Boasting is the mark of a fool and Paul had been
boasting. So in verse 11, he admitted to the Corinthians that he felt foolish
about his boasting. He did so only because they had compelled him. The believers
in Corinth should have been the one to boast about him but they didn’t. Instead
they were boasting about the other false apostles who had managed to win their
affection and were now controlling the church. So Paul was led to point out all
that he had done to prove his apostleship.
What was Paul’s intention? He wanted them to realize
their wrong attitude and action. He maintained that even if he were to stand alongside
those so-called apostles, he would not be proven inferior to any of them. He reminded
them of the signs and miracles that he had performed among them with
perseverance. They would authenticate his apostleship. For a true apostle would
be known by the signs, wonders and miracles that would be seen in his ministry.
And Paul’s ministry was attested to, by all these divine and supernatural interventions.
Verse 13 seems to imply that the Corinthians felt inferior
to the other churches, especially the Macedonian churches whom Paul had expressed
praise for their generous giving in an earlier chapter. Paul pointed indirectly
that if the Corinthians felt inferior if would be because he didn’t want to
burden them by accepting their financial support. He then humbly sought their
forgiveness if they felt wronged by him for this.
Paul
had shown another mark of a mature disciple when he admitted his wrong. No one
is too great to seek the forgiveness of others. No one should be too great to
admit wrong even in non-moral issues. What Paul did would definitely tighten unity and deepen fellowship.
A true believer gives selflessly and would gladly seek the
spiritual welfare of fellow brethren. This would indicate a person’s genuine faith
in Christ. So, let’s joyously seek the best of others and gladly divest ourselves
of the self-life to help others connect with Christ.
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