2 Corinthians预览

Our Chapter can be divided into three different sections based on the topic. So throughout this week, we will be looking at Paul’s humility in boasting, persistence in prayer, joy in suffering, and purpose in the message.

Looking at the beginning of this chapter Paul Immediately states “I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it...”

To understand exactly why Paul “must” go on boasting, it’s important to remember the context from the previous chapter. There were these ‘super-apostles’ that the Corinthian church was enamored over. So much so, that they began to have a distaste for Paul and his weaknesses. They were beginning to transfer that distaste onto the person that Paul taught about, which is Jesus. Therefore, Paul took on the role of establishing his own credibility to justify the credibility of the one he represented, Jesus.

Furthermore, there was this expectation being built in light of the super-apostles, that to be an apostle is to be without flaw and weakness but to be puffed up in pride and self-exaltation.

Paul combats this as he first establishes his own credibility, which is significantly more impressive than the super-apostles. But then he goes on to mention his own weaknesses. Paul's motive in boasting wasn’t to seek recognition, or fame, but to establish the one he was representing. In short, to clear Paul's name at this moment was to lift up the name of Jesus.

In the same way, as we mirror Jesus and represent Him with our own actions, we glorify His name.

Looking at Micah 6:8 alongside this chapter we realize that the Lord simply requires three things from us as sons and daughters. And that is to “do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with our God” (Micah 6:8).