Paul's Authority (2)
Notes
Transcript
Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 10
Paul changes topics here to address his opponents in Corinth (chs. 10–13), offering an impassioned defense of his apostleship. He begins by stating that God gave him his authority (v. 8). He encourages the Corinthians not to consider appearances (v. 7) and points out that he does not compare himself with others (v. 12). Paul then contrasts himself with those who commend themselves, pointing out that he only boasts in the Lord (vv. 12–18).
The Spirit led Paul to use a wise approach as he wrote to the Corinthians. He was writing to a divided church (1Co_1:11), a church that was resisting his authority, and a church that was being seduced by false teachers. So, first he explained his ministry so that they would no longer doubt his sincerity. He then encouraged them to share in the offering, for he knew that this challenge would help them grow in their spiritual lives. Grace giving and grace living go together.
Paul’s first step in enforcing his ministry was to correct the misunderstandings that existed in the minds of the people with reference to his work. They did not understand three important areas of ministry.
Now I, Paul, make a personal appeal to you by the gentleness and graciousness of Christ—I who am humble among you in person but bold toward you when absent. I beg you that when I am present I will not need to be bold with the confidence by which I plan to challenge certain people who think we are behaving in an unspiritual way. For though we live in the body, we do not wage war in an unspiritual way, since the weapons of our warfare are not worldly, but are powerful through God for the demolition of strongholds. We demolish arguments and every high-minded thing that is raised up against the knowledge of God, taking every thought captive to obey Christ. And we are ready to punish any disobedience, once your obedience has been confirmed.
How to Wage Spiritual Warfare (2Co_10:1-6)
The accusation (2Co_10:1-2).
This is not difficult to find. The rebels in the church (led by the Judaizers) said that Paul was very courageous when he wrote letters from a distance, but very timid and even weak when he was present with the Corinthians (see also 2Co_10:9-11). The Judaizers, of course, were consistently overbearing in their attitudes — and the people loved them (2Co_11:20). Paul’s “inconsistent” manner of life paralleled his “yes and no” approach to making promises (2Co_1:15-20).
The answer (2Co_10:3-6).
This reveals what spiritual warfare is all about. Because the Corinthians (led by the false teachers) judged Paul’s ministry by the outward appearance, they completely missed the power that was there. They were evaluating things “according to the flesh” (2Co_10:2) and not according to the Spirit. The Judaizers, like some “great religious personalities” today, impressed the people with their overpowering abilities, their oratorical powers, and their “commendations” from church leaders.
Paul took a different approach; for, though he was as human as anyone else, he did not depend on the human but on the divine, the spiritual weapons provided by the Lord. His warfare was not according to the flesh, because he was not fighting against flesh and blood (see Eph_6:10). You cannot fight spiritual battles with carnal weapons.
Paul’s attitude of humility was actually one of his strongest weapons, for pride plays right into the hands of Satan. The meek Son of God had far more power than Pilate (see Joh_19:11), and He proved it. Paul used spiritual weapons to tear down the opposition — prayer, the Word of God, love, the power of the Spirit at work in his life. He did not depend on personality, human abilities, or even the authority he had as an apostle. However, he was ready to punish the offenders, if necessary, once the congregation had submitted to the Lord.
Many believers today do not realize that the church is involved in warfare, and those who do understand the seriousness of the Christian battle do not always know how to fight the battle. They try to use human methods to defeat demonic forces, and these methods are doomed to fail. When Joshua and his army marched around Jericho for a week, the spectators thought they were mad. When the Jews trusted God and obeyed orders, they brought down the high walls and conquered the enemy (Jos_6:1-20).
Look at what is obvious. If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should remind himself of this: Just as he belongs to Christ, so do we. For if I boast some more about our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for tearing you down, I am not ashamed. I don’t want to seem as though I am trying to terrify you with my letters. For it is said, “His letters are weighty and powerful, but his physical presence is weak, and his public speaking is despicable.” Such a person should consider this: What we are in the words of our letters when absent, we will be in actions when present.
2 Corinthians: An Introduction and Commentary b. Paul Responds to Criticisms (10:7–11)
b. Paul responds to criticisms (10:7–11)
In this passage Paul responds to two criticisms levelled against him by his opponents: first, that he was no true servant of Christ while they themselves were (vv. 7–8), and second, that while his letters were ‘weighty and strong’, his ‘bodily presence [was] weak, and his speech of no account’ (vv. 9–11).
How to Use Spiritual Authority (2Co_10:7-11)
One of the most difficult lessons Christ’s disciples had to learn was that, in the kingdom of God, position and power were no evidence of authority. Jesus warned His followers not to pattern their leadership after that of the Gentiles who loved to “lord it over” others and to act important (see Mar_10:35-45). The example we must follow is that of Jesus Christ who came as a servant and ministered to others. Paul followed that example.
But the Corinthians were not spiritually minded enough to discern what Paul was doing. They contrasted his meekness with the “personality power” of the Judaizers, and they concluded that Paul had no authority at all.
2 Corinthians: An Introduction and Commentary b. Paul Responds to Criticisms (10:7–11)
It is important to recognize that apostolic authority was of the greatest significance for Paul. He was an ambassador for Christ (5:20), and as such spoke the message entrusted to him with the full authority of his Lord. Because of this Paul expected to be obeyed; anyone who rejected his instructions rejected the word of the Lord (1 Cor. 14:37–38). And because he was entrusted with such authority Paul was careful to distinguish the word of the Lord from his own good advice and from other statements he sometimes felt forced to make (1 Cor. 7:10, 25; 2 Cor. 11:17).
Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 10
building you up Some Corinthians may have perceived that Paul used his authority to oppress or take advantage of them (12:17). Paul identifies the true purpose of his authority: to strengthen the faith of believers so they grow in maturity.
Paul did not deny that he had authority, but he did refuse to exercise that authority in an unspiritual manner. The purpose for his authority was to build them up, not tear them down; and it requires much more skill to build than to destroy. Furthermore, it takes love to build up (1Co_8:1); and the Corinthians interpreted Paul’s love and meekness as a sign of weakness. The difference between Paul and the Judaizers was this: Paul used his authority to build up the church, while the Judaizers used the church to build up their authority.
The opponents in the church were accusing Paul of not being a true apostle; for, if he were a true apostle, he would show it by using his authority. On the other hand, if Paul had “thrown his weight around,” they would have found fault with that. No matter what course Paul took, they were bound to condemn him. This is what always happens when church members are not spiritually minded, but evaluate ministry from a worldly viewpoint.
How a Christian uses authority is an evidence of his spiritual maturity and character. An immature person swells as he uses his authority, but a mature person grows in the use of authority, and others grow with him. The wise pastor, like the wise parent, knows when to wait in loving patience and when to act with determined power.
The false teachers depended on “letters of recommendation” for their authority, but Paul had a divine commission from heaven. The life that he lived and the work that he did were “credentials” enough, for it was evident that the hand of God was on his life. Paul could dare to write, “From henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus” (Gal_6:17).
For we don’t dare classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. But in measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves to themselves, they lack understanding. We, however, will not boast beyond measure but according to the measure of the area of ministry that God has assigned to us, which reaches even to you. For we are not overextending ourselves, as if we had not reached you, since we have come to you with the gospel of Christ. We are not bragging beyond measure about other people’s labors. But we have the hope that as your faith increases, our area of ministry will be greatly enlarged, so that we may proclaim the good news to the regions beyond you, not boasting about what has already been done in someone else’s area of ministry. So the one who boasts must boast in the Lord. For it is not the one commending himself who is approved, but the one the Lord commends.
How to Measure Spiritual Ministry (2Co_10:12-18)
I suppose more problems have been caused by people “measuring the ministry” than by any other activity in the church. If the work of the church is the work of God, and if the work of God is a miracle, how do we go about measuring a miracle? In His personal examination of the seven churches named in Revelation 2-3, the Lord Jesus measured them far differently than they measured themselves. The church that thought it was poor, He considered to be rich; and the church that boasted of its wealth, He declared to be poor (Rev_2:8-11; Rev_3:14-22).
False measurement (2Co_10:12).
The Judaizers were great on measuring their ministry, because a religion of external activities is much easier to measure than one of internal transformation. The legalist can measure what he does and what he does not do, but the Lord is the only One who can see spiritual growth in a believer’s heart. Sometimes those who are growing the most feel like they are less than the least.
True measurement (2Co_10:13-18).
Paul suggests three questions we may ask ourselves as we seek to measure our ministries by the will of God.
Am I where God wants me to be? (2Co_10:13-14) God “assigned a field” in which Paul was to work: he was the apostle to the Gentiles (Act_9:15; Act_22:21; Eph_3:1-21). He was also to go where no other apostle had ministered; he was to be a “pioneer preacher” to the Gentiles.
Churches and ministers are not competing with each other; they are competing with themselves. God is not going to measure us on the basis of the gifts and opportunities that He gave to Charles Spurgeon or Billy Sunday. He will measure my work by what He assigned to me. God requires faithfulness above everything else (1Co_4:2).
Is God glorified by my ministry? (2Co_10:15-17) This is another jibe at the Judaizers who stole other men’s converts and claimed them as their own. Paul would not boast about another man’s work, nor would he invade another man’s territory. Whatever work he did, God did through him, and God alone should receive the glory.
The final test is not when the reports are published for the annual meeting. The final test comes at the Judgment Seat of Christ, “and then shall every man have praise of God” (1Co_4:5). If men get the glory, then God cannot be glorified. “I am the Lord: that is My name: and My glory will I not give to another” (Isa_42:8).
Can the Lord commend my work? (2Co_10:18) We may commend ourselves or be commended by others, and still not deserve the commendation of God. How does God approve our work? By testing it. The word approved in 2Co_10:18 means “to approve by testing.” There is a future testing at the Judgment Seat of Christ (1Co_3:10), but there is also a present testing of the work that we do. God permits difficulties to come to local churches in order that the work might be tested and approved.
Each situation is unique, and no ministry can honestly be evaluated on the basis of some other ministry. The important thing is that we are where God wants us to be, doing what He wants us to do so that He might be glorified.
Motive is as much a part of God’s measurement of our work as is growth. If we are seeking to glorify and please God alone, and if we are not afraid of His evaluation of our hearts and lives, then we need not fear the estimates of men or their criticisms.
2 Corinthians: An Introduction and Commentary c. Boasting within Proper Limits (10:12–18)
In this verse Paul’s eyes are upon the ultimate evaluation of a person’s ministry. It matters little what the individual says by way of self-recommendation or what judgments others make. All that matters is the commendation which the Lord himself gives (cf. 1 Cor. 4:1–5).