False Teaching Impacts the Church - 2 Corinthians 11-13

 2 Corinthians 12:1 (ESV)

I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.

Paul is in a tight spot.  He is writing to a church who is being lead astray to another gospel (but, there is no other gospel).  The spiritual leaders who are doing this are referred to by Paul, as follows:

2 Corinthians 11:12-15 (ESV)

And what I am doing I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.

Paul must stop them.  But, at the same time, he does not want to defend himself, but rather he wants to defend Jesus Christ and the message of the true Gospel - Jesus Christ the risen Son.    But, because these false teachers have turned this into a “credibility” issue with Paul, the Apostle must give his resume to convince them of his power in Christ.   In the previous chapter he shared with them all the persecution he endured while speaking the Gospel.  That is one sure evidence you speak truth.   In chapter twelve he is about to speak about the visions and revelations he has had, in Christ.   He openly admits that what he is doing will “gain nothing.”  Never-the-less, Paul must meet his audience where they are at.  If they want credits, he will give them the highest credits and that is his experience with the risen Christ.   His relationship with Christ would establish all the credibility he would need.  When we walk with Christ the world may not think we are creditable.  But, in Christ it is the world that is foolish and not us.  He even told the Corinthians this in his first letter to them:

1 Corinthians 2:13-16 (ESV)

And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.

The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

It is the world who should doubt our credibility and not other believers.  This church was so slothful in their belief that they forced Paul to use “arguments” to prove his credibility.  That is a church where the world’s philosophy has entered into the framework.   Paul is attempting to drive it out.  As we should in our churches today.