2 Corinthians: Whose Ministry is It, Anyway? Ministry Complications Lesson Scripture: 2 Corinthians 11 HCSB

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1 May 24, Corinthians: Whose Ministry is It, Anyway? Ministry Complications Lesson Scripture: 2 Corinthians 11 HCSB Key Passage 2 Corinthians 11:5-32 Dig Deeper? You can do additional reading and research on 2 Corinthians 11 using the commentary at: Step by Step through the Week Monday: Begin your week of study by praying that the Holy Spirit would reveal God s truth to you and provide the wisdom you will need to obey God s word. Read 2 Corinthians 11 Read the following chapter summary: Paul continued speaking about his concern for the Corinthians. He desperately wanted them to be his testimony and crowning jewel, but they were making it difficult by their affection for false teachers ( super-apostles ) who tried to take advantage of them and discredit Paul s message. He reminded them that he financially sacrificed for them, while the false teachers exploited them for financial gain; they were deceivers sent directly from the evil one. Apparently, these false apostles boasted about their credentials and abilities. Paul turned the tables by boasting about his weaknesses. Even though he could have boasted of his pedigree, instead, he chose to boast of his failures and suffering. He listed (again) all the ways in which he had been humiliated and had suffered for the gospel. His greatest suffering was his anguish over the spiritual health of the churches like Corinth. His only boast was in the times he had been disgraced for Christ, such as being put in a basket and lowered out a window to escape from his enemies in Damacus! Identify key words or major ideas in the chapter. Reread the passage. What has the Spirit of God taught you after reading through this chapter?

2 Tuesday: Read 2 Corinthians 11. If possible, read the passage in two or three different versions of the Bible. Multiple versions are available at Observe: 2 Corinthians 11:5-10 What are the issues Paul faces in his battle with the super apostles? Why is Paul using a sarcastic tone in this passage? Read verses 1-4 to discover Paul s reason for arguing in this way. What statements does Paul make to actually defend himself? Examine: 2 Corinthians 11:5-10 SUPER APOSTLES: This is probably the sarcastic title Paul gave to the false apostles who were troubling the Corinthian church. Perhaps it was even a name they had taken for themselves. Paul admits that he was not a trained speaker, (2 Cor. 10:10), implying that the so-called super-apostles were trained speakers. One of their favorite criticisms of Paul seems to have been that he was not very impressive in presence or speech. Even so, Paul was not an inadequate apostle because he had knowledge of the true gospel. Paul warned the Corinthians against the pretense that knowledge can create, but here he had in mind a positive knowledge of the truth without the associated problems. Toe to toe with these orators, Paul would fail. In many respects, his writing also lacked sophistication and talent. Yet, as a student of the Scriptures and the recipient of special revelation, Paul was no person's inferior. Someone in the church had mistaken Paul's refusal to take money as an indication that he considered himself inferior to others. The "super-apostles" (like pimps prostituting another gospel for their prince; cf. 2 Cor 11:13-15) were well paid for their efforts. But Paul offered only free service in Corinth. Paul intended to keep on boasting about his work in Corinth in order to discredit his opponents, who sought to be equal with him in the things they boasted about. He had already made it clear that he did not think these men were his superiors, and now he declares his intent to cut the ground from under them in the confrontation soon to come. (adapted from thirdmill.org)

3 Read 1 Corinthians 2:6-16. How does Paul s teaching about spiritual wisdom relate to 2 Corinthians 11:6, where Paul talks about his ability to make things clear despite his lack of training? Apply: 2 Corinthians 11:5-10 Why does our society encourage the worship of leaders who glorify themselves? Based on this passage, what are the traits of a godly leader or teacher? Wednesday: Read 2 Corinthians 11. If possible, read the passage in two or three different versions of the Bible. Multiple versions are available at Observe: 2 Corinthians 11:12-15 How does Paul describe those who are trying to destroy his ministry? What does he say is the source of this opposition? According to Paul, why are the people in the church not able to recognize this evil influence?

4 Examine: 2 Corinthians 11:12-15 FALSE TEACHERS: Jesus warned us that false Christs and false prophets will come and will attempt to deceive even God s elect (Matt 24:23-27). The best way to guard against falsehood and false teachers is to know the truth. Any believer who correctly handles the word of truth (2 Tim 2:15) and who makes a careful study of Scripture can identify false doctrine. Jesus said a tree is recognized by its fruit (Matt 12:33). When looking for fruit, here are three specific tests to apply to any teacher to determine the accuracy of his or her teaching: (1) What does this teacher say about Jesus? In 2 John 9, we read, Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. In other words, Jesus Christ and His work of redemption is of utmost importance; beware of anyone who denies that Jesus is equal with God, who downplays Jesus sacrificial death, or who rejects Jesus humanity. (2) Does this teacher preach the gospel? The gospel is defined as the good news concerning Jesus death, burial, and resurrection, according to the Scriptures (1 Cor 15:1-4). As nice as they sound, the statements God loves you, God wants us to feed the hungry, and God wants you to be wealthy are not the complete message of the gospel. No one, not even a great preacher, has the right to change the message that God gave us. (3) Does this teacher exhibit character qualities that glorify the Lord? Speaking of false teachers, Jude 11 says, They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam s error; they have been destroyed in Korah s rebellion. In other words, a false teacher can be known by his pride, greed, and rebellion. (adapted from gotquestions.org) Paul identifies false teachers in 2 Corinthians, but he teaches how to challenge false teaching in Titus. Read Titus 1 and 2 and explain how to avoid or confront false teaching in the church. Apply: 2 Corinthians 11:12-15 How could you distinguish between a true false teacher and someone who is unprepared or confused? How can you guard against becoming a false teacher in your own ministry?

5 Thursday: Read 2 Corinthians 11. If possible, read the passage from a different version of the Bible. Observe: 2 Corinthians 11:21-32 What are Paul s personal credentials for ministry? What difficulties did he face in ministry? What does Paul point out as his greatest moment of weakness? Examine: 2 Corinthians 11:21-32 ENDURING HARDSHIP: There was no better man than Paul to give advice about endurance under suffering for the Lord Jesus. Paul had been imprisoned, beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, hungry, cold, and destitute (2 Cor 11:23 28). In spite of all this and more, Paul managed to endure the suffering, finish the race, and keep the faith (2 Tim 4:7). Hardships come in a variety of ways. Temptations, illnesses, lost jobs, broken relationships, and persecution for one s faith are all forms of hardship. Christians should not be taken by surprise when hardships come: Jesus warned us, In this world you will have trouble (John 16:33). To endure is more than just continuing to exist; it is continuing to exist in the same manner as before the suffering began. If Paul had lived through his sufferings but at some point had thrown up his hands in defeat, he would not have endured. Paul s response to suffering was not to buckle under the weight of circumstance but to realize Christ has called His church to endure hardship (John 16:33; Luke 14:27). Every time he was beaten, chained, or hungry, Paul could rejoice because suffering in his flesh for the sake of the church is a privilege of sharing in the sufferings of Christ (Phlp 3:10). To endure does not mean simply to grin and bear it. Christians will feel sad, betrayed, or even angry at times. These emotions in and of themselves are not bad; they only become sin when we allow them to take root in our lives and produce bitterness or unforgiveness. Believers must remember that everything that comes into our lives is under the control of a sovereign God who has promised He is working all things out for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Rom 8:28). Jesus is the ultimate example of someone who endured hardship (Heb 12:2). The author of Hebrews reminds believers of Christ s perseverance at the hands of sinners. Jesus, in spite of great suffering, never turned back, even from the cross

6 (Heb 12:2 4). Hebrews 12:2 says Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before him. (adapted from gotquestions.org) This is the third time in 2 Corinthians Paul points out his hardships and trials. Based on this emphasis, why does Paul point to hardship and weakness as an asset for ministry? Apply: 2 Corinthians 11:21-32 What hardships have you experienced in your walk with Christ? How have your hardships strengthened you for ministry? Friday: Read 2 Corinthians 11 and the following devotional from Ray Steadman: Paul reaches back twenty years into the past to this rather remarkable incident that occurred shortly after his conversion, and he says, If I must boast, this is the kind of thing I am going to boast of. He boasts about the things that show his weakness. That is what we ought to be boasting about, the times when we did not look good, the times when we fell on our faces and failed. Paul says that is what he boasts about. He says, As I look back on my life, one incident comes to mind. It was a time when I was a complete failure at what I was trying to do. That is what I boast in, because that is when I began to learn the most important lesson of my life. After his conversion he went into the wilderness of Arabia for a while. There he undoubtedly studied the Scriptures to try to understand how he had missed seeing who Jesus was. But as he searched, he found Christ on every page. When he came back from that experience, he had two burning convictions in his heart. First, he believed that the Old Testament proved that Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah. The second thing that he was convinced of from that experience was that God had chosen him to be the apostle to Israel. And he tried. He did his best with his brilliant mind, with all his Hebrew qualifications. But things kept falling apart, until circumstances reached such a terrible state that one night the governor tried to find him in order that guards might seize him and put

7 him to death. On hearing about it, his friends took him out to one of those houses built on the wall of Damascus, and through a window in the dark of the night, they let him down in a basket. Paul says, The night I became 'a basket case' is the thing I boast about. Looking back, he says, That was it. As I walked away from the city of Damascus, with all my plans and dreams of glory for Christ collapsed around my feet, that was the night I began to learn a great truth: My natural gifts are not what qualify me as a servant of Christ. Would that I could teach this to all Christians today! We are being bombarded with the philosophy that natural abilities are what make a person usable as a Christian a strong personality; an outgoing, optimistic outlook; gifts of leadership; handsome frame and body; musical ability; speaking ability all these are the things that God will use. Paul says, This is a ridiculous way of thinking. I had to learn that these ideas did not help, that Christ working in me is the only thing that God approves of. Anybody who is a Christian has Christ working in him or her, and if you learn to depend on Jesus' work within, ready to work through you as you choose to do things, He will work alongside you and make your efforts meaningful and valuable both in God's sight and ultimately people's. That is the great secret that Paul learned. Copyright 2007 by Elaine Stedman. All copies must contain this copyright notice and a hyperlink to if the copy is posted on the Internet.