BIG IDEA:
THE REALITY OF PAUL’S AUTHORITY – WHEN NECESSARY, SPIRITUAL LEADERS MUST DEFEND THEIR LEGITIMATE AUTHORITY AGAINST MISREPRESENTATIONS BY FALSE LEADERS
INTRODUCTION:
Beginning of a new section:
VINDICATION OF PAUL’S APOSTOLIC AUTHORITY (10:1 – 13:10)
III. (10:1 – 13:10) PAINFUL ATTACKS AGAINST SPIRITUAL LEADERS PROVIDE OPPORTUNITY FOR LEGITIMATE AUTHORITY TO EASILY BE DISTINGUISHED FROM COUNTERFEIT AUTHORITY
(PAUL’S AGGRESSIVE DEFENSE OF HIS LEGITIMATE APOSTOLIC AUTHORITY)
“For this reason I am writing these things while absent, in order that when present I may not use severity, in accordance with the authority which the Lord gave me, for building up and not for tearing down.” (13:10)
CONTEXT:
Ryrie: In spite of Paul’s general satisfaction with the Corinthian church, there were still some there who challenged his apostolic authority and followed certain leaders whom Paul calls “false apostles” (11:13). These leaders were apparently Jewish Christians (11:22) who claimed higher authority than Paul’s (10:7) and who lorded over the church.
I. (:1-6) HIS READINESS (AND RELUCTANCE) TO EXERCISE HIS AUTHORITY – SPIRITUAL LEADERS CARRY A BIG STICK
REPLY TO CHARGE OF WEAKNESS
A. (:1) Don’t Confuse Meekness for Weakness
“Now I, Paul, myself urge you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ – I who am meek when face to face with you, but bold toward you when absent!”
Paul speaking sarcastically here, answering the charge that he was only bold on paper but was nobody to be reckoned with in person.
Tasker: The meekness of Jesus was preeminently shown in His submission to the wrongs inflicted upon Him in the discharge of His ministry as God’s suffering Servant.
B. (:2) Don’t Make Me Use the Big Stick —
Spiritual Leaders Only Use the Big Stick as a Last Resort
“I ask that when I am present I may not be bold with the confidence with which I propose to be courageous against some, who regard us as if we walked according to the flesh.”
C. (:3-4) Spiritual Leaders Don’t Fight Fairly – i.e. they use weapons that are divinely Powerful
“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.”
Cf. the weapons of David vs. Goliath – sling shot and some stones
Cf. the weapons of Gideon
Cf. the weapons of Joshua – literally knocking down fortresses
D. (:5) Spiritual Leaders Attack the Root of the Problem – Aggressively and Successfully
“We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”
E. (:6) Spiritual Leaders Will Use the Big Stick When Necessary
“and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.”
II. (:7-11) HIS POWERFUL PERSONAL PRESENCE – CONSISTENT WITH HIS STRONG LETTERS – SPIRITUAL LEADERS SHOULD NEVER BE UNDERESTIMATED
REPLY TO CHARGE OF INSINCERITY
A. (:7a) Outward Appearances Can Be Deceiving
“You are looking at things as they are outwardly.”
B. (:7b) No Place for Christian Elitism
“If anyone is confident in himself that he is Christ’s, let him consider this again within himself, that just as he is Christ’s, so also are we.”
Barclay: It seems clear that at least some of Paul’s opponents asserted that Paul did not belong to Christ in the same way as they did. Perhaps they were still casting up at Paul the fact that once he had been the arch-persecutor of the Church. Perhaps they claimed special knowledge and special revelations. Perhaps they claimed a special holiness and
a special spirituality. In any event they looked down on Paul and they glorified themselves and their own relationship to Christ.
C. (:8-9) Goal is Edification Not Lording it Over
“For even if I should boast somewhat further about our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I shall not be put to shame, for I do not wish to seem as if I would terrify you by my letters.”
D. (:10-11) Legitimate Spiritual Authority is the Real Thing – whether by letter or in person
1. (:10) Accusation:
“For they say, ‘His letters are weighty and strong, but his personal presence is unimpressive, and his speech contemptible.’”
2. (:11) Response
“Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when absent, such persons we are also in deed when present.”
III. (:12-18) HIS LEGITIMATE SPHERE OF AUTHORITY –
REPLY TO CHARGE OF PRIDE
A. (:12) Futility of Self Commendation
“For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves, and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding.”
B. (:13-16) Sphere of Authority Corresponds to Sphere of Ministry
1. (:13) Principle Stated = We exercise our authority within the proper sphere
“But we will not boast beyond our measure, but within the measure of the sphere which God apportioned to us as a measure, to reach even as far as you.”
Not overstepping the bounds of his authority in this matter
2. (:14) Historical Testimony = We brought you the Gospel
“For we are not overextending ourselves, as if we did not reach to you, for we were the first to come even as far as you in the gospel of Christ.”
Tasker: The false apostles had no authority for ministering at Corinth other than that which they had arrogated to themselves. It was they who were stretching themselves beyond measure, not Paul. Priority of service gave Paul a prior claim to the loyalty of the Corinthians.
3. (:15-16) Vision for Broader Outreach (vs. Sheep Stealing)
“not boasting beyond our measure, that is, in other men’s labors, but with the hope that as your faith grows, we shall be, within our sphere, enlarged even more by you, so as to preach the gospel even to the regions beyond you, and not to boast in what has been accomplished in the sphere of another.”
C. (:17) Focus of Boasting
“But he who boasts, let him boast in the Lord.”
D. (:18) Validity of God Commendation
“For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.”
ASIDE: PRINCIPLES DEMONSTRATING THAT SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY MUST BE JUDGED BY SPIRITUAL STANDARDS
1. Spiritual authority is given by God (:8,13)
2. Spiritual authority cannot be recognized through physical appearance or attributes (:7,12), rather we learn to judge as God judges and commend whom God commends (:18)
3. Spiritual authority is exercised in meekness (:1)
meekness is not timidity (:2,10,11)
spiritual leader must be strong to fight spiritual wars with spiritual weapons (:3-5)
4. Spiritual authority is given for edification (:8)
5. Spiritual authority will not be ashamed (or refuted) (:8)
6. Paul’s Spiritual Authority within the field (probably geographical) God has assigned (:13)
7. Effectiveness of Spiritual Leader in a church is limited by the submission and faith of the church (:6,15)
* * * * * * * * * *
PREACHING CHRIST:
1) Christ is presented here as the epitome of meekness and gentleness without detracting at all from his strength and power.
2) Belonging to Christ is the great privilege and security of every believer.
3) Spiritual leaders in the church have been granted authority by Christ for the purpose of edification.
4) The Lord should be the subject of our boasting