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Pathways Through Paul
Daily Devotional
December 11
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Today's Pathway:
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There is a difference of opinion as to what Paul means when he refers to the "chiefest apostles". Some believe that he is referring to the apostles who actually walked with the Lord, such as Peter, James, and John. If this is the case, he is writing that he was in no way inferior to those men. The office of the apostle required that the person had been a witness to the resurrection (Acts 1:22). Once Christ ascended to Heaven it would seem that there could no longer be a man who could achieve that office. Yet, Paul saw the risen Christ on the road to Damascus, and later referred to himself as "one born out of due time" (I Corinthians 15:8). Paul claimed to be an apostle numerous times, and under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost he uses the same term to refer to himself (Romans 1:1) that Peter does to refer to himself (I Peter 1:1). Thus, this option is Biblically accurate. There are some who believe that Paul is not speaking of the original apostles, but instead is speaking of the false "apostles" who had invaded the church in Corinth. If that is the case, he is being sarcastic and stating that if the church was listening to the heretics, who considered themselves to be "chief apostles", then they should certainly be listening to him as well because he is not behind them in any way. Actually, he was well ahead of them! So, this option would also be accurate. It is my opinion that Paul is referring to the original apostles, and saying that if the church would have respected them, they should also respect him.
In verse 6 Paul admits that he is not a tremendous orator. However, he adds that though his speech may seem to be somewhat ignorant, his mind certainly is not. Peter wrote of him,
"Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood".
He is stating that Paul had such great wisdom that on occasion it could be difficult to understand exactly what he meant. This wisdom had been shown to the Corinthians in obvious ways during his previous ministry to them. In verses 7-9 Paul writes concerning his willingness to do manual labor to support himself while he was with them. He sarcastically asks if he offended them by humbling himself through his tent-making while uplifting them through his teaching. He asks if he sinned against them by not charging them for his preaching. He adds that he took money from other churches in order to be able to not ask for any money from the Corinthians for the service that he rendered to them. He finishes that section by writing that when he was in Corinth and was lacking the things that he needed he was never a burden to anyone in the church. The Greek wording there is very interesting to me. The word translated "wanting" in verse 9 comes from the same root as the word translated "behind" in verse 5. So, Paul says that he was not lacking any spiritual things that the other apostles had, but when in Corinth he lacked the material things that he needed in order to survive. He chose to do this, because he writes that he "kept himself" from being burdensome. Were it not for the gifts that he received from the Macedonian churches he would have been in financial peril. There are two principles that the Corinthians should be learning from this. First, Paul had never served them for monetary gain. Second, though he should have been treated like an apostle, it took the poor Christians of Macedonia to provide for him in his need because the rich Corinthians would not. How shameful this shouldt have been to them!
Paul proved his character in two ways: the Biblical wisdom that he had, and his willingness to serve people who did not care enough about him to provide for his needs. Could the same be said about us?
Pastor Mark J Montgomery
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