Anyone would think it absurd to turn away from a sincere, loving, and caring individual to a self-serving, manipulative, and hateful one. However, ironically Paul found the Corinthians acting thusly. Their actions were instigated by certain false teachers who claimed to be apostles themselves. The Corinthians were greatly influenced by their deception to the degree that Paul’s authority, and apostleship were doubted. The Corinthians reaction toward his love, care, and service evokes an image of a child’s display of ungratefulness toward his parents. It is doubtless that Paul spent much time in concerned thought for the church in Corinth only to find their confidence, and appreciation for him contaminated by the leaven of false teachers.

Those who presented a false image of the apostle to the Corinthians were blinded by their carnality. They accused Paul of being inconsistent, and contradictory. “’For his letters,’ they say, ‘are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible’” (2 Corinthians 10:10). Paul’s goal was to have the mind of Christ (cf. Philippians 2:5-8). The image of Christ is misconstrued as weak, and foolish by those who are perishing (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:18-25). However, Paul understood that this “weakness,” and “foolishness” was in actuality strength, and wisdom. This was Paul’s motivation – “who in presence [was] lowly among [the Corinthians], but being absent [was] bold toward [them]” (2 Corinthians 10:1). Just as the Jews perceived Jesus’ tender mercies as pitiful, and weak and mocked Him as He hanged on the cross – assuming He and His plan were defeated – so the false teachers mock Paul’s “meekness and gentleness of Christ.” However, just as the Jews failed to realize that Jesus would return again to punish those disobedient to Him, the false teachers, and Corinthians, failed to realize Paul was willing, and able, to come to them with a rod (cf. 1 Corinthians 4:21).

The false apostles appealed to their boastful appearance to lure the Corinthians into submission to their message. Ergo, Paul wrote, “I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3). The Corinthians were putting up with a different gospel simply because of the deception of the false teachers – “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:13). Paul effectively reminded his audience of Satan, who “himself transforms himself into an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14). “Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works” (2 Corinthians 11:15).

In order to fully redirect their thoughts back “into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (10:5), Paul reluctantly stoops to boasting about his credentials. Although Paul is careful to point out that “what [he] speak[s], [he] speak[s] not according to the Lord, but as it were, foolishly, in this confidence of boasting” (2 Corinthians 11:17), it is interesting to see the message of the cross shining amidst what he calls “foolish.” His boasting is ironically “in the things which concern [his] infirmity” (2 Corinthians 11:30). It consists of various sufferings he endured for the sake of Christ (cf. 11:23-28). Although the false apostles apparently had much to boast about they could not boast about suffering for Christ – which is highly esteemed by God (cf. 1 Peter 4:12-16). These things of which Paul boasted corroborated his proclaimed apostleship, and debunked that of the false teachers.

It is interesting, and flattering, to notice Paul’s final, and perhaps most emphasized thought in the list of his boasting. He wrote, “besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches” (2 Corinthians 11:28). This statement speaks volumes about Paul’s sincere love for God, Christ, the truth, and all those who have been born again via the gospel (cf. 1 Peter 1:23). Even in the midst of beatings, shipwrecks, tempests, hunger, thirst, destitution, sleeplessness, etc., Paul was deeply concerned for his brethren! He wanted to see his brothers and sisters in Christ complete the difficult race of life lived for God! This translated to his willingness to do anything for the purpose of saving a soul. His mindset is admirable, and should make us examine ourselves to find whether we love each other to the same degree. Let us love one another, and be concerned for one another, as Paul was deeply, and constantly for all the churches!