2 Corinthians 11

Let me give a big thank you to Bryan Austin for covering the blog on Friday.  I thought I would be able to handle it on Saturday and Sunday but between the move and church my schedule did not allow nor was my brain in the right mind.  No comments on the brain please.  LOL.  Thank you for understanding the absence of posts the last two days.

As we look at chapter 11 Paul is continuning to give a defense for his apostolic position.  We can even see a bit of his personality come out in the writing as he uses irony and a hint of sarcasm to get his point across.  He makes an opening statement which references the allegations from the false apostles.  He says, "I wish you would put up with a little foolishness from me. Yes, do put up with me."  He even calls them a cutting name in verse 5 where he says, "Now I consider myself in no way inferior to the 'super-apostles.'"  Paul acutally gives a detailed account of why he has the right to be an apostle, a listing of what he has endured for the glory of Christ, and reminds the Corinthians that he has purposefully chosen not to be a burden on the church.  Paul does all of this to confront the church on their "wishy-washy" and "immature" nature.  If you recall in 1 Cor. 3:2 Paul told the church that he had to feed them with milk instead of meat because they were not spiritually mature.  Paul does not hold punches in addressing their immaturity, their lack of discipline in their walk with God, and their willingness to tolerate false teachings.

Let's play a game of imagination.  Let's imagine Paul is writing a letter to each of us.  What type of letter would we receive from him?  Would Paul write encouragement?  Would he write to confront us on immaturity?  Would he write to let us know of his disappointment for tolerating ungodly practices in our lives?  Would he write with words of commendation or condemnation?

Let's also imagine that we had to defend our Christian walk?  How well could we defend it?  Would our list simply say "I attended church and gave a token offering"?  Would we be able to list a defense similar to Paul's?  Let's us "conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that in a case where they speak against you as those who do evil, they may, by observing your good works, glorify God in a day of visitation." (1 Peter 2:12)