionary journey, as they are making their way back to Antioch, visiting and strengthening the churches, listen to Paul’s message of encouragement for them to continue in the faith

He says in Acts 14, verse 22, “It is necessary to go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.”

Seems as if it’s part of the deal, and yet, I feel most of us would look at those things as signs of failure, as an excuse to quit.

Maybe I wasn’t called, maybe I’m not doing what I’m supposed to be doing, or where I’m supposed to be

This is too tough, I didn’t sign up for this

Thank God Jesus didn’t think like that, and Paul didn’t think like that, and many of our church fathers didn’t think like that.

Back to 2 Corinthians 11

Paul then goes on to communicate his shepherds heart, another marker of his authentic and Jesus serving ministry

He says, Then besides this, besides all that personal physical suffering, I have this daily burden of my concern for all the churches.

Who is weak without my feeling that weakness? Who is led astray, and I do not burn with anger?

He clearly is not in this for personal gain, this has cost Paul too much for that to be true

No, he knows that only God, only Christ in him could enable this life, his evident and obvious life lived for Jesus and his evident and obvious love for God’s church.

If Paul must boast, he would rather boast about the things that show how weak he is, because in his weakness Christ displays His strength.

Lastly, whether you believe me or not, whether you listen to me or not, I know that God knows, Paul says, and that’s all that matters.

Let’s not forget what Paul has already written in chapter 4 of this letter

“Therefore we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable weight of glory. So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. for what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

This perspective is from God,

It’s from our leaving the system of this world and entering into the kingdom of heaven here and now,

We cannot create this in ourselves, this perspective can only come by our complete surrender to Jesus and His way, which must include our abandonment of this world, this is our complete dedication and allegiance to Jesus.

This is the work of the Holy Spirit in us, and is the good fruit on display as evidence of our discipleship to Jesus.

So I pray

May we see the world the way Paul did,

May this world and all it’s trappings lose their appeal

may our hearts be like Paul’s and may we dedicate ourselves to service of Jesus our King wherever He may have us

And may God use us in ways that He sees fit to grow His kingdom for His glory.

p