• We last left Paul in Troas where he had preached all night.
• He decides to travel by land to Assos.
• Assuming he wanted to continue dialogue with his followers.

 
FROM TROAS TO MILETUS
ACTS 20:13-38 (verses 13-16 w/ map)
13 We went on ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos (ah-sose), where we were going to take Paul on board, because these were his instructions, since he himself was going by land. 14 When he met us at Assos, we took him on board and went on to Mitylene. (Meh-tee-leaney) 15 Sailing from there, the next day we arrived off Chios (kee-ose). The following day we crossed over to Samos (sah-mose), and the day after, we came to Miletus (me-lee-tose). 16 For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, because he was hurrying to be in Jerusalem, if possible, for the day of Pentecost.
 
FAREWELL ADDRESS TO THE EPHESIAN ELDERS
17 Now from Miletus, he sent to Ephesus and summoned the elders of the church. 18 When they came to him, he said to them, “You know, from the first day I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time, 19 serving the Lord with all humility, with tears, and during the trials that came to me through the plots of the Jews. 20 You know that I did not hesitate to proclaim anything to you that was profitable and to teach you publicly and from house to house. 21 I testified to both Jews and Greeks about repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus.
22 “And now I am on my way to Jerusalem, compelled by the Spirit, not knowing what I will encounter there, 23 except that in every town the Holy Spirit warns me that chains and afflictions are waiting for me. 24 But I consider my life of no value to myself; my purpose is to finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God’s grace.
25 “And now I know that none of you, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, will ever see me again. 26 Therefore I declare to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you, 27 because I did not avoid declaring to you the whole plan of God. 28 Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which he purchased with his own blood.

• Had a conversation this week about when I am gone.
• It’s not about Sunday mornings.
• It is some organization.
• A lot of communication.
• But mostly relationships.

29 I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Men will rise up even from your own number and distort the truth to lure the disciples into following them. 31 Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for three years I never stopped warning each one of you with tears.

• Stick with identity in Jesus
• Remind them of their forgiveness
• Teach the Holy Spirit in us
• Rise – Transform - Rest

32 “And now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all who are sanctified. 33 I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. 34 You yourselves know that I worked with my own hands to support myself and those who are with me. 35 In every way I’ve shown you that it is necessary to help the weak by laboring like this and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, because he said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

• From day one, when I had very little, the elders said, “Be generous”.

36 After he said this, he knelt down and prayed with all of them. 37 There were many tears shed by everyone. They embraced Paul and kissed him, 38 grieving most of all over his statement that they would never see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship.[1]

• Watching these families hug and kiss their men goodbye as they leave and cross the border from Ukraine to Poland.

 
WARNINGS ON THE JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM
ACTS 21
1 After we tore ourselves away from them, we set sail straight for Cos, the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. 2 Finding a ship crossing over to Phoenicia (Phe-neeki), we boarded and set sail. 3 After we sighted Cyprus, passing to the south of it, we sailed on to Syria and arrived at Tyre (tee-rah) (5 days of sailing), since the ship was to unload its cargo there. 4 We sought out the disciples and stayed there seven days.

• This new testament church was established after the dispersion of Stephen’s martyred death.
• Paul was involved with Stephen’s death.

Through the Spirit they told Paul not to go to Jerusalem. 5 When our time had come to an end, we left to continue our journey, while all of them, with their wives and children, accompanied us out of the city. After kneeling down on the beach to pray, 6 we said farewell to one another and boarded the ship, and they returned home.
7 When we completed our voyage from Tyre, we reached Ptolemais (Puh-tole-eh-my-ees), where we greeted the brothers and sisters and stayed with them for a day. 8 The next day we left and came to Caesarea, where we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the Seven, and stayed with him.

• Philip, one of the original deacons (Acts 6:1–6) who also served as an evangelist (Acts 8:5ff).
• It was now some twenty years since he had come to Caesarea and made it his headquarters (Acts 8:40).
• Since Philip had been an associate of Stephen, and Paul had taken part in Stephen’s death, this must have been an interesting meeting.[2]

9 This man had four virgin daughters who prophesied.
10 After we had been there for several days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.

• Some fifteen years before, Paul and Agabus had worked together in a famine relief program for Judea (Acts 11:27–30)(Sept 22, 2019), so they were not strangers.[3]

11 He came to us, took Paul’s belt, tied his own feet and hands,

• Old Testament – dramatic way of telling prophecy.

and said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews in Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him over to the Gentiles.’” 12 When we heard this, both we and the local people pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem.
13 Then Paul replied, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
14 Since he would not be persuaded, we said no more except, “The Lord’s will be done.”
 
CONFLICT OVER THE GENTILE MISSION
15 After this we got ready and went up to Jerusalem. 16 Some of the disciples from Caesarea also went with us and brought us to Mnason (muh-nah-sone) of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we were to stay.[4]

• A company of believers left Caesarea and traveled with Paul to Jerusalem, probably to celebrate the feast.
• It was a journey of sixty-five miles that took at least three days by foot—two days if they had animals.
• What fellowship they must have enjoyed as they recounted what God had done in and through them!
• What a great encouragement it was for Paul to have these friends at his side as he faced the challenge of Jerusalem.[5)

[1] Christian Standard Bible (Ac 20:13–38). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 489). Victor Books.
[3] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 489). Victor Books.
[4] Christian Standard Bible (Ac 21:1–16). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[5] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 490). Victor Books.

• As Paul has been winding his way to the end of this letter, he is expressing a form of accountability that we are all familiar with.

 
FINAL WARNINGS AND EXHORTATIONS
2 CORINTHIANS 13
1 This is the third time I am coming to you.

• Acts 18:1-11 - This was the trip to Corinth in 50 AD when Paul founded the church.
• Remember, he stayed there for about eighteen months that time and ministered in the city.
• Paul wrote his 1st letter to the Church in Thessalonica during that stay.
• 2 Corinthians 2:1-2 - The second trip that he alludes to here was the painful visit in the spring of ad 54, growing out of Timothy’s visit, when he went over and he found that things were not going well.

Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.

• Deuteronomy 19:15 - In context, this is as people are being taught about life in the promised land.

2 I gave a warning when I was present the second time, and now I give a warning while I am absent to those who sinned before and to all the rest: If I come again, I will not be lenient,

• Paul is expressing the idea of accountability here.
• He is warning them that he is coming to deal with those who are still refusing to repent of their sin.
• “You wait until your Dad gets home.”
• I’m coming to kick butt.
• I have used this approach many times over my years in ministry.

3 since you seek proof of Christ speaking in me.

• “You want to see Christ working in me? OK, I’ll show you!!!”

He is not weak in dealing with you, but powerful among you. 4 For he was crucified in weakness, but he lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by God’s power.

• OK… so what does this “accountability” look like when Paul actually comes to town?
• It looks like everything Paul has been teaching previously in this letter.
• He comes in weakness rather than his own fleshly strength.
• He comes in God’s strength… which is Romans 2:4 - Or do you despise the riches of his kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?[1]
• Every time I come to a brother/sister in Jesus, I come with a humble heart.
• Will they give me their ear? Not if I come in condemnation… but in grace.
• I don’t avoid the hard conversation of their sin… it is what is… but I come with the Good News of forgiveness and repentance.

5 Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith. Examine yourselves. Or do you yourselves not recognize that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless you fail the test.

• I am absolutely positive this is how Paul approached those who were still struggling with walking by faith.
• He reminded them of their identity in Christ.
• What does that mean that “Jesus is in you”?

6 And I hope you will recognize that we ourselves do not fail the test.

• If he comes with this exact message, he will be different than all the others who bringing condemnation.
• Then you can see that Christ is in us and we are listening to Him.

7 But we pray to God that you do nothing wrong—not that we may appear to pass the test, but that you may do what is right, even though we may appear to fail.

• Paul is going to walk by his flesh some times, but don’t let that distract you from what he normally does and what he teaches.

8 For we can’t do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. 9 We rejoice when we are weak and you are strong. We also pray that you become fully mature.

• This is the journey of all believers.
• It is natural for us to respond to the Truth.
• We have been given the ability to discern truth even when lies have been disguised as truth.
• As we mature in our spiritual growth, we are able to see things in light of the Spirit that resides in us.
• You see what Paul… and this ministry does here.
• At the same time that we pointing out flesh patterns, we are expressing truth to them and confirming the faith they already have.
• We just keep reminding them who they really are.

10 This is why I am writing these things while absent, so that when I am there I may not have to deal harshly with you, in keeping with the authority the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down.

• Paul would much rather have them see this truth in this letter rather than have to come and actually say it to their face.
• But sometimes you just have to have the face to face conversations.

11 Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice. Become mature, be encouraged, be of the same mind, be at peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.

• This letter is the result of dealing with a dysfunctional church but also encouraging them in their faith and maturity.

12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints send you greetings.

• This is a normal Middle Eastern greeting and goodbye.

13 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.[2]

• The fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
• This is a byproduct of walking by the Spirit together as a community.

 
PAUL IN MACEDONIA
ACTS 20
1 After the uproar was over, Paul sent for the disciples, encouraged them, and after saying farewell, departed to go to Macedonia. 2 And when he had passed through those areas (MAP - Illyricum – Romans 15:19) and offered them many words of encouragement, he came to Greece (Corinth) 3 and stayed three months.

• This would be the Winter of 57 AD
• He stayed as a guest of Gaius Titius Justus.
• We know this because during his stay in Corinth, he penned his letter to the church in Rome.
• He thanked Gaius for hosting him at the end of the letter.
• The letter to Rome was requested by Aquilla & Priscilla who are ministering in Rome.
• There are many foreigners coming and going from Rome and they had the opportunity to share the Gospel with them.
• They asked Paul to explain the Gospel clearly in his letter.
• They explain the tension between the Jews and the Gentiles (meat eating and holy days)
• Paul pens the letter to Church in Rome.

The Jews plotted against him when he was about to set sail for Syria (Antioch), and so he decided to go back through Macedonia. 4 He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia.

• 7 men plus Luke (author)
• These 7 men had brought Paul the relief fund for Jerusalem from the respective churches.
• They wanted to accompany Paul to Jerusalem.
• All 8 men went to Phiippi and caught up with Luke.

5 These men went on ahead and waited for us in Troas, 6 but we (Paul & Luke) sailed away from Philippi after the Festival of Unleavened Bread. In five days (unfavorable winds) we reached them at Troas, where we spent seven days.

• Map of Troas

 
EUTYCHUS REVIVED AT TROAS
7 On the first day of the week (Sunday), we assembled to break bread.

• They meet on the 3rd floor of the insula/apartment.
• It’s lit with many torches and kind of smoky. (hot)

Paul spoke to them, and since he was about to depart the next day, he kept on talking until midnight. 8 There were many lamps in the room upstairs where we were assembled, 9 and a young man (8-14 years old) named Eutychus was sitting on a window sill and sank into a deep sleep as Paul kept on talking.

• Let’s actually blame it on the room conditions rather than Paul’s preaching.

When he was overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was picked up dead. 10 But Paul went down, bent over him, embraced him, and said, “Don’t be alarmed, because he’s alive.” 11 After going upstairs, breaking the bread, and eating,

• They fed the young boy!

Paul talked a long time until dawn. Then he left. 12 They brought the boy home alive and were greatly comforted.[3]

• What do you think Paul talked about for so long?

The same thing we talk about every Sunday!

[1] Christian Standard Bible (Ro 2:4). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] Christian Standard Bible (2 Co 13:1–13). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] Christian Standard Bible (Ac 20:1–12). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.

• We start today with the 2nd part of Paul’s “Fool’s Speech”.
• Paul is continuing to explain his weakness.

 
PAUL AND THE FALSE APOSTLES
2 CORINTHIANS 11
32 In Damascus, a ruler under King Aretas guarded the city of Damascus in order to arrest me. 33 So I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped from his hands.[1]

• Paul had to escape the city in one of the lowest forms of exiting guarded city.
• There was no parade for Paul.

 
SUFFICIENT GRACE
2 Corinthians 12
1 Boasting is necessary. It is not profitable, but I will move on to visions and revelations of the Lord.

• Paul was “boasting” in the previous verses because that is what the professional speakers did.
• But Paul chose to boast about his weaknesses rather than his strengths which is totally opposite of the talented speakers.
• But now Paul is actually boasting about something positive.

2 I know a man in Christ who was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether he was in the body or out of the body, I don’t know; God knows.

• Paul is referring to himself but speaking in 3rd person because he doesn’t want to talk about himself like the “super Apostles”/false teachers.
• The Jews of the day in apocalyptic literature believed that there was a heavenly Jerusalem, and that heavenly Jerusalem had a heavenly tabernacle or temple, and it was laid out like the earthly tabernacle or temple.
• In fact, Hebrews talks about this in Hebrews 8, saying that when Moses built the tabernacle, he did it on the basis of looking into heaven itself, seeing the heavenly tabernacle, and kind of sketching that out and using that as the design for the earthly tabernacle.
• So here, Paul is giving that kind of Jewish apocalyptic idea of making this trip to heaven, and it seems that when he describes this experience, he is snatched up into the very presence of God, right into the throne room of God in heaven.
• God also honored Paul by taking him to heaven, and then sending him back to the earth again.
• This marvelous experience had taken place fourteen years before the writing of this letter, which would place the experience in about the year 43 AD.
• This would be the period in Paul’s life between his departure for Tarsus (Acts 9:30) and his visit from Barnabas (Acts 11:25–26).
• There is no record of the details of this event, and it is useless for us to speculate.[2]
• That’s the significance of the third heaven.[3]

3 I know that this man—whether in the body or out of the body I don’t know; God knows--4 was caught up into paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a human being is not allowed to speak. 5 I will boast about this person, but not about myself, except of my weaknesses.

• Paul says the words are inexpressible because he does not want to focus on this story being about him and his experience.
• This is opposite of what the false teachers would have spoken about.
• The false teachers would have spoken about all the things they have experienced first-hand.
• It could also mean that God spoke words that could only be heard in heaven.
• If most people experienced this visit to heaven, they would have told people immediately.
• Paul waited 14 years to mention it.

6 For if I want to boast, I wouldn’t be a fool, because I would be telling the truth. But I will spare you, so that no one can credit me with something beyond what he sees in me or hears from me, 7 especially because of the extraordinary revelations. Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to torment me so that I would not exalt myself.

• The word “thorn” is actually referenced a few other times in the Scripture.
• In every case these refer to some form of opposition[4]
• It could have been a physical ailment: malaria, epilepsy or even an eye disease… or even a speech impediment.
• Possibly a psychological or mental health issue. Such as anxiety, depression or even sexual addiction.
• I personally believe that Paul is referring to his constant battle of teaching truth and being falsely accused by the Judaizers everywhere he went.
• When you look at this broader context in 11:22–12:10, if you’ll notice, the list is primarily talking about hardships involving persecution.[5]

8 Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times that it would leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.”

• God did not give Paul an explanation, but He gave him a promise.

Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. 10 So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

• A beautiful ending to Paul’s “Fool’s Speech” is referring to his power is perfected in his weakness so the Good News could be advanced.
• When you get down to bottom and realize the only option you have is God… you are probably in a great spot.
• When you no longer have the ability to make the same unsuccessful choices… repeatedly…
• Then maybe it’s time to give up on you making the choices and let the holy living God who resides in you… to make your choices for you.

 
SIGNS OF AN APOSTLE
11 I have been a fool; you forced it on me. You ought to have commended me, since I am not in any way inferior to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.

• Paul is speaking to a minority in the Church at Corinth.
• The majority have already gotten on board with Paul.
• He’s just referring to a few people who have continued to listen to the false teachers.
• So Paul had to speak “foolishly” because that is what they have been attracted to.
• Paul is directly saying to them, “You should have already got in line and not made me deliver this foolish message.

12 The signs of an apostle were performed with unfailing endurance among you, including signs and wonders and miracles. 13 So in what way are you worse off than the other churches, except that I personally did not burden you? Forgive me for this wrong!

• What validated great speakers/teachers in the Corinth society (an even today) is the amount of money that was given to support their ministry.
• Paul did not do this.
• He did not take money from the Church in Corinth and they saw this as an insufficiency in Paul’s ministry.
• If he would have taken the money, he would have more credibility in society.

 
PAUL’S CONCERN FOR THE CORINTHIANS

• We can understand the whole structure of 2 Corinthians on the basis of them getting ready—getting ready by embracing his authentic ministry, getting ready by taking up the collection for Jerusalem, and getting ready by dealing with the false teachers in 10–13.[6]

14 Look, I am ready to come to you this third time. I will not burden you, since I am not seeking what is yours, but you. For children ought not save up for their parents, but parents for their children.

• Paul is not planning on changing his ministry ways.
• He wants to support and give to the Church at Corinth.

15 I will most gladly spend and be spent for you., If I love you more, am I to be loved less? 16 Now granted, I did not burden you; yet sly as I am, I took you in by deceit!

• Paul is being sarcastic here.
• He is actually saying that he did opposite of what the false teachers did.
• He did not use their tactics… which they thought were honest.

17 Did I take advantage of you by any of those I sent you? 18 I urged Titus to go, and I sent the brother with him. Titus didn’t take advantage of you, did he? Didn’t we walk in the same spirit and in the same footsteps?

• He sent others to minister to them as well and they patterned their ministry after Paul as well.
• Titus and others did not take anything from the Church at Corinth.
• Everything Paul and his team of ministers did was done with integrity.

19 Have you been thinking all along that we were defending ourselves to you? No, in the sight of God we are speaking in Christ, and everything, dear friends, is for building you up.

• Paul wanted to clarify that he was not defending his ministry or style of ministry.
• He was explaining how they have done ministry with authenticity and integrity.
• It was more about the ministry to the Church than it was about Paul’s personal ministry.

20 For I fear that perhaps when I come I will not find you to be what I want, and you may not find me to be what you want. Perhaps there will be quarreling, jealousy, angry outbursts, selfish ambitions, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.

• Paul is wanting the Church at Corinth to all be on the same page when he arrives.
• The Church is less than 5 years old.
• The Church is made up of many different house churches and many different teachings.
• He wanted them all in unison.

21 I fear that when I come my God will again humiliate me in your presence, and I will grieve for many who sinned before and have not repented of the moral impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality they practiced.[7]

• Paul is encouraging transparency and community.
• Moral impurity, sexual immorality and sensuality are not just Corinth’s issues.
• They seem to be every society’s issue.

This is a basic plea by Paul to stay focused on Jesus by the renewing of our minds.

[1] Christian Standard Bible (2 Co 11:1–33). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 673). Victor Books.
[3] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Lexham Press.
[4] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Lexham Press.
[5] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Lexham Press.
[6] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Lexham Press.
[7] Christian Standard Bible (2 Co 12:1–21). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.

• I start with asking the question, “What are you passionate about?”
• How does that affect your words or behavior?

 

• Paul focuses in on how he is weak in the sense of being persecuted, pouring his life out, [and] living a life that was really like a slave’s life in some ways in terms of the work he had to do [and] the type of life he had to live.
• And he does this “Fool’s Speech” to set his form of ministry, which is sacrificial, over against the false ministry of these interlopers in Corinth who are trying to stand up and present themselves as powerful people in the culture—people who have money, people who have position. Paul says that’s not really what Christian ministry is about.[1]

PAUL AND THE FALSE APOSTLES
2 CORINTHIANS 11
1 I wish you would put up with a little foolishness from me. Yes, do put up with me!

• The process that he uses here is basically a plea. In verse 1 he’s going to say, “Come on, guys. Bear with me. Bear with me.” “Work with me here” is really what he’s saying.[2]

2 For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy, because I have promised you in marriage to one husband—to present a pure virgin to Christ.

• Paul wants to make sure that the Corinthians are doctrinally pure [and] that they are not getting off into theologically dangerous and destructive beliefs because of buying into the teaching of these false teachers.
• It’s actually the kind of jealousy where you feel very deep emotions because you are deeply interested in the welfare of someone.

3 But I fear that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your minds may be seduced from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if a person comes and preaches another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or you receive a different spirit, which you had not received, or a different gospel, which you had not accepted, you put up with it splendidly!

• “You guys are not approaching this situation with these false teachers from a wisdom standpoint, from a biblical standpoint. You’re buying into their foolishness.”
• These are not valid Christian teachers who just differ with Paul in approach. He says that they are preaching another Jesus; they’re preaching under the influence of a different spirit, and they are preaching a different gospel than the true gospel.
• Often people use that word “tolerance” to say that we ought to accept everybody no matter what.[3]

5 Now I consider myself in no way inferior to those “super-apostles.”

• someone who did not have extensive training.[4]

6 Even if I am untrained in public speaking, I am certainly not untrained in knowledge. Indeed, we have in every way made that clear to you in everything.

• He points out here that what he is especially good at is communicating knowledge or truth.
• He’s saying that “Even though I have chosen not to use flowery rhetorical ability here, I have taught you faithfully.”[5]

7 Or did I commit a sin by humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge? 8 I robbed other churches by taking pay from them to minister to you.

• He actually uses missions funds from Macedonia to support his ministry in Corinth.[6]

9 When I was present with you and in need, I did not burden anyone, since the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my needs. I have kept myself, and will keep myself, from burdening you in any way.

• He does not want to be obligated to any power person in Corinth to promote their agenda.[7]

10 As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be stopped in the regions of Achaia. 11 Why? Because I don’t love you? God knows I do!

• If you want me to boast about something, I’m going to boast about the fact that I’m not taking money from you.[8]

12 But I will continue to do what I am doing, in order to deny an opportunity to those who want to be regarded as our equals in what they boast about. 13 For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no great surprise if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will be according to their works.

• Well, he says, “I’m going to carry out a pattern of ministry that makes what I’m doing and my gospel very distinct from the approach of these false teachers.
• I want you to see very clearly that we are not doing the same thing.
• It’s not simply a choice between gospel ministry A and gospel ministry B.”
• Paul says, “Their form of ministry is false.
• They are false apostles, they are deceitful, [and] they are just disguised as apostles of Christ.”
• And he says this fits their character perfectly.
• Whereas Paul himself follows the pattern of Christ, these false teachers follow the pattern of Satan.
• You can have people who come and minister in a church, and they’re using the right words.
• They present themselves as really concerned about righteousness, and yet, when you dig a little bit deeper in what is going on with them, there are red flags there that point to the fact that they’re really not authentic ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ.[9]

 
PAUL’S SUFFERINGS FOR CHRIST
16 I repeat: Let no one consider me a fool. But if you do, at least accept me as a fool so that I can also boast a little. 17 What I am saying in this matter of boasting, I don’t speak as the Lord would, but as it were, foolishly. 18 Since many boast according to the flesh, I will also boast.

• The process here that he uses is direct confrontation. He is saying, “You guys are doing something that is inappropriate.”
• And it’s really a beautiful piece of rhetoric that he is using here, and he gets into a bit of sarcasm, actually, where he is saying things on the surface like he’s applauding them, but really, what he’s doing is he is chastising them.
• He is really confronting them very directly with how bad it is that they are welcoming these false teachers in their midst.[10]

19 For you, being so wise, gladly put up with fools! 20 In fact, you put up with it if someone enslaves you, if someone exploits you, if someone takes advantage of you, if someone is arrogant toward you, if someone slaps you in the face. 21 I say this to our shame: We have been too weak for that!

• A slave’s status was the lowest status in the culture—“if these false teachers eat up your resources; if they gobble down the resources that you have, then you applaud them. You think that that’s great. If they just swallow you whole, you think that’s a great thing.”
• So, in essence, in this whole section of 2 Corinthians, I think Paul is directly addressing that minority who are still interacting with the false teachers, and he’s really interacting and directing his comments toward those false teachers themselves.
• He never addresses them directly because he doesn’t want to dignify them, but he is always having his words aimed at those guys in the background.[11]

But in whatever anyone dares to boast—I am talking foolishly—I also dare: 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the descendants of Abraham? So am I.

• Paul is identifying with the false teachers.
• They must be the Judeizers that have persistently followed Paul’s ministry.

23 Are they servants of Christ? I’m talking like a madman—I’m a better one: with far more labors, many more imprisonments, far worse beatings, many times near death.

• Now Paul distinguishes the differences between them and himself.
• Power vs weakness.
• Paul is presenting that he is superior because of his weaknesses… pure foolishness.
• This is the whole Gospel… it is foolishness to the world.

24 Five times I received the forty lashes minus one from the Jews. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I received a stoning. Three times I was shipwrecked. I have spent a night and a day in the open sea. 26 On frequent journeys, I faced dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own people, dangers from Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, and dangers among false brothers; 27 toil and hardship, many sleepless nights, hunger and thirst, often without food, cold, and without clothing. 28 Not to mention other things, there is the daily pressure on me: my concern for all the churches.

• Paul is dealing with anxiety because of his passion for the Church.
• What search committee would present Paul as a candidate for church leadership based upon this resume?

29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?
30 If boasting is necessary, I will boast about my weaknesses. 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is blessed forever, knows I am not lying.

• Here is a man who had it all as a Pharisee.
• Gave it all up for a life of weakness and misery.
• He was beaten by both the Jews and the Gentiles.
• Around 400 AD, Augustine said there two kinds of pastors: those who cared for their flock and others who sit in it to gratify themselves by temporal honors and worldly advantages.[12]
• It happened in the early church. It happened in 400 AD and it is still happening today.
• Most likely, the ones who Paul is adamant against would probably never teach this passage.

[1] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Lexham Press.
[2] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Lexham Press.
[3] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Lexham Press.
[4] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Lexham Press.
[5] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Lexham Press.
[6] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Lexham Press.
[7] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Lexham Press.
[8] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Lexham Press.
[9] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Lexham Press.
[10] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Lexham Press.
[11] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Lexham Press.
[12] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Lexham Press.