2Cor 12:21 | KingComments | STEP | . Paul looks back on his defense. He repeats what he had always said, namely, that he had become “a fool” to talk about himself. But the Corinthians had forced him to do so because they had started listening to other apostles, indeed false apostles. These men had spoken negatively about Paul. The Corinthians had allowed their negative influences although they were supposed to know better. Has not Paul been the means through which they came to faith in the Lord Jesus? It should not have been necessary for Paul to defend himself. It was the Corinthians who ought to have defended him. He was not a whit behind the most eminent apostles who were with the Lord Jesus. This is with regard to his service. His person mattered nothing. . When he was with the Corinthians they were witnesses to the signs and wonders and mighty deeds he had performed. Those signs and wonders were not flukes, but they were things he did with all perseverance. Through perseverance someone shows what kind of man he is. In Paul’s case the Corinthians could recognize that he stood up to what he preached and that his preaching originated from a Higher Authority. . Compared to other churches Paul’s service to the Corinthians was not lacking in any way. He was fully committed to them as he was to the others. The only difference was that he did not accept any money from them as he did from other churches. Did they see it as a proof that he did not really love them? As he had mentioned earlier he never wanted to give them the impression that he was after his own profit or advantage. Their spiritual standard was such that they would only boast that they also made their contribution in the sustenance of the apostle. Paul wanted to avoid this. He wanted to serve them without any obligation so that he could tell them freely where they were lacking. Did they say that Paul was wrong in not asking for any financial support from them? With some irony he asks them to forgive him. . At the same time he says that he will not deal differently when he comes “this third time” to them. Again he will not accept any money from them. By the way, how can Paul speak of “this third time” when we find no proof for a second visit to Corinth in his itinerary mentioned in Acts? An explanation could be that he set out for a second visit but the Corinthian’s poor progress made him postpone it. He wanted to spare them a sharp reprimand and give them time to change the wrong things for the better. This can be inferred from what he says in chapter 1 ( ). Now for the third time he was ready to come and this time he loved to come because he had their well-being before his eyes. He was interested in them personally and not in their money or possessions. They were his children in the faith. As a real caring father he did not want to get any profit from his children, but on the other hand he wanted to give them as much as he possibly could out of all that he had. Like parents who save money for their children, Paul had great spiritual wealth which he wanted to distribute among his children. . He was not bothered whether or not they understood his mind. He loved them extraordinarily and what he says here is a proof of his true love. Whether love is reciprocated or misinterpreted the nature of love remains the same. Despite all the troubles the Corinthians gave him he continued to care for them. In fact the hassle they created for him augmented his concern for them all the more and thus his love for them only became more abundant. He who is influenced by gossip always explains wrongly the things the other one does. But Paul thereby was not discouraged. He went to the deepest possible level. He was willing to spend and to be spent for them, if only they went again in the right way of the Lord. . Didn’t they accept his proofs of love despite all he did for them? Let it be. In no way he has been burdensome to them. As for him he let them interpret his work as crafty and deceitful, if only they shouldn’t think that he did things for his own interest. He certainly didn’t adopt any questionable means. Perhaps they thought that he sent others to them to have profits. . Now he could boldly look them in the eyes and even challenge them about the attitude of his co-worker Titus and the brother who was with Titus. They had to admit that those two brothers were of the same spirit of love and service as they had noticed in Paul and that they acted in the same way. . How persistent and troublesome when the once sown seeds of mistrust take up root! It is very difficult to uproot them. The false teachers had done a very damaging work. But Paul was tireless and confident to restore the breach of trust. The thought that he was trying to defend himself is brought by Paul in the presence of God. You can only do that if you have a clear conscience before God. And Paul has. Christ was the content of his ministry. The presence of God was the starting point of his service. The goal of his service was edifying the believers in Corinth. See how he addresses them; he calls them “beloved”. This is not a casual remark; it shows the feelings of his heart. This is the best way to win the erring believers. Does it mean that he was lenient toward their falsehood? No not at all. Love “does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth” ( ). . That is why Paul adds a warning to his comments that must deeply touch them. There are yet a few things which are not in order. He didn’t make up the list he sums up. They are things that were present among the believers in Corinth. No doubt they are present even today among believers. . For Paul to see such errors in the church when he would visit them was a humiliation. He would consider as if God Himself kept ready such humiliation for him and that too in their midst. He would experience it as a personal failure before God, for he has not succeeded in persuading the Corinthian believers to put away the wrong things. How sad he should be to see many of those who have sinned still have not repented of the sins they had committed. The damage sin causes is more than what one can imagine. It is not enough to break with sin. Sincere repentance is essential. Only then the way is open to receive and enjoy God’s blessings through His servants. When there is no sincere repentance for a sin the risk is huge to fall into the same sin again. When you reflect on the beginning of this chapter you see a big contrast with the end. The chapter begins with a man in Christ who was caught up in paradise and it ends up with people who have not yet distanced themselves from terrible sins. Both are possible. I trust that you have truly broken with your previous sins and that now you live as a man in Christ. Now read 2 Corinthians 12:11-21 again. Reflection: How does Paul relate to the Corinthians? How does he express himself about that relationship?

‏ 2 Corinthians 12:21

Paul’s Concern for the Corinthians

2Cor 12:11. Paul looks back on his defense. He repeats what he had always said, namely, that he had become “a fool” to talk about himself. But the Corinthians had forced him to do so because they had started listening to other apostles, indeed false apostles. These men had spoken negatively about Paul. The Corinthians had allowed their negative influences although they were supposed to know better. Has not Paul been the means through which they came to faith in the Lord Jesus?

It should not have been necessary for Paul to defend himself. It was the Corinthians who ought to have defended him. He was not a whit behind the most eminent apostles who were with the Lord Jesus. This is with regard to his service. His person mattered nothing.

2Cor 12:12. When he was with the Corinthians they were witnesses to the signs and wonders and mighty deeds he had performed. Those signs and wonders were not flukes, but they were things he did with all perseverance. Through perseverance someone shows what kind of man he is. In Paul’s case the Corinthians could recognize that he stood up to what he preached and that his preaching originated from a Higher Authority.

2Cor 12:13. Compared to other churches Paul’s service to the Corinthians was not lacking in any way. He was fully committed to them as he was to the others. The only difference was that he did not accept any money from them as he did from other churches. Did they see it as a proof that he did not really love them? As he had mentioned earlier he never wanted to give them the impression that he was after his own profit or advantage.

Their spiritual standard was such that they would only boast that they also made their contribution in the sustenance of the apostle. Paul wanted to avoid this. He wanted to serve them without any obligation so that he could tell them freely where they were lacking. Did they say that Paul was wrong in not asking for any financial support from them? With some irony he asks them to forgive him.

2Cor 12:14. At the same time he says that he will not deal differently when he comes “this third time” to them. Again he will not accept any money from them.

By the way, how can Paul speak of “this third time” when we find no proof for a second visit to Corinth in his itinerary mentioned in Acts? An explanation could be that he set out for a second visit but the Corinthian’s poor progress made him postpone it. He wanted to spare them a sharp reprimand and give them time to change the wrong things for the better. This can be inferred from what he says in chapter 1 (2Cor 1:15 ; 23).

Now for the third time he was ready to come and this time he loved to come because he had their well-being before his eyes. He was interested in them personally and not in their money or possessions. They were his children in the faith. As a real caring father he did not want to get any profit from his children, but on the other hand he wanted to give them as much as he possibly could out of all that he had. Like parents who save money for their children, Paul had great spiritual wealth which he wanted to distribute among his children.

2Cor 12:15. He was not bothered whether or not they understood his mind. He loved them extraordinarily and what he says here is a proof of his true love. Whether love is reciprocated or misinterpreted the nature of love remains the same. Despite all the troubles the Corinthians gave him he continued to care for them. In fact the hassle they created for him augmented his concern for them all the more and thus his love for them only became more abundant.

He who is influenced by gossip always explains wrongly the things the other one does. But Paul thereby was not discouraged. He went to the deepest possible level. He was willing to spend and to be spent for them, if only they went again in the right way of the Lord.

2Cor 12:16-17. Didn’t they accept his proofs of love despite all he did for them? Let it be. In no way he has been burdensome to them. As for him he let them interpret his work as crafty and deceitful, if only they shouldn’t think that he did things for his own interest. He certainly didn’t adopt any questionable means. Perhaps they thought that he sent others to them to have profits.

2Cor 12:18. Now he could boldly look them in the eyes and even challenge them about the attitude of his co-worker Titus and the brother who was with Titus. They had to admit that those two brothers were of the same spirit of love and service as they had noticed in Paul and that they acted in the same way.

2Cor 12:19. How persistent and troublesome when the once sown seeds of mistrust take up root! It is very difficult to uproot them. The false teachers had done a very damaging work. But Paul was tireless and confident to restore the breach of trust. The thought that he was trying to defend himself is brought by Paul in the presence of God. You can only do that if you have a clear conscience before God. And Paul has. Christ was the content of his ministry. The presence of God was the starting point of his service. The goal of his service was edifying the believers in Corinth.

See how he addresses them; he calls them “beloved”. This is not a casual remark; it shows the feelings of his heart. This is the best way to win the erring believers. Does it mean that he was lenient toward their falsehood? No not at all. Love “does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth” (1Cor 13:6).

2Cor 12:20. That is why Paul adds a warning to his comments that must deeply touch them. There are yet a few things which are not in order. He didn’t make up the list he sums up. They are things that were present among the believers in Corinth. No doubt they are present even today among believers.

2Cor 12:21. For Paul to see such errors in the church when he would visit them was a humiliation. He would consider as if God Himself kept ready such humiliation for him and that too in their midst. He would experience it as a personal failure before God, for he has not succeeded in persuading the Corinthian believers to put away the wrong things. How sad he should be to see many of those who have sinned still have not repented of the sins they had committed. The damage sin causes is more than what one can imagine.

It is not enough to break with sin. Sincere repentance is essential. Only then the way is open to receive and enjoy God’s blessings through His servants. When there is no sincere repentance for a sin the risk is huge to fall into the same sin again.

When you reflect on the beginning of this chapter you see a big contrast with the end. The chapter begins with a man in Christ who was caught up in paradise and it ends up with people who have not yet distanced themselves from terrible sins. Both are possible. I trust that you have truly broken with your previous sins and that now you live as a man in Christ.

Now read 2 Corinthians 12:11-21 again.

Reflection: How does Paul relate to the Corinthians? How does he express himself about that relationship?