In 2 Cor. 10-13, Paul takes up again the defense of his apostolic authority by appealing to his weakness and sufferings. His aim is not to elevate himself for self-centered reasons, but “to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with Paul in the things they boast about” (2 Cor. 11:12).

Paul laments that he has to put forth his credentials, because it makes it seem like he’s boasting like the world does (2 Cor. 11:16-23). But he is willing to be a “fool“, in order that the Corinthians would not completely fall away from their devotion to Christ (2 Cor. 11:1-5), by giving their allegiance to false apostles, who are deceitful workmen, operating in the spirit of Satan (2 Cor. 11:13-15).

Battling Against Worldly Arguments & Pretensions

This glorying in worldly power, wisdom and arrogance has been a spiritual power that Paul has been arguing and warring against in both 1 & 2 Corinthians. A significant minority of Corinthians have allowed this worldly power and wisdom to become a stronghold in their minds (2 Cor. 10:4). This inordinate pride and trust in these idols have become pretensions and arguments against a true knowledge of who God really is, and how He actually works in this world (2 Cor. 10:5).

Paul is engaged in spiritual warfare with the “super-apostles” who are trying to undermine Paul’s rightful authority in the lives of the Corinthian believers. These super-apostles (self- proclaimed, as such), and those in Corinth who are submitting to these false apostles, are looking just at the surface of things (2 Cor. 10:7).

God’s Power & Authority Manifested In Weakness

In order to put forth his credentials, Paul gives a detailed account of his sufferings for Christ and the Gospel:

Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles………… (2 Cor. 11:24-26).

God’s power and authority has been manifested in his life when he was especially weak and vulnerable. This is God’s way of working in the world.

In 2 Cor. 12, Paul goes on “boasting” of having a spiritual vision, in which he was taken up to the third heaven, the very presence of God, and “hearing inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell” (2 Cor. 12:4). He was then given a thorn in the flesh, in order to keep him from becoming conceited, for having been given such surpassingly great revelations (2 Cor. 12:7). The Lord wouldn’t take this thorn away, despite Paul’s repeated requests. The Lord said the reason for the “no” to his prayer was because; “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9). When Paul is weak in himself, he is strong in the Lord. This is how God accomplished His redemptive purposes through the crucified and risen Jesus, and this is how God works His powerful saving purposes through Christ’s servants in this world.

When Paul goes to visit the Corinthians again, he is hoping to exercise his God-given authority to build the Corinthians up, and not have to use it to tear them down (2 Cor. 13:10). This is why he is hoping that the significant minority, who have been beguiled by the worldly wisdom and power of the false apostles, will repent because of Paul’s admonishment in his strong letter to them. He wants them to make sure that they are truly converted, and that they understand that God’s wisdom and power is different than the world’s wisdom and power (2 Cor.13:1-9).

QOTD: Do you glory and live in God’s wisdom and power or in man’s wisdom and power?