2 Corinthians: Part 4 - Ch. 10-13

The Conclusion

As we conclude our series on Paul’s letters to the Corinthians today, we will see that Paul is not just concluding a second letter, but rather, he is concluding his message to them as a whole by discussing some very important topics. Paul starts out in chapters 10 and 11 by defending his authority and apostleship. The very reason we should listen to Paul and trust him as an apostle is listed out in these chapters. Paul then ends his letter by warning the Corinthians of a concern he has for them and telling them to examine themselves in the faith. By going over all of this, Paul proves that the highest order we are to follow is Christ. It isn’t apostles or churches or other ways of life, it is Christ and Christ alone. Paul knows how easy it is to fall away from the truth and follow something that aligns more with our desires, which is why he is so clear on who the focus of our lives should be. Just as The Gospel Coalition brilliantly states, “We all have genres of Scripture that appeal to us and tempt us to develop a personal ‘canon within the canon.’” Everyone can be tempted to make the Bible say what they want it to say, and this is exactly what Paul is warning the Corinthians about. Don’t follow your desires, or fancy preaching, or the large masses, follow Christ and His word. Let’s dive into these final few chapters and see just how Paul sets the church in Corinth up for success as he concludes this letter. 

Authority & Apostleship 

To begin, Paul defends his authority and apostleship within chapters 10 and 11. Now, why would Paul spend much time defending himself on this? The reason is that if the Corinthians can’t trust Paul, then everything he has said up until this point can just be thrown in the trash. If Paul isn’t really an apostle, then he doesn’t have the authority that those who have come before him had, and if he doesn’t have authority, then why listen to him in the first place? Paul understands all of this, which is why he makes all this clear right at the end of chapter 10. 2 Corinthians 10:18 says, “For it is not the one who commends himself that is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.” Make no mistake about it, Paul did not lift himself up on some specific altar and claim that he was above others. It was quite the contrary. Paul defended his words, not because of who he was, but because of how God had used him and how the Lord had commended him. Paul further defends himself by discussing how he is an apostle of Christ by listing out his qualifications. He does this in 2 Corinthians 11:21-23 where he says, “To my shame I must say that we have been weak by comparison. But in whatever respect anyone else is bold—I am speaking in foolishness—I too am bold. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.  Are they servants of Christ?—I am speaking as if insane—I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death.” Every standard that the apostles hold for being true apostles of Christ, Paul also reaches. This last statement that he says about being a servant of Christ is probably the most important one for today. Apostles were mainly defined by being with Jesus while He was here on earth during His ministry, and most people would say that Paul is not a part of this. However, when Jesus came to Paul on the road to Damascus and changed his life forever, this would then qualify Paul as a true apostle. Not only does this event qualify Paul, but he even argues that it more so qualifies him because of what he has gone through to defend the gospel! This is why we can all trust Paul’s authority and apostleship. 

Examine Yourselves

Furthermore, we see Paul conclude his second letter by discussing a concern he has for the Corinthians and by teaching them to examine themselves. Paul states this concern clearly in 2 Corinthians 12:20-21 which says, “For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you to be not what I wish, and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps there will be strife, jealousy, angry tempers, selfishness, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances; I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and indecent behavior which they have practiced.” Paul’s biggest fear is that the Corinthians’ repentance will prove to be untrue. This is just about everyone’s biggest fear when a loved one claims to be saved. Was the repentance real, or was this just a moment of emotional response? This is why Paul writes this. It is to urge the Corinthians to follow Christ and the leading of His Spirit, so that they may be true Christians. 

This is also why Paul concludes his letter by stating in 2 Corinthians 13:5 “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?” As believers, we are to be constantly surrounding ourselves with God’s word in order to make sure that we have not fallen away from the true gospel. This is indeed how we are to examine ourselves. Study the scriptures, search the gospel, see who Christ is, and follow Him. Don’t become distracted by who this world tells you to follow; rather, be all in for Christ and His coming kingdom. I hope and pray that as we’ve gone through these two letters from Paul to the Corinthians, you would be filled with hope and clarity as you see how we should properly operate as a Church and as you see how repentance and faith in Christ lead to a fulfilling life. 

Sources

[1] Blue Letter Bible. (n.d.). Blue Letter Bible. https://www.blueletterbible.org/

[2] Mathis, D. R., II. (2024, March 20). Did Paul Preach a Different Gospel than Jesus? The Gospel Coalition. https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/paul-different-gospel-jesus/