Lesson 397 - Senior

Memory Verse

"I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake:  for when I am weak, then am I strong" (II Corinthians 12:10).

Cross References

I Paul's Defence

1. Paul sets forth the spiritual power with which he is armed against the adversary, [2CO:10:1-9]; [EPH:6:13].

2. Paul's opposers said his letters were weighty, but his speech contemptible, [2CO:10:10-11]; [GAL:4:13]; [1CO:2:3-5].

3. Paul accuses them of reaching out beyond their measure and boasting in other men's labour, [2CO:10:12-16].

4. Whom the Lord commendeth is approved, [2CO:10:17-18]; [PRO:27:2]; [ROM:2:29].

II Paul's Suffering for the Gospel

1. Paul is forced to commend himself, [2CO:11:1-22]; [JHN:8:44].

2. Paul recounts his suffering for the Gospel, [2CO:11:23-33]; [DEU:25:3]; [1CO:9:22]; [ACT:20:31]; [ACT:27:41].

III Paul's Revelations

1. Paul caught up to Paradise, [2CO:12:1-6].

2. Lest he be exalted above measure through the abundance of these revelations, he was given a thorn in the flesh, [2CO:12:7-9]; [GAL:4:13-14].

3. He gloried in these infirmities, for when he was weak then he was strong, [2CO:12:10]; [2CO:7:4]; [2CO:13:4]; [ROM:5:3].

4. He received wages from other churches that he might preach the Gospel free of charge to them, [2CO:12:11-21]; [ACT:20:33]; [2CO:11:8].

Notes

The Greatest Missionary

Paul was a native of Tarsus, a city noted for its learning. He was well versed in Greek culture and philosophy. He was also a pupil of Gamaliel, the noted Jewish teacher of that day. He knew the Law. All this was not a requisite to being an Apostle but we do believe the Lord used these things, and made him the greatest missionary the world has ever seen.

Requirements to Be an Apostle

There were some requirements the people deemed necessary in order for one to be an Apostle. One of these was that he must have seen the Lord. In [1CO:9:1-2], Paul asks the questions: "Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord? If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord." In [1CO:15:8]; "And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time." Paul tells them plainly that he had seen the Lord.

Another requirement was that he be divinely called. (Paul's call is recorded in [GAL:1:11-12].) Another requirement was that signs and wonders must accompany his ministry [MAK:16:17-18]). Paul fulfilled all these requirements. He said, "Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds" [2CO:12:12]).

Paul preached for a year and a half at Corinth. The Lord worked mightily and a strong church was established. In Paul's absence, the devil had slipped in an emissary who claimed to be an Apostle of Jesus Christ. He was drawing the people unto himself and away from the true Gospel. In order to build up a name for himself, he assailed Paul and put him into ill repute with the church. He could find nothing against Paul's character, so he found fault with his bodily appearance and speech. The enemy asserted that Paul was bold and his letters powerful when absent, but when present he was weak and his speech contemptible.

Paul brands them as false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the Apostles of Christ; and he says it was no wonder, for Satan transforms himself into an angel of light, and it is not strange if his ministers try to transform themselves into ministers of righteousness.

Measuring by Themselves

Paul tells them it is not wisdom to measures themselves by themselves. There is no limit to the height of a man's opinion of himself so long as he compares himself with himself or with an inferior and not with a superior.

Paul calls this walking after the flesh. "Though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds)." He assures them he is coming again to them and what he was when absent he would be to them the next time when present.

False Charges

In order to lead these Corinthians back to Christ, Paul felt he must vindicate himself by facts. He said that boasting is not consistent with Christian humility, but he must refute the false reports that were being circulated.

These false workers boasted of their lineage. Paul compares his own with them and then tells some of the many things he had suffered for the Gospel. As he recalls these hardships, his heart goes out to those who are weak and suffering and he exclaims, "Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is offended, and I burn not?" Besides all these trials there was that which came upon him daily: "the care of all the churches." He was no coward. He was ready to take the lion by the beard and throw him out. He would not allow the enemy to slip in unmolested and devour the flock. Paul may have been weak in body but not in spirit. He threw all his spiritual strength against the ruthless foe to overthrow him and save his flock.

Other Men's Labours

This false apostle had entered Paul's province and labours and was trying to take possession of them as if they were his own. An old worthy said about such a one: "It is base, abominable, and deeply sinful, for a man to thrust himself into other men's labours and by sowing doubtful disputations among Christian people, distract and divide them, that he may get a party to himself."

Paul never attempted to go where another had preached the Gospel. He went where Christ had not been named, lest he build on another man's foundation.

He alludes to the Olympic Games and declares this intruder had entered the game unlawfully. "He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth."

Paul's Stature

They who were accusing Paul said his bodily presence was weak and his speech contemptible. An old Greek writer said that Paul was small of stature but his height "touched the heavens." That he had no mean personality may be reasonably presumed or he would never have filled the office he did under the high priest in persecuting the Christian Church.

That his speech was not contemptible we have evidence from the account given in [ACT:14:12], where the Lycaonians thought he was Mercury because he was the chief speaker. Mercury was the Greek god of eloquence.

Fleecing the Flock

The false prophets were fleecing the flock, and Paul reminds the Corinthians that he preached the Gospel to them free, working with his own hands to supply the need. Later the Macedonian churches also sent help. Ironically, he refers to it as if he had done them a wrong and begs to be forgiven. Did he do it because he loved them not? God knoweth. The more abundantly he loved them, the less he was loved. He gloried in his freedom to preach the Gospel without charge, and no man could take that freedom from him. He preferred to work with his own hands rather than to be chargeable to anyone.

Caught Up to Heaven

Paul proves he was not a whit behind the chiefest Apostle and relates an experience he had with the Lord fourteen years previous. Perhaps all these years this had been a secret between him and the Lord, something too sacred to mention. He discloses it now that he might help them out of the trap of the enemy into which they were falling. He relates that he was caught up to Paradise and saw and heard things unlawful to utter. So great were these revelations that the Lord gave him a thorn in the flesh to keep him humble and prevent him from being exalted above measure. He besought the Lord thrice to remove it, but the Lord said, "My grace is sufficient for thee."

So closely united was Paul's spirit with that of Jesus Christ that he rejoiced in his sufferings for the Gospel. He realized his strength was made perfect in weakness. Therefore he could say that he took pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake.

When trials and afflictions come our way, do we take pleasure in them? Or do we wail and bemoan our fate? Do they bring more of the power of God on our lives, or less zeal and courage to fight the good fight of faith? Paul had found the great secret of the Gospel, and no buffeting of Satan could dislodge him from the cleft of the Rock in which he was hid.

Questions

1. Why did Paul have to defend his apostleship?

2. Who first carried the Gospel to the Corinthians?

3. Does Satan send workers into the Lord's vineyard?

4. Describe their appearance.

5. What was given Paul to keep him humble?

6. What did Paul's enemies say about his appearance?

7. Give reasons why you think they were wrong.

8. How did Paul get money to preach the Gospel to the Corinthians?

9. Tell some of the things Paul suffered for the Gospel.

10. In what did he rejoice?