Preach Christ To Defeat False Teachers - 2 Corinthians 11-13

2 Corinthians 12:11-13 (ESV)

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. The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works. 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!

Even though Paul had visited the church in Corinth twice before, he is planning a third visit.   But this time it is to speak face-to-face with those who oppose him.   He refers to them as super-apostles.   The entire book of 2 Corinthians has been to address these false teachers and their false doctrine.   He has had to write to this church to outline his authority, credibility and testimony.   He has had to remind these believers in the church that he was sent by God.   The false teachers are claiming Paul was weak.   In physical stature and ability he apparently was.  He admits that.  But in the above passage (full of sarcasm) he tells them he is not inferior to any of them.  In the areas that matter (spiritual matters) Paul has demonstrated the same signs as Peter and the other apostles.   He, too, has done the signs of apostleship via signs, wonders and miracles (the three words used in the New Testament for extraordinary and powerful movement by God).   He is telling them that he has done everything in their church to demonstrate his apostleship except take money from them.  A claim he quickly uses sarcasm to highlight by saying, “Forgive me this wrong!”   It is important to remember what Paul wrote earlier about these false teachers, however.  When he compares his works with their works he states:

2 Corinthians 11:14-15 (ESV)

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.

These false teachers also had power to do wonders, but did so through Satan’s ability to transform himself into an angel of light.   Paul’s entire point of this letter is to remind them about the teaching of Christ and Him crucified.    Yes, Paul did miracles and was quite the man of God and on apostleship level.  But these self-claims of power are making him sound like a fool for promoting himself.   He has just told us in the prior verses the following:

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (ESV)

So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

For other men he was promoting himself and acting foolish to compare himself with them, proving his call to ministry.  But in reality his message was to write about the only thing that mattered:  He claimed Christ crucified.  It might be wise for us to take the same approach.  We might be doing something great for God, but we are, in reality, only a slave to Christ.   It is by His power and His grace we do anything for Him.