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"I shall not be ashamed-"

Text: 2 Corinthians 10:8

THE AUTHORITY OF THE LORD

The Lord Jesus Christ did not just ordain some of His disciples to become apostles. He also empowered them with authority in their capacity as apostles. Paul was one of the apostles God had given authority and power for ministry!

“For even if I should boast somewhat more about our authority,
which the Lord gave us for edification and not for your destruction,
I shall not be ashamed-
lest I seem to terrify you by letters.
‘For his letters,’ they say, ‘are weighty and powerful,
but his bodily presence is weak and his speech contemptible.'”
2 Corinthians 10:8-10

1. The critics of Paul

a) They had obviously influenced some of the Corinthians.

b) We have a glimpse of what they spoke about Paul.

i) They admitted that his writings were indeed “weighty and powerful”.

ii) But his physical appearance was not at all impressive.

iii) He appeared to be “weak” in his physical presence.

iv) His speaking skills were despised as “contemptible”.

2. Paul’s defence

a) He had authority from the Lord.

b) Thus, his letters were powerful.

c) He was not ashamed of the authority that God had given him.

d) He knew what he was sent to do.

i) His main focus was “edification” of the Church.

ii) Thus, he had to do corrective work at times.

iii) His focus was not destruction; he was misunderstood and misrepresented!

3. “For even if I should boast somewhat more about our authority”

a) This was how the critics harped on.

b) They were criticising Paul for using his authority as an apostle.

c) They felt that he was “boasting” about his authority.

d) Paul queried this statement.

i) “Even if”- this phrase indicates that Paul questioned this understanding.

ii) Did Paul really boast about his authority? Careful and correct analysis would suggest otherwise!