Paul, People Boaster

Imitate Christ (way informed by person of Christ)

Speak truth (words grounded in the person of Christ)

People boaster (interactions with people transformed by the work of Christ)

The New American Commentary: 2 Corinthians (2) The Theme Statement of the Letter (1:12–14)

We will return to the issue of boasting later in the letter, but we should note three things about Paul’s boast in this verse. First, Paul’s boasting is done with God as his witness (1:12; 2:17; 4:2; 5:11). Second, if he boasts that he has dealt with them and all the world in sincerity and trustworthiness, then he also confesses that these virtues came from God, not from himself. He boasts only in the Lord (10:17), in God’s grace that delivered him from deadly peril (1:12), and in his weaknesses (12:9), not in his stellar abilities. He can take no credit at all for anything in his ministry but being trustworthy in carrying out the task (1 Cor 4:2). His boasting therefore does not glory in anything about himself but in Christ, who makes him sufficient (2:16) and whose power is made perfect in weakness (12:9). Third, Paul’s does not boast to gain any personal advantage. His boasting is related to his apostolic ministry, which has been misunderstood by the Corinthians. Again, his boasting is in God, who called him and empowered him even in his weakness.

The New American Commentary: 2 Corinthians (2) The Theme Statement of the Letter (1:12–14)

Paul does not want the Corinthians to boast about all that he has accomplished but to boast about what Christ has done in their midst through him

The content of the boasting:

2 Corinthians 1:12 ESV

For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you.

2 Cor. 1:12

content of anothers achievement (personal satisfaction)

2 Corinthians 7:4 ESV

I am acting with great boldness toward you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.

2 Corinthians 7:14 ESV

For whatever boasts I made to him about you, I was not put to shame. But just as everything we said to you was true, so also our boasting before Titus has proved true.

: ‘For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting (kauchsew" v ) before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory (dovxa) and joy’; : ‘Therefore we ourselves boast of you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions’; : ‘I protest, brethren, by my pride (kauvchsin) in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day!’; : ‘I have great pride (kauvchsi") in you; I am filled with comfort’; : ‘So give proof, before the churches, of your love and our boasting about you to these men’; : ‘you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud (kauchma v ) that I did not run in vain or labour in vain’.

Christian communities, the readers of the letters of Paul, are his pride

to give an example to others, to stop impertinent persons, and also to counter praises of evil deeds and unfounded self-praises or compliments.

In the first place, self-praise (auJto;n de; ejpainei'n) goes unresented if you are defending your good name and answering a charge

According to these rules, Pauline boasts in 2 Corinthians are fully justified, because his opponents in Corinth have accused him without good reasons and damaged his reputation. He reacts in accordance with the ancient conventions. In particular, boasting of what is proper—spiritual things (), a pure conscience and the gospel—corresponds to Plutarch’s advice. Presenting his boasting as forced upon him (: ‘You forced me to it’) accords with the instructions of Quintilian (Inst. or. 11.1.22).

The merits Paul boasts of in are not quite laudable for the ancients. Noble birth, WOJCIECHOWSKI Paul and Plutarch on Boasting 107 enduring many dangers and obstacles, being self-supporting and having revelations from God could be praised. Along with them, however, Paul lists punishments: prison and flogging. Battle scars were honorable, whereas flogging brought disgrace. Even the flogging of boys in Sparta, conceived as training, exposed them to jeers.21 It seems, therefore, that Paul is challenging the contemporary views here, but perhaps a philosophical indifference to sufferings and hardships is alluded to. It is not clearly stated.

Boasting of floggings belongs with the boasting of weaknesses, peculiar to Paul. It contrasts with the general ancient and modern opinion that merits and successes are the source of glory.

Boast in our suffering

What is hoped to be gained? We do not boast beyond limit, in other men’s labours; but our hope is that as your faith increases, our field among you may be greatly enlarged, so that we may preach the gospel in lands beyond you, without boasting of work already done in another’s field. “Let him who boasts, boast of the Lord”’; : ‘Not that we venture to class or compare ourselves (ejgkri'nai h]sugkri'nai) with some of those who commend (sunistanovntwn) themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another, they are without understanding.’

Paul was aware of the moral and rhetorical opinions of his contemporaries, but he made limited (even if creative) use of them. He said what he wanted to say, and not what the conventions dictated. However, he could make use of conventions when they corresponded to his ideas. This is probably true for the whole field of relations between the New Testament and Hellenistic culture. Boasting in Paul and Plutarch is a good test-case, being a relatively important issue, but not directly theological. It enables us also to compare Paul with current ancient opinions, widely held and known.

Speak truth (words grounded in the person of Christ)

People boaster (interactions with people transformed by the work of Christ)

Christianity is essentially a multiplying faith. It was made to be proclaimed. Woven into its essence is the relational nature of God.

It is an individual faith and a faith of community. As we are transformed into the image of Christ we are at the same time transformed in how we interact with others and build community.

Want to talk this morning about Paul, the boaster of people.

Always wondered why the letters to Corinth talked about boasting so much. It always struck me as odd. A bit arrogant & prideful. Yet it comes up frequently in his letters to Corinth & occasionally in Galatians.

What's going on here & what can be discovered.

Between Corinth & the region of Galatia Paul spent a significant amount of time in these places doing ministry. These are also 3 of the longest letters we have record of.

longest letters we have record of.

What was going on in these places?

Using tools of culture to communicate

But it was informed through profound personal encounters with Jesus (salvation, mission, message)

Paul was aware of the moral and rhetorical opinions of his contemporaries, but he made limited (even if creative) use of them. He said what he wanted to say, and not what the conventions dictated. However, he could make use of conventions when they corresponded to his ideas. This is probably true for the whole field of relations between the New Testament and Hellenistic culture. Boasting in Paul and Plutarch is a good test-case, being a relatively important issue, but not directly theological. It enables us also to compare Paul with current ancient opinions, widely held and known.

Questions as we move forward.

Have you had encounter(s) with Jesus

What have you learned about him & yourself?

How has Jesus impacted your interaction with the world?

Paul

Pain

Power/control --prestige, heritage, knowledge

Pain--people & places physical & his psyche (didn't lean into who he was, but who he was in Christ)

1 Corinthians 9:19–23 ESV

For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.

Personal story:

Places of pain (abuse and mental health)

Power/control (fear and anxiety—seek to control and be secure)

Struggles (I know when I am going back to those places)

Goal is to be a peace maker, see people walk in freedom

This verse: central posture of living out his relationship & faith in Christ

2 Corinthians 12:8–10 ESV

Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

(central posture of living out his relationship & faith in Christ

Paul was a boaster of people, this was the way that God helped him follow the mission and the mandate of the calling

Didn’t resort to ways of man, but anchored deep in Jesus to discover how most faithfully work through relationships and being who he had been called.

I am always amazed to discover way that God invites me to live out my faith in the way that I have been called.

What has God done in you?

Have you had encounter(s) with Jesus

What have you learned about him & yourself?

How has Jesus impacted your interaction with the world?

How can these things guide your walk with God?