• Download Video
• Download Audio
• Print
• Email
• Save As PDF

"Who is weak, and I am not weak?"

Text: 2 Corinthians 11:29

IDENTIFICATION WITH CHURCH MEMBERS

Paul was deeply attached to the churches he founded. As he developed the churches, he found a deep sense of identification with the church members.

“Who is weak, and I am not weak?
Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?”
2 Corinthians 11:29

1. “Who is weak”

a) In any church, there would be strong believers.

b) There would also be weaker members.

c) The strong can easily fend for themselves.

d) But the weak would need special attention.

2. “And I am not weak”

a) It does not mean that Paul became weak.

b) The following things are meant:

i) Paul felt for the weak.

ii) He understood how they felt.

iii) He would stand by them.

iv) They would not need to feel inferior to the strong ones.

3. “Who is made to stumble”

a) Paul was aware that the false teachers targeted the weaker believers.

b) They stumbled the weaker ones.

c) They had to be resisted.

d) They had to be exposed.

e) They had to be actively fought against.

4. “And I do not burn with indignation”

a) Paul expressed his feelings very clearly here.

b) He felt a burning anger even as he wrote.

c) The word “indignation” was suggested by the translators to express how Paul felt in his hot displeasure.

d) Other nuances

i) Hot anger towards the false teachers who had caused the weak ones to stumble.

ii) Strong feelings against these wicked false teachers who had brought harm to the church.