2 Corinthians (Program #53) – Paul’s Vindication of His Apostolic Authority (8)
The last four chapters of 2 Corinthians are known as Paul’s vindication of His apostolic authority. On one hand it was something of a shame that Paul was compelled to make such defense on his own behalf. It’s in this light that he says in chapter 11 “What I speak, I speak not according to the Lord but as if in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting.” (11:17) But in the same section just a few verses later, chapter 12 he says “All this time you have been thinking that we are defending ourselves to you. Before God in Christ we speak; but all things, beloved, are for your building up.” This apparent reversal left Paul vulnerable to the charge of being inconsistent. Was he speaking foolishly not in the Lord or was he really speaking in Christ and before God? The key is found in the last few words of that verse “…all thing, beloved, are for your building up.“
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