2 Corinthians 11:5

2 Corinthians 11:5 says, For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.  Paul was not bragging on himself but was simply stating a fact.  In all honesty, Paul could have placed himself ahead of nearly all, if not all, of the apostles.  His successful spreading of the gospel proved this.  If someone comes to us today putting the emphasis on themself instead of Christ, then we need to be suspect of what they are saying.  Verse six adds, But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been thoroughly made manifest among you in all things.  Paul said that he might not be the most eloquent speaker, but that he lacked nothing in the knowledge of God.  This is not to say that he knew everything about God, but that he did know the truth of the gospel from his own conversion experience and reliance on the Holy Spirit when he witnessed.  Though Paul was well educated, I don't believe he was referring to this knowledge, but the knowledge that came from his relationship with God through Christ.  We may be well educated today, but unless we know Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, all that education or knowledge is useless.  Verse seven continues, Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?  Paul was asking the church at Corinth if he had been wrong, or made himself look less important, because he preached the gospel freely.  I believe he was asking if they would have thought more of him had he profited from the gospel.  There are those today who judge a preacher by the size of the congregation or by how much he makes, but the real judgment should be how effectively a preacher presents the gospel.  Paul was not saying that preachers should not be supported materially, but only that he chose not to be.  Verse eight states, I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.  We might question the phrase  "robbed other churches," but Paul was simply saying that he asked for money from other churches to help the church at Corinth.  Verse nine Paul adds, And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.  Paul said he had asked for no financial support from the church at Corinth, and he wouldn't when he came again.  Paul supported himself, though he does say that the brethren who came from Macedonia helped.  Though a preacher should never be a preacher for material gain, they likewise should never have to rely totally on themselves for support unless they choose to.  Though Paul chose to support himself, he was not saying that all preachers should.  Verse ten continues, As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.  Paul said no one would stop him from boasting of, or boldly proclaiming the gospel.  When we have the truth of Christ in us, nothing should stop us from proclaiming it boldly.   Verse eleven asks, Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth.  Paul asked if they thought he took the actions he did concerning the church at Corinth because he didn't love them.  He then answered that God knew he did.  Everything we do for God, whether witnessing to the lost or teaching in the church should be done out of a Christ like love for them.  As God loves us, we are to love others.  Verse twelve adds, But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.  I believe that Paul was saying that he lived as he did so no one could have any occasion, or reason, to claim that he proclaimed the gospel for any reason other than the love God and his fellow men and women.  We need to live the same way.