In
these verses we see Paul doing something that was extremely uncomfortable, i.e.
to defend his personal ministry. However uncomfortable, it became necessary for
him to do so. From the writing of his first letter to the Corinthians and this
present one, the opposition against him had worsened. In 2 Corinthians 2:17 Paul
was accused of peddling the Gospel and being insincere. In 1 Corinthians 15:7, we
see that he made a promise to visit them and spend some time with them. He
changed his traveling plan and instead made only a short and painful visit.
This was taken up by his opponents to accuse him of being insincere, of having
a hidden agenda, and of making false promises. So Paul felt a necessity to
defend himself. For the benefit of other believers, there would be times that
one needs to be flexible and there would be times when one needs to be
inflexible in the name of Jesus. When it comes to character and being positive in
thinking, one should be inflexible. But do be flexible in a plan, when the
benefit to others would outweigh the promise made.
Paul
began his defense in verses 12-14 by openly boasting about his motives and character
to prove that his traveling plan was changed out of sincerity. Firstly, he based
it on the testimony of his conscience. He was not pricked by a guilty conscience
in doing this. In these verses he was not referring to the act of boasting but to
the reason for his boasting. He wanted them to know that his boasting was not
based on the standards of the world. Neither was it done because of his own ability.
His confident boasting was based in his inner motives and Christ-like character
of holiness and godly sincerity. These qualities which the Corinthians themselves
could affirm. They were developed in him by the grace of God given to him. And
it was for these reasons that many, as he had said in verse 11, had joined in
prayers and continued to pray for him despite the opposition.
The word holiness reveals Paul’s motives. This word means “to
set apart to God.” Paul did everything with his commitment to God in mind. He
didn’t do it to gather a group of followers for himself. In the word sincerity,
Paul wanted them to know that his relationship with them was characterized by
“sincerity.” He was transparent with them. He dealt everything uprightly and nothing
he did was fake. Paul was in essence inviting them to examine him, and they
would discover that he was genuine and sincere through and through. He went on
to show that it did not come from worldly wisdom but the result of God’s
gracious activity in his life
Verses 13-14 tell us that Paul was defending the letter he
wrote to them. He insisted that his letter to them was characterized by
integrity. Here Paul was apparently accused of being saying one thing and then doing
another. His motive was questioned. Paul
assertively said that he hid nothing from them when he wrote the letter. There
was no hidden agenda. He had said what he meant, and meant what he had said. There
wasn’t even a bit of variation in his meaning. And Paul hoped that they would understand
him till the very end. Some of the Corinthians accepted everything he had said
but evidently there were some who didn’t. Paul wanted everyone to be able to
accept everything he had said as some had already done so. He wanted to prove
that what he had written to them he wrote with integrity.
Where there’s no trust there cannot be edification. At Christ’s
return, Christians will have fellowship and be in total unity. There would be total
acceptance of each another. When Christ returns all we hope for will be fully
realized. Meanwhile on earth, we should work towards accepting each other and be
confident in each other’s ministry.
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