AN APOSTLE AND HIS OPPONENTS

We sometimes assume that the Apostles were held in universal regard in their own day, highly respected and admired by those who professed Christianity in every place. This is contrary to every bit of evidence, of course, as many passages of Scripture clearly indicate (I Corinthians 4:9, 11-13 is one example). In Second Corinthians 10-13, Paul deals very directly with a clique of his adversaries who had come to Corinth and stirred up trouble for him among the Christians there. From these chapters we see clearly the basic character of the Apostle Paul, and that of his opponents. And from these insights we may learn to discern between spirits in our own day - and to formulate and correct our own.

Body

I. PAUL'S OPPONENTS GLORIED IN THE FLESH, IN APPEARANCES (11:18; see 5:12).

   A. They made much of bragging letters of commendation from one another (3:1).

   B. They claimed to have known Jesus after the flesh (5:16).

   C. They commended themselves and compared themselves with one another - they did not wait for God's approval at judgment (10:12,18).

   D. They did no constructive work of their own, but were parasites boasting in the labors of other men (10:13-16).

   E. They were like snakes creeping in, preaching another Jesus from the one who was apparently weak and defeated on the cross (11:3,4).

   F. They exploited the churches to boost their own fleshly reputation (11:19,20).

   G. They boasted of their descent and origin (11:22).

   H. They claimed to be particularly "choice" Christians; Paul uses their own terms in sarcastic irony against them (11:5; 12:11).

II. PAUL'S OPPONENTS WARRED AFTER THE FLESH. THEY SAID OF PAUL.

   A. That he was unreliable (1:18).

   B. That he was beside himself (5:13).

   C. That he was a brave talker but a coward in person (10:1,10).

   D. That he was not really Christ's (10:7).

   E. That he showed his insecurity by not taking wages, but planned to use that to "take them in" later in in his collection from the churches (11:7; 12:16-18).

   F. That he had no signs of an apostle (12:12).

III. IN RETURN, PAUL ASKED FIVE DISCERNING QUESTIONS WHICH IDENTIFIED THOSE WHO WHERE TRULY JESUS' FOLLOWERS AND THOSE WHO WERE NOT.

   A. Whom do you preach: Jesus, self, or party? (4:5)

   B. What do you say about Jesus: stress only His "power" and "impressive" miracles, or tell the whole gospel of a suffering and dying Jesus who through God's power became victorious in the end? (4:10,11)

   C. Where is your allegiance: to God or to men? (10:7; 11:2-4; 13:5)

   D. What "image" do you care for: impressive carnal might and power, or suffering service and devotion to the crucified Jesus? (4:7-11; 6:3-10; 10:1, 10; 12:9,10)

   E. On whom do you really depend: Jesus Christ the Lord, yourself, or a clique or party of men? (1:8-10; 13:3,4)

Conclusion

Here we see one of the greatest men since Christ, suffering some of the vilest and most unjust abuse from some of the most perverse and hypocritical opponents. In his response we see exemplified the true life of Jesus in Paul (see Galatians 2:20), and we learn how to evaluate ourselves and others in the present day. Human nature does not change, and only God's power in Christ can change the nature in humans. Decide today to truly serve the crucified Christ, regardless of the opposition and cost, with full confidence in the God who raised Him from the dead and crowned Him with glory!

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