2 Corinthians 11:16-33

2 Corinthians 11:16-33

Paul's assault on the Uber Apostles is about to take a step to the next level. If the first 15 verses compared the Uber Apostles with Paul, now Paul is going to put himself out there to be compared to them. We need to reject the godless humanists idea that everyone is basically good and all they need is to be treated nice. When it comes to those who are wrecking the church, we need to realize that maybe they are as evil as the demons that prompt them. Paul is going to destroy them and take no prisoners. This is the only righteous thing to do in such circumstances.

The Corinthian affinity for high-sounding, well-educated egos is brought to play. Paul in effect says, “You are so smart it will not be difficult for you to understand a fool like me.” In verse 17 Paul says, “I am not saying what the Lord would.” This is often overcomplicated. All Paul is saying is that Jesus never boasted or bragged. Paul, however, to deal with these Uber Apostles, will employ just such a tactic. He is in advance disarming the “Jesus wouldn't do that” rebuttal. These Uber apostles were wicked to the core and had been abusing the church in five ways, which Paul outlined in verse 20. Paul admits to not being able or willing to abuse the Corinthians that way. If abuse takes strength, then Paul is weak. 

The uber-apostles made several claims of authority or right to rule the church. In this chapter, Paul will address and outshine them in two areas. Those areas are pedigree and sacrifice. Based on verse 22, we may surmise that the Uber apostles were a form of the Judaizers who were attempting to impose their current perversion of Old Testament law on the church. Paul states that if you want to appeal to ancestry for authority, he is Jewish all the way back to Abraham. Beware of the teacher that attempts to impress by means of his heritage. One’s heritage may be helpful, but it is never proof of authority.

The Uber Apostles also apparently had a tendency to appeal to their suffering and hardship to validate their authority. Beware of the teacher who plays the martyr role. It is hard to rebuff a person who appeals to their suffering and hardship. To do so seems to be heartless and cold; it seems to not be “nice.” Such a response tends to portray us as a persecutor and them as, once again, the victim all over again. Paul essentially says, Let's compare battle scars. In verses 23 through 27, Paul describes a record of abuse rarely matched in the history of the church. These verses deserve careful reading, attention, and meditation.

In verses 28 through 29, Paul moves from the external wounds to the hurts of his heart. Hard as the physical abuse was, Paul's heart was heavy for the church, and that unseen wound was perhaps the most painful. The phrase “who is led into temptation without my intense concern” is poorly translated. Literally it concludes with, “And I do not inwardly burn.” When Paul saw the church or a Christian drifting, he burned with indignation and sorrow. Paul expresses here his passion for the well-being of the church. Paul has not yet boasted of great things, only of weakness and indirectly of his love for Christ and the church.

“Lord, when it comes to caring for Your church give me great determination and courage. AMEN”