Reading: 2 Corinthians 11-13, Psalm 4

For the closing of this letter, Paul’s mode of address changes. He has made his arguments about authority, suffering, and the Kingdom of God. Now he turns his attention to the “super apostles” and the problems they are causing the Corinthians.

Of first importance in Paul’s mind is the distortion of the gospel that they are preaching. They are presenting a different Jesus, and so a different gospel, than the one Paul declares. This drives Paul a bit nuts, not because of how it reflects on him, but because it puts the Corinthians understanding of their new life in jeopardy. We see some of the playing out of these problems in Paul’s comments in both letters to the Corinthians: a rejection of the resurrection, an emphasis on the appearance and speech of certain individuals, a pride is possessions that elevates the rich over the poor, and the healthy over the sick, and the fortunate over the suffering. That Paul’s own suffering is being used as evidence of this false gospel drives him to make arguments for his own validity that he would really prefer not to have to make.

Paul starts comparing himself to those who preach this false gospel, essentially saying, “fine, if you want to play that game, I can play with the best of them.” Paul is no second rate orator or theologian. but he doesn’t want to make that the focus. His defence of his ministry is not the point of his ministry, and as soon as he can, he’d just as soon get off the topic of himself and start talking about Jesus and the Kingdom of God to whomever will listen.

He uses all kinds of points of comparison. Education? Got that. Experience? Got that. Visions and signs? Got that. How about direct commission by Jesus personally? Paul’s got that. Anyone else playing in that space? No? Well then, let’s stop talking about me. Let’s talk about you instead. About your behvior. Does it match the message you said you believed? Does it meet the standards of selflessness and dependence on the mercy and Justice of God that you committed to when you heard it the first time? No? Well, do t expect me to come and be nice to you then!

Paul has circled back to what he really cares about: the Corinthian’s acceptance of the gospel. He has already said he will risk anything to convince them to remain committed to repentance into life in the name of Jesus. They have decided to use his restraint as an excuse not to listen, but Paul is not practicing restraint for it’s own sake, or even for the sake of the relationship, but for the sake of the gospel. If the way to get them to accept the gospel is to be unrestrained, Paul will go there.

This is not Paul’s preference, but he sees a pattern in the Corinthian church. He has visited twice before and found the same issues. If he comes and again and finds the same he will not be practicing restraint, though he sees even this as a humbling of himself by God. He cares about the Corinthians, and to have to be harsh with then is awful for him. But Paul sees this as entirely within God’s hands. In the end, he will do God’s will to bring them to repentance, even if they dislike him for it.