11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. 12 We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
Paul is in a pickle. The Corinthian church has been infiltrated by false teachers who have claimed that Paul has been leading them astray. They pointed to his physical features and his physical weakness as to why the church should listen to them and not him. Seems odd, but true. In the above passage Paul outlines, in his defense, why the Corinthians should side with him. That is his dilemma. He must walk a tightrope between self-commending himself and allowing God to be praised. He can’t brag or boast but he must explain and examine. Trying to walk that fine line, in the above text he gives us several reasons for his ministry and why the church should be excited about his apostleship among them. He is trying to persuade them because:
Verse 11. He is compelled to speak the Gospel and persuade them out of the fear of the Lord. He has just written, in the previous verse, that we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Paul’s ministry is based upon his fear of the Lord.
Verse 12. His ministry is not based upon the physical and external but the spiritual and internal. The false teachers were all about the outside and the boldness they bring in their confident personalities. Paul’s confidence was that his heart was pure before God. Paul’s ministry was based upon purity of heart.
Verse 13. The false teachers were claiming that Paul’s style was looking more and more like he had lost his mind. They thought his teaching showed he was going mad. He tells them that if he is mad, it is for God and for them, either way. Paul’s ministry was based upon his desire to serve God and the church.
Verse 14 & 15. The false teachers were out to gain power and reputation. Paul was constrained by the love of Christ. That means he is control by his love for Christ and the love Christ has for this church demonstrated by him and through him. He was God’s hands and feet. Paul’s ministry was based upon the love Christ as it was flowing through him for them.
Paul knew how to defend himself while still giving all glory and praise to God. He was being attacked but found a way to demonstrate his ministry for the sole purpose of living out Christ in front of them.
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