The Truth comes to Corinth Part 2 Volume 36

Paul Asserts his Authenticity as an Apostle comes from God

2 Corinthians 10:12-18 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you. For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ: Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly, To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand. But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth. KJV

It was Paul’s assurance to the doubting faction of the Corinthian believers that God had sent him to them with the Gospel of Christ and therefore, he would not waste his time comparing his ministry to that of anyone else. Paul proclaimed to them that these men make up their own standards and then use that to measure themselves by and not by the Word of God. Paul’s boundary of Gospel influence, given directly to him by God extended to the region of Corinth and therefore, he was the first and true Apostle of Christ to come to them. It was through Paul’s declaration of the Gospel of Grace that God the Holy Spirit used in regenerating these believing Corinthians and establishing their Church.

None of these other “so called” apostles (that were speaking harshly and critically of Paul) were around when these men and women were still in the darkness of their pagan practices. But now they are declaring themselves apostles of Christ and stepping into Paul’s labors trying to claim authority over the Corinthian believers that God has never granted to them. They are self-proclaimed apostles not laboring in their own territory or sphere or ministry in the power of God, but now trying to take control of the Corinthian Church that Paul has labored in the power of God to establish.

Today we see this taking place all over this world by the Mormon Church and the Jehovah Witnesses who have no true authority from above, but go about trying to pluck away to themselves true believers. Thanks be to God the Father that this is not possible as our Lord Jesus declared with these words, “For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect” (Mark 13:22). The English word “possible” our Lord Jesus uses here is from the Greek word dunatos which means if they were powerful or capable or strong enough. In other words these false apostles in Paul’s day and the Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses of our day all operate with Satan’s power and he is not ever able to pluck any true born again regenerated and spiritually resurrected child of God from our Father’s hands (John 10:4-5 & John 10:27-30).

Paul on the contrary does not compare himself with other men, not even the true Apostles of Christ such as the Apostle Peter or John, but instead he was determined to be governed by God’s apportioned ministry and regions of the globe appointed to him by God as he declared in the epistle to the Romans with these words, “For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed, in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit; so that from Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. And thus I aspired to preach the gospel, not where Christ was already named, so that I would not build on another man’s foundation” (Romans 15:18-20).

Paul knew with all certainty and wanted the Corinthian believers to understand that their conversion to Christ being brought out of their pagan practices was the evidence of his commission from God and authenticity from God because it was all done by God the Holy Spirit and Paul was just His human instrument in the process. Paul wanted to see them increase in their faith and do away with all of their inner squabbles and disputes that interfered with and obstructed the proclamation of the Gospel of Christ to the regions beyond their borders. Unlike the false apostles Paul would never toot his own horn (Proverbs 27:2) because he being a genuine Apostle of Christ knew that not one conversion was due to his eloquence or human intellect (even though Paul was highly intelligent). Paul knew that it was only the grace of God ignited by the Spirit of God that wrought the transformation of the many souls that he spoke to (1 Corinthians 15:10). 

Finally, Paul wanted to make it very clear to them that he is nothing and our Lord Jesus Christ is everything reminding them of what he already declared to them in his first letter with these words, “For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, ‘Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord’” (1 Corinthians 1:27-31).

My own Personal Note: If we attest anything that we do in the service and Name of Jesus Christ to our own abilities or will or tenacity, then we frustrate, set aside, bring to naught, and neutralize the grace of God (Galatians 2:21). 

“There is marvelous power in the weakest of men, when governed by a single purpose and filled with the consciousness and the power of God. Weak and contemptible in themselves, they are often the chosen channels through which God pours His living water. Any child could have destroyed Raphael’s brush, but in his hand it painted immortal pictures. Incidentally the Apostle remarks that some who criticized him bore themselves proudly, because their standard was so low. A five-foot man thinks himself tall when he compares himself with a dwarf! Always compare what is worst in yourself with what is best in others, and you will be kept humble.” F. B. Meyer

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…