2 Corinthians 12:11-21 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is 2 Corinthians 12:11-21. Let’s go!
2 Corinthians 12:11-19 (NIV)
11 I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.
12 The things that mark an apostle–signs, wonders and miracles–were done among you with great perseverance.
13 How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!
14 Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.
15 So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less?
16 Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you. Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery!
17 Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent you?
18 I urged Titus to go to you and I sent our brother with him. Titus did not exploit you, did he? Did we not act in the same spirit and follow the same course?
19 Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends, is for your strengthening.
On verses 11-19: Paul was hurt that the Christians at the church in Corinth, which he had helped to start, had so quickly shifted their loyalty to this new, heretical group called the “super apostles”. Under the influence of these “super apostles”, the Christians in Corinth had begun to question Paul’s authority as an apostle, his ability as a leader, his character as a man and his love for them as their pastor and spiritual father. These were very personal attacks. Paul originally hoped to keep silent and let the truth win out on its own. But, rather than defending Paul and staying loyal to him (“I ought to have been commended by you” – v11), the Corinthian Christians kept comparing Paul to the “super apostles” and used those comparisons as a basis for criticizing him. So to protect his relationship with his church and to give them reason to not lose confidence in him, in 2 Corinthians 11:16-33 and 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 Paul defends himself by resorting to the kind of boasting that the super apostles were famous for, even though this kind of boasting made him very uncomfortable. Thus Paul says in verse 11, “I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it.”
In verses 12-19, Paul continues to defend himself, giving reasons why the Corinthian church should not lose their confidence in him:
– Paul reminds them of the signs, wonders and miracles that God used him and his team to do among them, even though it wasn’t easy (“with great perseverance” – v12).
– Paul reminds the Corinthian church that he treated them especially well by never requiring any financial support from them, even though he was entitled to such support (“Forgive me for this wrong!”) (v13)
– Paul tells the Corinthian church that he is going to visit them again and once again plans on not receiving any financial support from them. Rather, Paul would support himself and even spend what he had on the Corinthian church, just as a father spends on his children (v14-15)
– With some sarcasm in his tone, Paul responds to the accusation that he is a crafty tricker (v16). Paul says that he has not tried in any way to trick the Corinthian Christians by collecting money or other favours from them through Titus or other representatives that he sends to them (v16-18)
– Paul confirms that since the beginning he has simply been himself with the Corinthian church, not trying to justify himself before them but simply being there to encourage and strengthen them (v19).
What can we learn from this? Christians, treat your church and church leaders with love, respect and loyalty. Don’t be quick to criticize your church leaders. Be quick to appreciate them for who they are and what they do. Don’t hurt your church leaders by taking them for granted or making unfair comparisons with others. Have a protective love for your church and church leaders. For love always protects, always hopes, always trusts and always perseveres (1 Corinthians 13:7). You’ll find that a person’s spiritual maturity is very much reflected in the way they treat their church and church leaders.
2 Corinthians 12:20-21 (NIV)
20 For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder.
21 I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged.
On verses 20-21: Paul openly discloses his fears as he gets ready to visit the church in Corinth. Paul fears that his next visit to the church in Corinth will be another heated, conflict-filled one (v20). Paul also fears that the Corinthian Christians will continue to engage in the very sins that Paul had warned them about before (v21). In the verses that follow Paul will disclose what he plans on doing about it if he finds that the Corinthian Christians are still deliberately sinning in those ways he warned about.
What can we learn from this? A good leader is real with his people about his fears and concerns. By being real with those you lead, you encourage others to be real, you build a bridge to others, and you give God an opportunity for everyone to move forward together in faith and love. May you be a leader who is willing to be real with those you lead, and may you be a stronger team because of it.
Heavenly Father, today I realize that the way I love my church and the way I love the leaders in my church is a reflection of my spiritual maturity. I pray I would love my church, my leaders and those I lead with love, loyalty and respect, because that’s how You treat me. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
