2 Corinthians 11: 5-11 • From Accusation to Affection Pt. 2

Review & Overview

1. Previous Study’s Review

We’ve mentioned that in chps.10-13: Paul deals with some Corinthians who were not thrilled about his 1st letter to them...

A letter that exposed that they were Divisive... Sexually Immoral... Unethical... Idolatrous...

So they became Critical of Paul... in chp.10: they questioned his Motives... & his Authority for writing that letter...

Last time together we saw how Paul dealt with the issue of Authority... Spiritual Authority...

He dealt with it by communicating what Spiritual Authority truly is:

It’s Not Based On Outward Appearance

Comes From The Lord

Results in Edification

Is Consistent

Is Not Self Approved

Does Not Boast Beyond Measure

We saw that all of us are in a place of Spiritual Authority weather it’s at home... work... school... or play...

And we all need to understand that Reality...

2. Current Study’s Overview

This brings us to chp.11: and the 3rd accusation against Paul by his critics & it’s about: his LOVE...

This 3rd accusation against Paul is simple... Paul you don’t love us... you don’t have affection toward us... or you wouldn’t have written these things about us... look at vs.11...

So Paul answers this accusation beautifully by comparing his love for them...

To a father’s love for his children... turn to 1 Cor.4:14-16... because this is not the 1st time Paul brought this up...

1 Corinthians 4:14–16 NKJV

14 I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you. 15 For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you, imitate me.

If a father loves his children he warns them...disciplines them...corrects them... because he wants the best for them

So Paul deals with this issue in several ways, last week:

1. Paul’s Jealousy for the Church Vs. 1-4

Is Godly Jealousy

Is Goal Oriented

Involves His Fear

Involves the Motive for His Fear

That brings us to our portion of scripture and the second way Paul deals with this issue. Read…

The Title of today’s message is: From Accusation to Affection.

As you can see in our quick reading of todays scripture Paul deals w/ this issue by reminding them of his service for them…

1. Paul’s Service to the Church Involves Comparison Vs. 5-6

Interesting because paul 10:12 he says it is not wise to compare with one another.

1.1 Paul Compares Himself with Super Apostles Vs. 5

The reason they should be willing to put up with Paul is that he is not at all inferior to the most eminent apostles.

The expression, most eminent, is used in sarcasm. The literal translation is “super-apostles.”

And by the way, the Reformers quoted this verse to refute the papal notion that Peter was the chief apostle and that the popes inherited this primacy.

These super apostles refers to charismatic, influential preachers who were not necessarily among the original twelve apostles but had gained a following in the early Christian communities.

Inferior Definition - To be in need of, to fail to reach, to come short of.

Paul is saying that when it comes to these super apostles he didn’t lack anything they had.

Paul had everything they had and more… But at the very minimum what he is saying is that: There is nothing that these super apostles have that I don’t.

Paul is at least equal to these super apostles.

APPLICATION: Appearances can be deceiving, and the true measure of a servant of Christ lies not in outward charisma or flashy methods, but in the depth of commitment to the truth of God’s Word.

This message is so important in our current times. We live in an age where it's easy to be swayed by the outward appearance of success, by those who seem 'cooler' or more appealing in their style of ministry.

But, friends, let us remember that the heart of our faith isn’t in the presentation, but in the substance!

Not in the charisma of the speaker, but in the truth of the message.

APPLICATION: As your pastor, I may not embody the flashiness often seen elsewhere, but I stand with you in the truth of God's Word.

I am committed to delivering the gospel in its purest, most sincere form, devoid of personal embellishments or distortions.

Listen, my role is not to entertain, but to proclaim

to, guide you in the light of God's truth.

1.2 Paul’s Comparison Regarding Knowledge Vs. 6

Though Paul might have been untrained in speech, he certainly was not deficient in knowledge.

This should have been obvious to the Corinthians, because it was from the apostle that they had received their knowledge of the Christian faith.

Whatever Paul’s deficiencies might have been as far as eloquence was concerned, he apparently had made himself intelligible to the saints at Corinth. They themselves would have to bear witness to this.

2. Paul’s Service to the Church was Free of Charge Vs. 7-9

2.1 Vs. 7-8

Paul’s service to the church is seen in the fact that he preached the gospel fee of charge... no fee, no honorarium, no minimum amount…

Paul didn’t pass a plate... he didn’t take a collection... in fact he used the money other churches gave him to minister to them...

ILLUSTRATION: When I was asked to speak at last years winter camp they asked me how much do you charge... I said, I don’t...

When we have missionaries who are out of the Country we support them so they can freely preach the gospel...

So no one there can say they just want their money...

2.2 Vs. 9

The Macedonian churches were very poor... but the Corinthian church were very rich...

Yet Paul’s service to them is seen in the fact he didn’t want to be a burden on them... So he didn’t take anything from them... because of his great love for them...

APPLICATION: When we serve we shouldn’t expect anything in return.

we should be like Paul, the goal is for people to see Jesus through the Gospel Message.

3. Paul’s Service to the Church Involves Boasting Vs. 10-11

3.1 Vs. 10

Paul is expressing his determination to continue boasting of his independence from the financial support of the church of Corinth.

This verse is part of a larger section where Paul defends his apostolic authority and ministry, distinguishing himself from what he calls "false apostles" or "super-apostles" who were influencing the Corinthian church.

Paul's boast in this context is not about his achievements or personal strengths, but rather about his refusal to be a financial burden to the Corinthians.

He emphasizes that he has not and will not accept financial support from them. This approach is part of his effort to prove his sincerity and the genuineness of his ministry, showing that he is not preaching the Gospel for personal gain.

And he contrasts this with the behavior of the false apostles, who were apparently accepting support from the church.

This passage reflects a key theme in Paul's letters, where he often talks about his work ethic, his suffering for the sake of the Gospel, and his commitment to preaching without seeking personal profit.

He views these aspects of his ministry as evidence of his true apostolic authority and his dedication to serving Christ and the church.

Turn w/ me to 1 Cor 9……

1 Corinthians 9:1–18 “1 Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? 2 If I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. 3 My defense to those who examine me is this: 4 Do we have no right to eat and drink? 5 Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas? 6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working? 7 Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock? 8 Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also? 9 For it is written in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” Is it oxen God is concerned about? 10 Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should pl…”

3.2 Vs. 11

The love a father has for his children is not being a burden on them...

He wants to provide for them... & take of them...