11 I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was not at all inferior to these super-apostles, even though I am nothing. 12 The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works. 13 For in what were you less favored than the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!
14 Here for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for I seek not what is yours but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. 15 I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less? 16 But granting that I myself did not burden you, I was crafty, you say, and got the better of you by deceit. 17 Did I take advantage of you through any of those whom I sent to you? 18 I urged Titus to go, and sent the brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not act in the same spirit? Did we not take the same steps?
19 Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? It is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ, and all for your upbuilding, beloved. 20 For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder. 21 I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality that they have practiced.
(ESV)
STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?
- What is the writer saying?
- How do I apply this to my life?
Paul wraps up his boasting admitting that he had to be foolish because instead of coming to his defence, the Corinthian church stood silently as the false teachers belittled him. Having now offered his own defence he has shown that he is no less than the super-apostles (2 Cor 11:5) even though he is nothing. Paul refused to elevate himself or seek personal glory in his ministry. The church had seen first hand the signs of a true apostle when Paul ministered among them. The signs and wonders Paul would have performed were God’s validation of his ministry which was far superior to human approval. The only thing the Corinthian church had suffered was that Paul had placed no financial burden on them. In every other way, they received all that Paul had to offer them. With a touch of sarcasm, Paul apologises for not being a financial burden on them.
Paul was ready to return to them for the third time and again he would not be a financial burden on them. He wasn’t after what they had, but them personally. Just like parents aren’t expected to save up for their parents but parents supply their children’s needs, Paul was driven to spend himself for their spiritual wellbeing. Despite his obvious love, it seems that the more he loved them, the less they loved him in return. Paul reiterates that he never took advantage of them and neither did Titus and others he sent to minister to them. Paul didn’t give his defence in order to be justified before men. His primary concern was to speak in Christ before God. The purpose of his boasting in this letter was to get the Corinthians to see that he was not what the false apostles had made him out to be. If he was who he claimed to be, then the false apostles were wrong and the Corinthians had an opportunity to course-correct, to repent, and right their wrongs. But Paul was still concerned that he might arrive and they might not see eye to eye. If they continued in sin, then Paul would be humbled before God as all his labour would have amounted to nothing. To arrive and find them unrepentant of their sin would be the cause of great sorrow for Paul.
Do you have a pastor or pastors labouring to bring you to spiritual maturity? Are you responding to God’s word through their teaching? Preaching and pastoring are a labour of love. How can you show them love in return?
Major Stories of the Bible Reading Plan
Creation: Genesis 1-2