2 Corinthians 11:28

2 Corinthians 11:28 says, Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.  Though a part of Paul's speaking about his physical suffering for the gospel, I separated this because the shift should be noted.  Paul said that all his physical sufferings were not the only burden he had.  His real burden was for the churches.  Their care was always in his thoughts.  I don't believe that Paul viewed this as a burden that he unfairly had placed on him, but instead was one that he willingly accepted.  No matter what is going on in our lives, we must always have the care of the church first.  We can suffer all the persecution and abuse possible from the world, but if we are not doing so for the sake of the gospel, it doesn't matter.   Verse twenty-nine adds, Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?  I believe that Paul was speaking about his having the care of the churches in mind more than he was of the physical things he had suffered.  He had empathy for all the believers.  When they were weak, his thoughts and prayers were with them in their weakness.  Paul said when they were offended, he burned with righteousness anger.  We should always feel empathy for other believers.  When Christians anywhere are persecuted, we should have a deep sorrow that it happened or is happening.  Being a follower of Christ is never just something that is for the benefit of the one who is following alone, but calls for witnessing to the lost and edifying other believers.  Verse thirty continues, If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.  I believe that Paul was saying that instead of glorifying his strengths, he would instead be glorifying his weaknesses, so that God, and not Paul himself, would be glorified.  Verse thirty-one states, The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.  Paul was giving the glory to Christ and he said that God knew he was not lying.  We may fool the world boasting about ourselves, but we will never fool God.  Verse thirty-two adds, In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:  Paul again relates some of his suffering for the gospel, but how even a garrison of soldiers could not find him because of God's protection.  Verse thirty-three continues, And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.  Paul said that God arranged his escape through a widow and a basket.  When we think that we are weak and insignificant, remember the widow.  She was unafraid to help Paul, even though she would have been punished if caught.  We should never allow fear and weakness to keep us from serving God.

2 Corinthians 11:21

2 Corinthians 11:21 says, I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.  Paul was addressing the reproach that people were treating him with.  He said he was going to be bold in defending his qualifications, though he knew he was speaking foolishly to do so.  Though Paul had been accused of being weak, he knew that his real power did not come from his own abilities.  Still, for the sake of the gospel he would present his qualifications.  Verse twenty-two adds, Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.  Paul said that even though he was an apostle to the Gentiles, he was a part of the nation of Israel by birth, just as much or more so than those who were attempting to discredit him.  When someone questions us about our faith today, we can stand boldly as a part of God's people if we have accepted Christ as Savior and Lord.  Verse twenty-three continues, Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.  Paul asked if they were ministers of Christ.  I believe that he was asking what they might have done to feel superior to him.  Then he answers that he had worked harder and suffered more physically for the gospel than nearly anyone else.  He had been beaten, imprisoned, and threatened with death many times.  Again, Paul called it foolish to speak of these things, if they focused the glory on himself and not Christ.  Whatever we do for the gospel should always keep the focus on Christ.  Verse twenty-four states, Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.  Paul said he had received thirty-nine stripes from the Jews five times.  Verse twenty-five adds, Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;  Paul continues to speak about some of the things he had suffered for the gospel.  Three times he was beaten with rods, once he was stoned and three times he was shipwrecked, spending on night in the water.  These are not the acts of a weak man, but Paul still said it was foolish to speak about them.  We might ask why God allowed this to happen to Paul, but we must realize that there will always be great opposition to the gospel.  God doesn't call us to prosperity but to faithfulness.  Verse twenty-six continues,  In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;  Paul said he was continually on the move for the gospel and this often put him in great peril wherever he went, from both the Jews and the Gentiles.  Hopefully we today will never be threatened by those who call themselves God's people, but we can be assured that we will be at odds with the world, or those who don't believe in Christ as their Savior and Lord.  Verse twenty-seven concludes, In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.  Paul was not telling these things for his own glory, but to show his faithfulness to the gospel no matter what.

2 Corinthians 11:13

2 Corinthians 11:13 says, For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.  Paul begins to give a warning against false prophets.  He said they were deceitful, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.  We cannot transform ourselves into apostles, or even followers of Christ, but must be transformed by Christ Himself.  We know that the Bible tells us that not all who claim to know Christ as Savior and Lord really do.  Some make the claim for personal reasons and not because they have really accepted Christ.  Paul said some who called themselves apostles were the same.  Verse fourteen adds, And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.  We need to remember that Satan does not come to us with horns, a tail, a pitchfork and totally in red.  It would be easy to avoid him if he did.  Satan comes in the most appealing form to the person that he is attempting to deceive.  Verse fifteen continues, Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.  Paul warns us that it should come as no surprise that Satan uses false ministers to do his work.  We need to look at who Satan really is, and that is the great deceiver, and be aware that he works by appealing to people's vanity.  Verse sixteen states, I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little.  Paul said that no one should think him a fool, but if they received him as such that he would boast a little about himself.  I don't believe this was to bring glory to himself, but to prove his faithfulness to the gospel.  Paul was not fooled by the actions of Satan through Satan's false ministers, and we should not be either.  Verse seventeen adds, That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.  Paul said that when he boasted of himself it was not a commandment of the Lord to do so.  Paul was not boasting to bring credit to himself, but to prove his worthiness to proclaim the gospel.  As a general rule, we as followers of Christ are to be humble, but at times we may need to boldly defend our work for Christ that He might be glorified.  Paul never defended himself for his glory, but always for the sake of the gospel.  Verse eighteen continues, Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.  As just stated, Paul was not speaking of self-glory, but of glorying in the gospel.  Verse nineteen says, For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.  Paul may have meant that for all their wisdom they were easily deceived by those who preached foolishness.  There are many worldly-wise people today who will follow the foolishness of a false gospel while claiming the true gospel of Christ is just too simple.  Verse twenty adds, For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face.  Paul said that they suffered for believing the fool, the one who declared salvation by any means other than faith in Christ.  They placed themselves back in bondage.  If we add any requirement to salvation other than faith in Christ alone, we are placing ourselves back under the bondage of sin.

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.

2 Corinthians 11:1

2 Corinthians 11:1 says, Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.  Paul apologizes for seemingly speaking about what he had done for the gospel if it were viewed as being done to bring glory to himself.  This would indeed be folly, but Paul did not talk about what he had done to bring himself glory.  He spoke to show how God had worked through him to spread the gospel.  There were many false teachers or preachers who were attempting to discredit Paul, and he was simply talking about his success, and giving the glory to Christ, to establish the fact that what he preached was the truth of God.  We may at times come under attack by those who would deny or pervert the gospel, and if we do we should be able to defend what we have done for God's glory and never for our own.  Verse two adds, For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.  Paul said that he had a Godly jealousy over the church at Corinth.  They had come to Christ under his preaching, and he did not want them to be led astray by false teachings.  He had presented to them one husband, Jesus Christ, and wanted them to remain a pure bride for Him.  We know that the church is referred to as the bride of Christ, and as such we should do all that we can, under the leadership and power of the Holy Spirit, to remain pure for Him.  Verse three continues, But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.  Paul said that he feared that by any means the Corinthians might have their minds corrupted to the simplicity that is in Christ.  He feared that they would be beguiled by the serpent, which is Satan.  There are those today who would have us believe that the gospel is just too simple and that we must do something on our own to prove ourselves worthy of salvation.  When anyone begins to claim that there is any requirement for salvation other than faith in Christ, they are attempting to lead us astray.   Verse four declares, For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.  There are those today who preach another Jesus and gospel.  They preach a Jesus who is no different than we are, or at least no different than what we will become.  We will never be able to live the sinless life that Jesus lived because we at some point will give in to self-will.  They set up certain requirements to prove our worthiness, but we will never be worthy of salvation because of our own goodness.  They have to preach a different spirit, because the Holy Spirit will never lead us to any way to salvation but Jesus Christ, crucified, resurrected, and Lord.  Paul said he feared that some might hear and believe such a one that preached these things, which is why it is important to know what the Bible really says about salvation.

2 Corinthians 10:14

2 Corinthians 10:14 says, For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ:  In verse thirteen Paul had said that he did not boast of himself, but of the work that God was doing through Him.  In this verse, he says that they didn't stretch themselves beyond measure.  Paul had a commission from God to preach the gospel to the Gentiles.  He had been doing this in Corinth when those who were the church there had come to salvation through faith in Christ.  Paul was being attacked by many because of his preaching, but he said that the Corinthians should know that he was faithful to his ministry for Christ because he had come to them with the gospel.  We should be able to point to the things that God accomplishes through us as proof of our faithfulness and of the power of God.  Verse fifteen adds, Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men’s labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly,  Paul said that he did not build on another person's work in order to glorify himself.  Paul said that he hoped when the Corinthians grew in faith that they would recognize what Paul had done in bringing the gospel to them.  I don't believe that he said this so he would be glorified, but so that his work for Christ would be acknowledged so that Christ might be glorified.  Though it might be nice to have what we do for spreading the gospel of Christ acknowledged, it should only be so if it points to the power and glory of Christ.  Verse sixteen continues, To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s line of things made ready to our hand.  Paul said that he went to preach the gospel where it had not been proclaimed before.  He did not want to just build on another person's work.  Since the gospel was still new, it was easy and important to go to those who had not heard it.  We today might find it more difficult to find a place where the gospel has not been proclaimed at some point, but there are still many people today who have not heard the gospel and it is our responsibility as followers of Christ to present it to them.  Verse seventeen stats, But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.  Just as Paul said in this verse, if we are to glory, it should only be in Christ.  We should never attempt to bring glory to ourselves as we do what God has called us to do.  Verse eighteen Paul adds, For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.  Paul said that we cannot be approved by pointing out what we have done, but can only be approved by the Lord, or Christ, commending us.  We are to work for the glory of God and not for self-glory.

2 Corinthians 10:7

2 Corinthians 10:7 says, Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ’s, even so are we Christ’s.  Paul asked those Christians at Corinth a question then gave a response of his own.  The question was did they just look at the outward appearance to determine one's faith in God.  There have been many people through the years that have outwardly appeared to be great men of God who really were only putting on a show.  Paul then said that even if those who outwardly showed themselves to be Christians could not judge others by the same outward actions.  Paul said that even if they didn't look nor act the same way that those with him and he himself did that they still belonged to Christ if they were sincere in their faith.  We cannot judge other Christians by their outward way of worshipping, and neither should they judge us.  Verse eight adds, For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:  Paul said that the Lord had given him authority for their edification and not for their destruction.  We are not called to destroy those Christians that do not worship as we do, but to edify them instead.  Likewise, they are called to edify us.  We cannot judge other Christians based on outward signs but must judge them based on their relationship to Christ.  Verse nine continues, That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters.  Paul said that even though he had been given authority by Christ to edify and correct those that had come to follow Christ that he did not want them terrified of him.  He only wrote to make them aware of problems that needed correcting and to edify them.  Verse ten states, For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.  Paul said people thought more of his letters than they did of his physical appearance and speech.  People thought his letters were full of good advice and powerful, but that his actual speaking ability was not good at all.  Sometimes we just have to do what God empowers us to do best.  Verse eleven Paul adds, Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.  Paul said that what he wrote when he was absent from the Corinthians was exactly what he would say if he were present with them.  We need to make sure that our actions are consistent with our words of witness about God, whether written or spoken.  Verse twelve continues, For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.  Paul said that he did not measure himself by others.  He measured himself by his faith in God.  Our standard will never be how we compare to anyone else but will always be how we compare to Christ through faith.  Paul said that to compare ourselves to others as a standard of faith was not wise.  Verse thirteen concludes, But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even also in deed when we are present.  Paul said that he would not boast of the things he had done, but only of what God had done through Him.  There is nothing that we can do through our own power to spread the gospel, but all must be done through relying on God through faith.  Then, the Holy Spirit will enable us, not that we may be glorified, but that God will.