Paul apologizes for what he is going to declare
about his work for Christ
2 Corinthians 11:16-21 I say again, Let
no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may
boast myself a little. That which I speak, I speak it not after the
Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting. Seeing that
many glory after the flesh, I will glory also. For ye suffer fools gladly,
seeing ye yourselves are wise. For ye suffer, if a man bring you into
bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man
exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face. I speak as concerning reproach,
as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak
foolishly,) I am bold also. KJV
Paul now reiterates what
he declared to the Corinthian believers at the very beginning of this Chapter
by imploring them to put up with him in what he is about to testify of himself.
Speaking about himself in what is going to seem to many a bragging manner is
totally out of the character of this Apostle of Christ and is certainly not in
accordance with our Lord Jesus’ directive or guidance. However, Paul feels
compelled to declare what he has endured for the cause of our Lord Jesus Christ
(at the same time embarrassed by doing it), which is in complete contrast to
these Judiazers who have never suffered any reproach for the Name of Jesus
Christ. Paul is not trying to make himself of some great self-importance or to
issue forth that he is somehow the most important servant of Christ in the
earth, but because these men (false apostles) were drawing away some of the
Corinthian believers to themselves, Paul now must lower himself down to their
level (not in a negative way, but only of boasting about himself) for a brief
moment to give the Corinthian believers a clearer perspective.
Paul’s desire was never to
speak of himself or what he had done in the name and service of our Lord Jesus
Christ, but in this case to prove or show himself above these Judiazers, he
considered the things he is about to list much needed to draw back the
Corinthians from their snare and trap. Paul perhaps had in his mind this
Proverb written by King Solomon that said this, “Answer a fool as his folly deserves,
That he not be wise in his own eyes” (Proverbs 26:5). Paul
wanted the faction of the Corinthian Church who were being led into bondage by
the Judiazers to see the absolute folly and stupidity of following after these
men who had no accounts of suffering reproach for the Name of Christ as he
wrote in this manner to the Philippian Church is the will of God for every true
son and daughter, “For to you it has
been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer
for His sake, experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me” (Philippians
1:29-30). Paul knew that this boasting or listing of the things he suffered
for Christ sake was not in conformity to our Lord’s display of meekness and
lowliness as Paul wrote in the previous Chapter in (2 Corinthians 10:1).
This is why he speaks of
it as the English word “foolishly” which is translated by the Greek words aphrosune and aphron and it means mindless, senseless, and egotistical, stupid,
ignorant, and unwise. This is the way Paul saw himself by writing these
upcoming words speaking of what he endured for the Name of Jesus Christ. Now
Paul turns somewhat and makes a justification for speaking of himself in such a
manner by declaring to the Corinthians their own folly and stupidity by
allowing these men (who played no role in their conversion to Christ) lord over
them and to defraud them of their resources while at the same time belittling
them as a tyrant or dictator would do over his subjects with no regard or love
for them at all. Paul was using sarcasm in his writing here meant to cut or
sting these believers and wake them out from the confusion that these Judaizers
had brought to them. The Corinthians thought themselves to be so wise, yet they
allowed strangers (not concerned with their souls) to come into their midst and
treat them with such hostility and brutality and yet they received them with
open arms, while reproaching the instrument of God used in their regeneration
and new birth (the Apostle Paul) who only treated them with gentleness,
kindness, and love.
My own Personal Note: The idea of the
Corinthian believers being led into bondage to rites (an established ceremony
prescribed by a religion; Judaism) or all of the Jewish ceremonial law (that
Christ abolished on the cross; (Romans 10:4)) appalled and alarmed the Apostle
Paul so much that he was overwhelmingly compelled to boast of his sufferings
for Christ sake in order that the Corinthians would continue in the freedom
they (and all of us have in Christ sacrifice on Calvary) as he declared
likewise to the Galatians here, “But now that you have come to know God, or
rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and
worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again?
You observe days and months and seasons and years. I fear for you, that perhaps
I have labored over you in vain” (Galatians 4:9-11).
“The idea is, doubtless, that the false teachers set up a lordship over
their consciences; destroyed their freedom of opinion; and made them
subservient to their will. They really took away their Christian freedom as
much as if they had been slaves. In what way this was done is unknown. It may
be that they imposed on them rites and forms, commanded expensive and
inconvenient ceremonies, and required arduous services merely at their own
will. A false religion always makes slaves. It is only true Christianity that
leaves perfect freedom. All pagans are slaves to their priests; all fanatics
are slaves to some fanatical leader; all those who embrace error are slaves to
those who claim to be their guides.” Albert Barnes
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…
No comments:
Post a Comment