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"I am bold also."

Text: 2 Corinthians 11:21

WITH DEEP CONCERN

Paul was deeply concerned about the spiritual state of the Corinthians. They did not display much wisdom or spirituality in the way they put up with false teachers!

“For you put up with it if one brings you into bondage,
if one devours you, if one takes from you,
if one exalts himself, if one strikes you on the face.
To our shame I say that we were too weak for that!
But in whatever anyone is bold- I speak foolishly- I am bold also.”
2 Corinthians 11:20-21

1. “For you put up with it”

a) The Corinthians showed great forbearance.

b) To the false teachers but not to Paul and his fellow-workers!

2. The things they put up with was astonishing to Paul

a) They were being brought into bondage.

i) Most likely, this would be the Judaizers.

ii) They brought people back into the bondage of legalism.

b) They were being devoured and taken advantage of.

i) The cunning false teachers were milking the Corinthians.

ii) They were extorting money from them.

c) They were exalting themselves.

i) They paraded themselves.

ii) They were boasting about themselves.

d) Some were even physically abusive.

i) They slapped people around.

ii) This aggressive behaviour was even tolerated by the Corinthians!

3. “To our shame I say that we were too weak for that”

a) Paul and his fellow-labourers refused to do any of the things listed above.

b) Thus, they appeared “weak” to the false teachers and the beguiled Corinthians.

c) “To our shame”- This was heavy sarcasm!

4. “But in whatever anyone is bold- I speak foolishly- I am bold also”

a) Paul appeared not only weak to the Corinthians but also lacking in boldness.

b) At this point, Paul drew a line.

He was not lacking in boldness! He felt like a fool for having to make this statement!