2 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER
11:16-33, “Fool’s Speech Part 2: Paul
Boasts About His Weakness”
By
1.
INTRO
1.1.
In our last study, we looked at the first half of Paul’s “Fool’s
Speech” that he made to the Corinthians in trying to defend himself against the
minority group within the church in Corinth who had been influenced by the
Judaiser “super-apostles” who had come in amongst them and been accepted by
them. In this speech, we saw that Paul
goes on the attack against the “super-apostles” who were constantly boasting
about themselves and their abilities, however his approach was not what anyone
would have expected
1.1.1. In taking a different tact
than expected and one different from those whose weapons are of the flesh, we
saw that Paul composed what has come to be called his “Fool’s Speech”
1.1.2. We saw that Paul’s “Fool’s Speech”
is filled with ironies, and also that surprisingly Paul’s approach to defending
himself is to speak of his weaknesses, not his strengths
1.1.3. We saw that we in the church
of all eras need to learn to follow Paul’s example and not rely upon the
weapons of the flesh, but rather equip ourselves and fight our battles using
God’s armor, council, and strength
1.1.4. We also saw how that it is
so easy to be deceived by those who come preaching another gospel and another
Jesus, as did these “super-apostles,” because they come to us as deceptively
and as if they were “an angel of light”
1.2.
In our study today, we are going to continue to look at Paul’s “Fool’s
Speech” and we will see Paul tell the Corinthians that if the “super-apostles”
can be so foolish as to boast about their abilities that he himself will boast,
however Paul will now begin to boast about not his strengths, as we would
expect, but about his weaknesses
1.2.1. We will look at what
foolishness it is whenever we boast in our flesh
1.2.2. We will see how that when we
look at the things that Paul suffered as well as what he was humiliated by as
part of his calling as an apostle, and the fact that he did not let these
things deter him from fulfilling his calling, that this should shut every mouth
who would question his claims to apostleship
1.2.3. We will see that far from
showing that Paul could not be an apostle because of the suffering that he was
always going through in his ministry, in fact the description by Paul of all of
the suffering and difficulties that he went through shows that he really should
be considered the pre-eminent apostle of all
1.2.4. In his speech, Paul boasts
of his weakness in the things that he suffered:
1.2.4.1.At the hands of his
persecutors
1.2.4.2.In his journeys over land
and sea
1.2.4.3.In his labors and
deprivations of life
1.2.4.4.In his concern for the
churches
2.
VS 11:16-18 - “16 Again
I say, let no one think me foolish; but if you do, receive me even as foolish,
that I also may boast a little.17 That which I am speaking, I am not speaking
as the Lord would, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting.18
Since many boast according to the flesh, I will boast also.” - Paul uses word play to express the
foolishness of boasting in the flesh
2.1.
We saw that this speech of Paul’s has been called his, “Fool’s
Speech.” Here we see that Paul is
using word play to reveal the foolishness of any boasting in the flesh.
2.2.
Anytime anyone believes that in and of himself he is something, or that
he all by himself has done something great, then he is in for a big fall!
2.3.
From this letter, it is obvious that Paul is pointing out that the
“super-apostles” who had come in among the Corinthian church were always
boasting in their own abilities.
They believed that in comparison to Paul they had superior visions
and revelations, superior usage of the Greek language, superior oratory
abilities, etc. This group had come
to the Corinthians with their letters of commendation and were promoting
themselves as being apostles of Jesus Christ.
2.3.1. However as we have seen, the
“super-apostles” were teaching another Jesus, another gospel, and another
spirit.
2.3.1.1.The Jesus they talked about lived in the past tense,
for having died on the cross for their sins and been raised from the dead, in
the present tense He was not vitally connected to this group, directing them
and their worship and activities.
2.3.1.2.The gospel that they taught that a person had to
believe in order to be saved was to believe in Christ but then keep the law of
Moses to the letter, and keep it in the tradition of a Pharisee. Having entered into relationship with Christ
by faith, they were relying upon their works now to make them righteous and
acceptable to the Lord.
2.3.1.3.The spirit that they taught is not really known but may
have been just a lack of spiritual gifts and enablings working in their midst,
after all they were teaching that in and of themselves they could by their
works make themselves acceptable before God.
2.3.2. Unfortunately, the
Corinthians had openly and naively accepted this group into their fellowship.
2.4.
When I think of examples of the foolishness of boasting according to
the flesh,
that is in our own abilities, the apostle Peter comes to mind. The incident that sticks out most clearly is
the night of the Last Supper when Jesus told His disciples that He would be
slain and that all of the disciples would scatter away from Him. Peter stood up and boldly boasted in his
flesh that though all else would fall away from Jesus, that he would never
do so. Jesus then told Peter in
essence that he must not know himself and his own abilities in the flesh very
well for that very night that he would deny Jesus three times.
2.4.1. None of us in and of
ourselves and our own will power and natural abilities are any better than
Peter in
our ability to be faithful to the Lord.
All of us, before coming to Christ as well as even after we have come to
Christ, fall into sin more often than we would like to admit publicly. It is only by the grace of God that we all do
not fall headlong into sin and never get up.
2.4.2. The apostle Paul wrote the
seventh chapter of Romans to explain his present tense experience of trying and failing to
serve the Lord in the power of his flesh.
We see Paul’s description of his own failures in the flesh in serving
Christ in Rom. 7:14-25, “14 For we know that the Law is spiritual; but I
am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin.15 For that which I am doing, I do not
understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the
very thing I hate.16 But if I do the very thing I do not wish to do, I agree
with the Law, confessing that it is good.17 So now, no longer am I the one
doing it, but sin which indwells me.18 For I know that nothing good dwells in
me, that is, in my flesh; for the wishing is present in me, but the doing of
the good is not.19 For the good that I wish, I do not do; but I practice the
very evil that I do not wish.20 But if I am doing the very thing I do not wish,
I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.21 I find then the
principle that evil is present in me, the one who wishes to do good.22 For I joyfully
concur with the law of God in the inner man,23 but I see a different law in the
members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind, and making me a
prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members.24 Wretched man that I am!
Who will set me free from the body of this death?25 Thanks be to God through
Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am
serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.”
2.4.2.1.Notice that Paul ends this
description of his failures by saying, “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ
our Lord!” in order to show that though he failed in his own efforts to serve
Christ that none-the-less that he could have victory through Christ living
through him.
2.5.
In these verses, we see that Paul talks about the foolishness of all
boasting (except boasting in the Lord), however because the “super-apostles”
were constantly boasting about their own abilities, he too must boast about
himself. We will see from his speech
though that what he will boast about will not be his strengths, as those men
boasted about their strengths, but rather about his weaknesses.
3.
VS 11:19-20 - “19 For
you, being so wise, bear with the foolish gladly.20 For you bear with anyone if
he enslaves you, if he devours you, if he takes advantage of you, if he exalts
himself, if he hits you in the face.” - Paul
speaks of the irony and foolishness of the Corinthian’s bearing with those who
mistreat them
3.1.
Paul spoke of himself as being thought of as being foolish by this minority group in
the Corinthian church who supported these “super-apostles,” and then asked
the church if they indeed thought of him as foolish that they would let him be
foolish and boast about himself, however now Paul has turned the tables
on the Corinthians and this verse reveals who the real fools were: it was the Corinthians themselves. The Corinthians had warmly welcomed and put
up with these “super-apostles” who were grossly mistreating them.
3.2.
Paul had loved the Corinthians and brought them up to understand and
appreciate the grace of God. He had taught them of the
freedom that we have in Christ as Christians. He taught that Christ had paid the debt of
sins for them once for all and that nothing else was necessary to be done
for them to be accepted and righteous before the Lord. They had the righteousness of Christ imputed
to them and thus God was pleased with them.
They didn’t need to work to become righteous or to earn eternal life, it
is a gift that one merely receives by faith in Christ, plus nothing.
3.2.1. However, the
“super-apostles” came to the Corinthians and condemned them telling them that
they were still in their sins. Because
they did not try to keep the law of Moses to the letter, the “super-apostles”
told them they were not going to go to heaven and that the Lord was not pleased
with them.
3.2.2. Evidently, the
“super-apostles” were even physically abusive to some in the Corinthian church
for Paul writes that they had hit them in the face. Possibly this was done to someone to make a
point and to show them just how unrighteous they were before the Lord.
3.2.3. I have seen many times in
the church someone get persuaded by a person in some other church or cult group
telling them there was something else that they had to do if they wanted to be
saved, or if they wanted to really be spiritual.
3.2.3.1.I remember one time when we
were living in
3.3.
One of the things that I have marveled at and yet also deeply grieved
is the fact that Christians tend often to gravitate towards pastors and church
leaders that treat them badly, and yet not appreciate those who simply teach
them of the grace of God as Paul did. Over and over
again I have seen churches that abuse their members flourish and
Christians speak so highly of church leaders who are taking advantage of
them and abusing them both physically and spiritually.
3.3.1. There was a pastor in
3.3.2. Numerous Christian cult
leaders have physically abused their followers and created a mentality in the
church where no one was free to think on their own, and that everyone had to
be in total submission to the leaders in every single detail of their
lives. Many times these cult leaders
have used their authority and been physically abusive of their members and in
some cases even had sexual relationships with numerous women and in their
group. Some leaders have even had sexual
relationships with children in these groups. Jim Jones in Guyana, David Koresh in Waco,
TI and Do from the Heaven’s Gate cult, and other cult leaders have actually
gone to the extreme and eventually committed mass murder of their followers.
3.3.2.1.I have been amazed as
Christians in these groups have spoken of how wonderful these pastors and
church leaders are who have greatly abused them.
3.3.3. What a blessing it is when
we Christians finally find a church that teaches the grace of God and we can
get rooted and grounded in the grace of God in our life!
4.
VS 11:21 - “21 To my
shame I must say that we have been weak by comparison. But in whatever respect
anyone else is bold (I speak in foolishness), I am just as bold myself.” - Paul speaks in irony by saying that he was
too weak, in comparison to these “super-apostles,” to abuse the Corinthians as
this group had done
4.1.
We saw in chapter 10, that Paul had written about the fact that this minority group
of his detractors in the Corinthian church had criticized him for being weak
and timid in person, and trying to scare them with his letters, however he
wrote that in reality he was not weak and timid but rather meek and gentle,
as was Jesus in His life and ministry.
4.2.
The irony of Paul here is that it was not that he was too weak to abuse
the Corinthians, in fact anyone can be abusive and authoritarian, but rather he
didn’t abuse them but instead walked in love as did Christ and was meek and
gentle. Yet, they didn’t understand
this about Paul.
4.2.1. We saw in chapter 10 that
Paul’s meekness and gentleness, which was Christ-like, was actually a proof of
the validity of his ministry.
4.3.
Paul tells the Corinthians, speaking foolishness by boasting in the
flesh, that he is just as bold as anyone else who claims to be bold. He is of course inferring that it is the
“super-apostles” who were so foolish as to be boasting of their boldness.
4.3.1. You know anyone can stand up
and act bold before people. That is easy
to do. We saw in a previous study that
these “super-apostles” criticized Paul because of his oratory style because
they had been formally trained as rhetoriticians. However, Paul defended himself against this
criticism by explaining in essence that it didn’t matter what your style of speaking
was if what you were teaching did not line up with the scripture, and he Paul
who had the genuine calling as an apostle had what was greater than good
oratory skills, he had superior knowledge of God and of the scriptures. Accurate knowledge of the scriptures is
superior to boldness in speaking, as well as speaking style.
5.
VS 11:22 - “22 Are
they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of
Abraham? So am
5.1.
In this verse, Paul tells us about the identity of these
self-proclaimed apostles whom he calls “super-apostles” because of their
boasting of their superiority to the apostle Paul and his ministry. They were descendants of Abraham, or Israelites,
men who had supposedly come to faith in Christ but who were still trying to
keep alive the voided and superceded covenant of the law of Moses.
5.2.
When Jesus died upon the cross of
5.3.
These “super-apostles” had boasted of their qualifications as apostles of Jesus Christ
saying that they were true Hebrews and Israelites, however Paul tells
them that though he was born in Tarsus, and not in Jerusalem, that he
was every bit a true descendant of Abraham and a true Jew as they were.
6.
VS 11:23 - “23 Are
they servants of Christ? (I speak as if insane) I more so; in far more labors,
in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of
death.”
- Paul tells the Corinthians that he is
more of a servant of Christ than the “super-apostles” and the quantifies his
answer
6.1.
We see from this verse that the “super-apostles” not only were Hebrews
and descendants of Abraham, but they also claimed to be ‘servants of Christ.’ They were just trying to lure Christians into
keeping the law of Moses to the letter.
6.2.
Paul tells the Corinthians that in comparison to the “super-apostles”
who were self-appointed apostles who clamed to be superior apostles to Paul,
that he (Paul) actually was far superior to this group in his service for he
had done much more:
6.2.1. Labor for Christ.
6.2.2. Been imprisoned more often.
6.2.3. Been beaten times with
number.
6.2.4. Was often in danger of death
because of being faithful to his calling.
7.
VS 11:24-25a - “…24 Five
times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes.25 Three times I was beaten
with rods, once I was stoned,.” - Paul
boasts of his weaknesses in the things that he suffered at the hands of
persecutors
7.1.
In these accounts of Paul’s sufferings in this chapter, we
notice right away that the book of Acts nor the epistles of Paul even come
close to accounting for all of the things that he suffered. In fact, even this list of Paul’s
sufferings is not complete itself but more of a summary, for we find
incidents even in the Acts that are not mentioned here.
7.2.
I would say also at the outset that I do not think that there has
been anyone since Christ rose from the dead who has suffered to any greater
extent in faithfully serving Christ than the apostle Paul. It might even be said that Job of the Old
Testament did not suffer any worse than did Paul.
7.3.
If we assume the things that Paul suffered are the proof of the
validity of a genuine calling to apostleship by Christ, then the apostle Paul
was actually the pre-eminent apostle of all.
7.4.
In the Old Testament law (De 25:2,3), it was specified that for
any crime that a man could not receive any more that 40 lashes as
punishment for any crime, for it was believed that more than 40 lashes would be
fatal. Therefore, the Jews never gave
anyone more than 39 lashes.
7.4.1. The whip that the Jews used
had 13 leather thongs on it, each one which wrapped around a piece of bone or metal. When the person was whipped the bone or metal
would tear into their flesh and when pulled out tore muscle, tendons,
ligaments, blood vessels, pieces of organs, etc. It was case that some would die from 39
lashes, and most would be crippled to some extent.
7.4.2. Paul’s body must have borne
the marks of horrible scarring due to the five times or more that he had
received 39 lashes from the Jews.
In Gal. 6:17, Paul wrote about how that in his body he bore the
brand-marks of Jesus Christ, “17 From now on let no one cause trouble for
me, for I bear on my body the brand-marks of Jesus.”
7.4.3. We are humbled at the huge
price that the apostle Paul paid because of his love for the Jews and for trying to reach his
brethren according to the flesh with the gospel.
7.5.
From the Romans, Paul was beaten three times with rods.
7.5.1. These rods consisted of
bundles of sticks that were wrapped together with cords.
7.5.2. In Acts 16:22-24, we
read about Paul and Silas being beaten with rods in Philippi and thrown
into the jail only to sing songs of praise which resulted in the conversion of
the Philippian jailer, “22 And the crowd rose up together against them,
and the chief magistrates tore their robes off them, and proceeded to order
them to be beaten with rods.23 And when they had inflicted many blows upon
them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them
securely;24 and he, having received such a command, threw them into the inner
prison, and fastened their feet in the stocks.”
7.6.
We know that Paul’s having been stoned once must have been his
recalling of the account from the book of Acts when Paul was stoned at
Lystra by the Jews and left for dead (Acts 14:19).
8.
VS 11:25b-26 - “…three
times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. 26 I
have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers,
dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city,
dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren;” - Paul boasts of his weaknesses in the things
he has suffered in his journeys over land and sea
8.1.
In fulfilling his calling as the apostle to the Gentiles, Paul had
to travel frequently, and there were many things that he often had to
suffer in his journeying.
8.2.
In the book of Acts, there is only one account of Paul’s having been
shipped wrecked, and this was is found in Acts chapter 27, after which Paul ended up
on the
8.2.1. Traveling by sea was a very
dangerous thing to do during Paul’s day as unforeseen storms caused many ships to sink,
exacting a huge toll on life and property.
8.3.
On land, Paul often faced dangers in trying to cross rivers. Paul wasn’t fortunate to be able to travel by
modern transportation so the crossing of rivers most likely presented numerous
challenges and dangers.
8.4.
Whenever anyone traveled, there was the constant danger provided by
robbers and pirates who were always roaming around trying to find someone
to prey upon. Paul often suffered at the
hands of robbers.
8.5.
Paul experienced dangers from his countrymen who like him in his
pre-conversion days thought that they were demonstrating great zeal for the
Lord by persecuting Christians. The
Jews were always following right behind Paul trying to track him down and kill
him.
8.6.
Paul experienced dangers though also from the Gentiles, especially those who were
in the trades involved with the pagan worship.
They always saw Paul to be a threat when he developed a following for a
following meant a loss of business for them as well as a desecration of their
gods.
8.7.
Paul experienced dangers in the cities from the riots that often ensued, such as happened at
8.8.
In the wilderness Paul experienced dangers from wild animals, the
elements themselves, and his needing to provide the essentials and
staples to keep him alive.
8.9.
Paul also experienced dangers from “false brethren.” Paul is pointing to the Judaisers in
saying this, such as those who comprised this very group of “super-apostles”
who had come into the church in
9.
VS 11:27 - “27 I have
been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and
thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.” - Paul boasts of his weakness in the things he
has suffered in his labors and deprivations in life
9.1.
As we have seen in our study, the apostle Paul worked at tent-making
to support himself, refusing support from all the of the churches whom he
was ministering to. However, this had
caused him much suffering. After his
ministering day and night to the churches, and preaching the gospel to all who
would listen, the apostle Paul would lose sleep as he stayed up sowing tents
which he could sell for his support.
9.2.
Paul tells the Corinthians that he suffered because he often found
himself deprived of the very essentials that a person needs to stay alive.
9.2.1. At times, Paul had to go
hungry or be thirsty.
9.2.2. At other times, Paul did not
did not have adequate shelter or clothes, and as a result he would be
cold or too hot, depending upon the season.
10.
VS 11:28-29 - “28 Apart
from such external things, there is the daily pressure upon me of concern for
all the churches.29 Who is weak without my being weak? Who is led into sin
without my intense concern?” - Paul
boasts of his weaknesses in the things that he suffered in his concern for all
of the churches
10.1.
Having summarized the extent of the things that Paul suffered
externally, he tells the Corinthians that he suffered internally because of the pressure
of his concern for all of the churches, and for anyone who might have
fallen into any temptation or sin.
10.2.
Because of having a pastors heart, Paul was deeply grieved whenever
he saw people traveling down a path that leads not to life but to destruction. He was burdened for all of the churches
that they become well established and effective evangelists and be an
institution of the Lord for winning the lost to Christ and reaching their
generation with the gospel message.
10.3.
We have already seen the apostle Paul write about the fact that he
penned his letters to the Corinthians with much crying and tears.
10.4.
Because each of us in the body of Christ are members of one another,
we weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice. Thus, Paul tells the Corinthians that there
has never been anyone of them who has been “weak” that he has not also been
“weak.”
10.4.1. Likewise, anyone who has
been led into any sin had become of intense concern to him.
11.
VS 11:30-31 - “30 If I
have to boast, I will boast of what pertains to my weakness.31 The God and
Father of the Lord Jesus, He who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.” - Paul tells the Corinthians that if he is
going to boast but he is going to do so concerning his weaknesses, and then he
gives them his oath that he has not lied in speaking of himself in this way
11.1.
As we look at the things that Paul suffered and endured in fulfilling
his calling
as an apostle of Jesus Christ, this should be the end of questions about the
genuineness of his calling. Anyone
who would suffer that much to fulfill his calling by the Lord must be
legitimate.
11.2.
Paul calls upon “the God and Father of the Lord Jesus” as his witness
that he is not lying or exaggerating about the things he has written to them about his
sufferings in the ministry.
12.
VS 11:32-33 - “32 In
12.1.
In Paul’s day, mighty warriors were known who had showed their bravery
and might by scaling the walls into a city. In
contrast, Paul shows his weakness and how he it was a humbling experience
for him in having to be lowered in a basket down the walls of the city of
Damascus in order to flee from those who were attempting to kill him.
12.2.
You can read about this story in Acts 9:24-25.
13.
CONCLUSION:
13.1.
Never be so foolish as to boast in your own abilities of the flesh, for
in doing so you are just setting yourself up for a big fall
13.2.
If God should require it of you, persevere in enduring suffering,
weakness, and even humiliation as a good and faithful soldier of Christ who is
just fulfilling your calling by Christ
13.3.
Stand steadfast in the grace of God and don’t be persuaded by any who
say to you that you need to do this or that to be saved or if you really want
to be spiritual
13.4.
The Lord’s calling for you is not something that is far down the road
and in some ministry but is always today and now, He wants you to be yielded to
His leading and He wants to use you as His servant and a witness for Christ
right where you are today. God’s will
for you is now each and every day, and He wants to use you in the now of every
day of your life, and Paul can be your example each day in being a Christian
who is not deterred by circumstances from fulfilling his calling by Christ