2 Cor. 11:1-6,12-15, Paul the Apostle (2)

Paul’s ministry was known by its fruit.  His authority came through his calling, his being appointed by Christ Himself.  And Christ then gave to Paul, as to all the Apostles, confirming signs (miracles) that were similar to what Christ Himself had done.  This was typical of the major revealers of truth (like Moses) in God’s plan.  Paul reminded the Corinthians that they had seen the marks of an Apostle (signs, wonders, miracles) just as others had in the first century (2 Cor. 12:12). 

This was by the design of our Lord Jesus.  In choosing the Twelve, Jesus equipped and empowered them to preach the gospel, to cast out demons, and to heal diseases (Mark 3:14-15).  Paul was also so equipped, and demonstrated these signs on his first missionary journey when he was in the Galatian region.

·       The first recorded miracle of Paul occurred when he temporarily blinded the sorcerer Elymas (Ac. 13).

·       In Acts 14, he healed a crippled man in Lystra.  The power and wonder of this event is seen in how the Gentile crowd designated Paul and Barnabas as “gods.”

There is one other “confirming proof” of Apostleship that Paul refers to in in 2 Cor. 10-13.  These chapters are Paul’s “uncomfortable” claim to be an Apostle.  He didn’t like tooting his own horn, but was pressured into this by some at Corinth who doubted his authority.  This is critical.  Apostles of Christ speak for Christ.  They establish the truth of the One who is the way, the truth and the life. 

Here's what is interesting.  In confirming his Apostleship, it was not the famous sermons or long list of successes we might expect.  Instead, he speaks of the suffering he endured as an Apostle.  Consider what he calls to their attention:

·       11:6: he was not a trained speaker.

·       11:7-8: he did not “take an offering” from them, depending on other churches.

·       But the real proof was in his afflictions on their behalf: working hard, enduring stripes (whippings), imprisonment and near-death experiences (11:23-24), stoned, three times shipwrecked (11:25) and in constant “perils” (11:26; count the “perils”).  There were deprivations of basic needs (weariness, sleeplessness, hunger and thirst, cold and nakedness (11:27). 

·       12:1-6: Even in the matter of having had a real-time conversation with the risen Lord Jesus, Paul would not speak in a way that might exalt himself above Christ.

·       12:9-10: The bottom line is that Paul preferred to boast of his weaknesses, so that Christ would be the one exalted.  If we stop to think about it, these are the kinds of things that speak well of servants of Christ.

Why was Paul concerned with this?  Again, it is because he speaks for Christ. His concern is that Satan would deceive people, so that they would not be solely devoted to Christ (11: 1-4).