Real Authority

I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!—I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of walking according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. 2 Corinthians 10:1-6

The Judaizers in the Corinthian Church just never let up in their criticism of Paul. Because they were racial Jews who were formerly religious Jews, they seemed to claim some kind of seniority over the Gentile believers there. Apparently they never really got over their Jewish religion, and had disdain for Paul’s teaching of faith alone in Christ alone for salvation. They wanted to see some works, some guilt, some emotional groveling. Mostly, they just wanted to usurp Paul’s apostolic authority. He was much too confident in his doctrine for their liking. So, they slandered Paul in every way they could.

They had accused him of writing boldly while away, but actually being a wimp in person. They accused him of being carnal in his behavior (“according to the flesh”). He claimed the grace and fairness of Jesus Christ—to come to them with a relaxed attitude of love and fellowship rather than contentiousness. When expressing doctrine from the divine viewpoint to believers who are obedient to God’s Word, we don’t have to be hostile and warlike. Speak the truth and let the truth do its work in the souls of those who are responsive. Those who are positive to Bible doctrine will recognize and respond to it in any circumstances of life. They will also recognize false teaching and reject anything that conflicts with the Word of God. Developing divine viewpoint means learning to discern and always choose that which is honoring to Jesus Christ.

Look at what is before your eyes. If anyone is confident that he is Christ's, let him remind himself that just as he is Christ's, so also are we. For even if I boast a little too much of our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be ashamed. I do not want to appear to be frightening you with my letters. For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.” Let such a person understand that what we say by letter when absent, we do when present. Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding. 2 Corinthians 10:7-12

Paul had no regrets for having proclaimed his authority. The apostolic, or pastoral authority is delegated by the ultimate authority—Jesus Christ Himself. This is to maintain order, or chain of command, regarding the teaching ministry of the Church. There must be authority, or anyone’s guess is good enough. That does not teach, it entertains and it allows rebellion among those who prefer cultivating their lust patterns to learning the standards of God. That attitude encourages relative righteousness; the comparison of one person’s sins or good deeds to another’s sins and good deeds. People who do this show that they do not understand the plan and purpose of God. The only acceptable standards to God are God’s own standards, which is why we have the Bible and believers with the spiritual gift of pastor/teacher. It is also why Jesus had to pay the ultimate penalty for our sins. No other human could ever qualify to do that. Paul’s objective was not to debate the Judaizers over the issue of his own apostolic authority, but to simply proclaim that authority. He also was not debating doctrine with them, but simply stating true doctrine. When you’re right, you’re right, and Paul knew that what he was teaching was the truth. As for the accusation that Paul was a wimp, he had never backed down from any confrontation about grace vs. legalism. Example: Galatians 2:11-14

But when Cephas (Peter) came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party.And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?"

This was not the behavior of a spiritual coward. “He who knows and knows that he knows…follow him.” The Judaizers were about to get a taste of his boldness, firsthand.

But we will not boast beyond limits, but will boast only with regard to the area of influence God assigned to us, to reach even to you. For we are not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach you. For we were the first to come all the way to you with the gospel of Christ. We do not boast beyond limit in the labors of others. But our hope is that as your faith increases, our area of influence among you may be greatly enlarged, so that we may preach the gospel in lands beyond you, without boasting of work already done in another's area of influence. “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends. 2 Corinthians 10:13-18

God gave Paul this assignment! He was well within his spiritual jurisdiction in Corinth, where the believers were his converts and under his watchcare. He would not make these kinds of proclamations in territories which were some other apostles’ assignment. He expected the Corinthians to grow to maturity in the faith, and he would then move on to other areas with his own ministry, as they themselves would branch out with the gospel message.

This was the Lord’s work. Any boasting they might do must be about the grace provision of Jesus Christ. If Paul or other believers had good accomplishments, the Lord Himself would commend them.