“The Passion of Paul”

Introduction: This morning, I want to talk to you about the passion of Paul—a title I chose because in our passage this morning you see the heart of Paul towards his beloved congregation in Corinth!

In the context of the letter, Paul is about to blast them for being so gullible—for being so prone to accept whatever some traveling (or staying) preacher tells them!

This was a widespread problem in the early church!

They did not enjoy the benefits of the completed Canon of Scripture (the assembled NT) to defend against false teaching!

Acts 20:27–32 CSB

27 because I did not avoid declaring to you the whole plan of God. 28 Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which he purchased with his own blood. 29 I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Men will rise up even from your own number and distort the truth to lure the disciples into following them. 31 Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for three years I never stopped warning each one of you with tears. 32 “And now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all who are sanctified.

Ephesians 4:13–14 CSB

13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness. 14 Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit.

PAUL is about to deliver another stunning REBUKE (11:19-20; 13:5), yet before he does so he once again declares his LOVE, or PASSION…

His approach teaches us a lesson described by the adage, “People don’t care what you know until they know that you care!”

Paul’s passion is revealed in at least FIVE ways:

I. In How He Presents Himself to Them – (11:1)

(2 Corinthians 11:16-18, 23; 12:6, 11)

Greek: anechein – “to put up” – used five times in this chapter (11:1 (twice), 4, 19, 20).

One mark of friendship is the ability to put up with a little folly or foolishness!

II. In His Passion for Their Purity – (11:2)

1. The NATURE of this affection – (v.2a) – “…a godly jealousy”

Exodus 20:5 CSB

5 Do not bow in worship to them, and do not serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, bringing the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me,

2. The REASON for this jealousy – (v.2b) – “…because I have promised you in marriage to one husband”

“promised” – Greek: hermosamen (harmony) – ‘to fit together’

3. Paul’s GOAL: (v.2c) – “…to present a pure virgin to Christ.”

III. In His Concern for their Openness to Deception – (11:3-4)

1. His CONCERN was real – “But I fear…”

2. The DECEPTION of the devil is known – “…the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning”

How did Satan deceive Eve? – (Genesis 3:1-6)

He introduced doubt concerning the specifics of God’s command – (v.1)

He denied that there were any consequences – (v.4)

He suggested God’s motive was to keep them from the knowledge that He had – (v.5)

3. The CORRUPTION that can easily occur – (v.3b) – “…your minds may be seduced from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ”

NIV/NASB – “led astray”

4. The CHARACTERISTICS of this deception – (v.4)

How do you know when you are being deceived?

A denial of the Person of Jesus Christ – “…another Jesus” – Gk: allos – they say that it is the same Jesus, but in fact, it is not.

2 John 7–11 CSB

7 Many deceivers have gone out into the world; they do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch yourselves so that you don’t lose what we have worked for, but that you may receive a full reward. 9 Anyone who does not remain in Christ’s teaching but goes beyond it does not have God. The one who remains in that teaching, this one has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your home, and do not greet him; 11 for the one who greets him shares in his evil works.

A difference in the work of the Holy Spirit – “…a different spirit”

Galatians 3:2–3 CSB

2 I only want to learn this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? After beginning by the Spirit, are you now finishing by the flesh?

2 Timothy 1:7 CSB

7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.

A distortion of the facts of the Gospel – “…a different gospel”

Galatians 1:6–7 CSB

6 I am amazed that you are so quickly turning away from him who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are troubling you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.

5. The Compromise that is possible – “…you put up with it splendidly!”

NASB – “…you bear this beautifully”

IV. In his Practice While He was Among Them – (11:5-9)

1. Their ATTITUDES did not make him inferior to them – (v.5)– “super-apostles”

NASB – “most eminent”

2. His ABILITY in communication did not negate His knowledge – (v.6a)

“untrained” – Gk: idiotes NASB – “unskilled” NIV – “not a trained speaker”

3. His ACTIVITIES among them was well known – (v.6b) NIV – “in every way”

4. The HUMILITY he manifested was well known – (v.7a)

5. The HONOR for the Lord was evident in his refusal to charge them for his ministry among them – (v.7b)

6. The HELP he needed personally came from others – (vv.8-9)

His travel necessities came from other churches and people – (v.8)

His personal needs were supplied by those who came from Macedonia – (v.9)

Philippians 4:15–19 CSB

15 And you Philippians know that in the early days of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone. 16 For even in Thessalonica you sent gifts for my need several times. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the profit that is increasing to your account. 18 But I have received everything in full, and I have an abundance. I am fully supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you provided—a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19 And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

V. In the Declaration of His love for Them – (11:10-11)

1. His Integrity was openly shared – (v.10)

2. The Intimacy of His affection for them was certainly known by God Himself – (v.11)

One thing may be stated of Paul…he loved deeply and fervently!

Acts 20:32–38 CSB

32 “And now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all who are sanctified. 33 I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. 34 You yourselves know that I worked with my own hands to support myself and those who are with me. 35 In every way I’ve shown you that it is necessary to help the weak by laboring like this and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, because he said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” 36 After he said this, he knelt down and prayed with all of them. 37 There were many tears shed by everyone. They embraced Paul and kissed him, 38 grieving most of all over his statement that they would never see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship.

2 Corinthians 2:4 CSB

4 For I wrote to you with many tears out of an extremely troubled and anguished heart—not to cause you pain, but that you should know the abundant love I have for you.

Philippians 1:7–8 CSB

7 Indeed, it is right for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart, and you are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how deeply I miss all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.