Author: Rev. Lek Aik Wee

2 Corinthians 11:10 As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.

The Roman province of Achaia covered the areas of southern Greece. It was here that the Corinthian church came into existence. The Apostle Paul was forward in testifying of the gospel work he has established there through the preaching of the gospel. Why was he bold in “boasting” of the gospel work established? Not for his glory but to defend his apostleship and the genuine work of the gospel.

MacDonald observed well, “He is doubtless referring here to his critics who used his abstinence as an argument against him. They said he realized he was not a true apostle, and that is why he did not insist on being supported by the Christians (1 Cor. 9). In spite of the charges of his critics, he will continue to boast that he served the Corinthians without taking any money from them.”

2 Corinthians 11:9 And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.

There was a discreet tact in the way the Apostle Paul carried out the gospel work whom his Lord had entrusted him. He sought for the Lord’s help that he will not be a burden to those whom he was ministering to. He shared that it was the church in Macedonia who supported him. It is important to understand that the church bretthren in Macedonia were not financial well-off but they were sacrifical and willing in their giving. The Apostle Paul from them on account of the spiritual maturity of sharing in the burden of the gospel work.

It was these unsung, unseen and unnoticed giving that cause ensure the progress of the work with the cost fully paid for through these gifts.

Philippians 4:10-15 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewithto be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction. Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.

2 Corinthians 11:7-8 Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely? I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.

The gospel work is a sacrificial work. At the beginning of the church in Corinth, the believers were new to the faith and may not have understood the meaning of giving and support for the gospel work. In order to sustain the work, the Apostle Paul was a tent-maker, staying with Aquila and Priscilla. There were churches whom he founded that was aware of the needs of this gospel work who gave in support. As such, the gospel work in Corinth began.

Now, the church has been infiltrated with men who preached another gospel. The Apostle Paul method of service was called in question. He had chosen to preach the gospel freely and to do service for the Lord freely. He understood the cost involved and was willing to bear it for the gospel’s sake. This work of love was now being construed as a work of offence by some members of the Corinthian church. It was a sad turn in the life of the church. It has to be properly addressed.

2 Corinthians 11:7-8 Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely? I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.

The Apostle Paul preached the gospel in Corinth whilst staying with Aquila and Priscilla who, like him, were tent-makers. Every Sabbath day, he would go to the synagogue to preach the gospel. It was from that initial work that souls were saved and that the church in Corinth began. The Apostle Paul was also able to do the work through the support and help of other churches who contributed to the needs of the gospel work.

He had to speak these words because it has been said that his service in Corinth was worthless because he did not accept any payments from the church. The flow of his discourse centres on the intruders to the church who were charging the church for the preaching of their gospel. They lived comfortably by following the rule that the teacher should be paid for his work. By breaking this basic rule, so they intimated, the Apostle Paul demonstrated that his work was below par and his love for the church in Corinth questionable.

2 Corinthians 11:6 But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things.

Though the Apostle Paul might have spoken like an unskilled or ungifted person, rude in speech, he has a most important message to convey for the sake of the souls that God has brought before him. He has a message to tell for his Lord and he will not stay to withhold it.

Likewise, the prophet Jeremiah was rejected by the people of Judah though he spoke the word of the Lord, an unpalatable exhortation for the people of God to submit to the yoke of the coming Babylonians. He spoke of the Word of God as a burning fire shut up in his bones that he must convey for his conscience sake because it was the will of God – Jeremiah 20:9 Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his wordwas in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.

2 Corinthians 11:5 For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.

The Apostle Paul was a man entrusted with a message. He was an ambassador for his Master, Jesus Christ. And to accomplish his Master’s mission, he had to testify of his embassage, that he was commissioned and sent. His mission was in danger of being derailed by the enemies of the gospel. He had to prove his credentials that his mission might not be thwarted. He claimed that he was an apostle – one commissioned and sent by his Master Jesus Christ. And his rank, we say he had to “pull rank”, was by no standard inferior to the calling and mission of the other Apostles of Christ. He met Jesus on the road to Damascus and was gloriously saved and later commissioned.

He understood the gravity of his mandate and sought to accomplish the work, not by his ingenuity but by the grace that his Master would accord him for the work that He sought for him to accomplish.

2 Corinthians 11:4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

The phrase “ye might well bear with him” was a word of caution to the church in Corinth – “You put up with it well enough.” Now the people are in danger of accepting a different gospel. The changes in doctrine were presented gradually so that the members of the Corinthian church hardly noticed the difference. Paul himself has to call their attention to the spiritual threat in their midst. For this reason, he must be direct in confronting the readers.¹

The Apostle Paul’s concern was the truth must be surrendered to the enemies of the gospel. The stake was high and the impact eternal! If accepted, it would signify the demise of the church and her witness for the Lord. It was as if he was crying out to God for mercy to intervene that the church in Corinth may be awakened to the perils they were facing.