Here for the third time I
am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for I seek not what is
yours but you. For children are not
obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their
children. I will most gladly
spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more, am
I to be loved less? But granting that I myself did not
burden you, I was crafty, you say, and got the better of you by deceit. Did I take advantage of you through any of
those whom I sent to you? I urged Titus to
go, and sent the brother with
him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not act in the same spirit? Did we
not take the same steps?
Have you been thinking all along that we have
been defending ourselves to you? It is in the sight of God
that we have been speaking in Christ, and all for your
upbuilding, beloved. For I fear that perhaps when I come I may
find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps
there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit,
and disorder. I fear that when I come again my God may humble me
before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned earlier
and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality,
and sensuality that they have practiced. 2 Corinthians 12:11-21
Why hadn’t these Corinthian believers been defending Paul to
his accusers, rather than leaving him “hanging out to dry,” not challenging the
lies of the Judiazers? Paul had been embarrassed, having to so vigorously
remind them of his integrity and his authenticity as the apostle to the
Gentiles. They shouldn’t have needed reminding of these facts, since he had previously
shown them all the qualifying signs of apostleship. How could they believe they
were being neglected?
That’s the most telling characteristic of immature
believers. They are still easily swayed by emotion and easily confused by lies,
innuendo and showmanship. A glamorous personality flashing a mouthful of teeth
and appealing to their selfish basic nature can neutralize the solid doctrinal
teaching they have received, but have not really learned to apply. He’ll tell
them that the pastor/teacher is too dry, technical, boring, repetitious,
self-seeking, milking them for money, not compassionate, inventing his own
gospel, teaching falsehoods. He’ll tell them that their emotional and material
needs are the most important thing, and that doctrine is secondary, at best. He’ll
emphasize Jesus’ unconditional love while ignoring Jesus’ authority,
sovereignty, justice and omnipotence. He’ll tell them that what they need to do
is perform the rituals and not worry about the details of the Word of God. And
since the pastor/teacher is away, and these babies crave attention, they tend
to fall for the propaganda of the wolves.
This whole defense Paul had been presenting was not to
vindicate himself to the Corinthians, but in the name of Jesus Christ, and through
the doctrinal authority he’d been given, to build up their faith and confidence
in the truth of his ministry. He feared that when he arrived there in person,
he and the Corinthian believers would be disappointed in each other. That
would certainly be the case, if they were still behaving like pagans in their
carnal state. It was important that they be in spiritual fellowship with God,
with Paul and with each other, so that when he met with them it would be a time
of love and rejoicing, not of discipline and sorrow.
In that time of slow communications, Paul was apprehensive,
even though he had been briefed by Titus that the Corinthians were getting
their spiritual act together. Time goes by and things can change, especially
with a volatile people who have been infiltrated by sinister impostors.
The issue with Paul was the assurance and the steady
spiritual growth of his sheep. For that to occur, they must have total
confidence in his authority to teach them the truth about Jesus Christ, with no
interference from Satan’s hoardes. They didn’t need any setbacks.
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