QT 6/20/2025 2 Cor 11:16–21, Being open to challenge

2 Corinthians 11:16–21 (ESV) —

16 I repeat, let no one think me foolish. But even if you do, accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little. 17 What I am saying with this boastful confidence, I say not as the Lord would but as a fool. 18 Since many boast according to the flesh, I too will boast. 19 For you gladly bear with fools, being wise yourselves! 20 For you bear it if someone makes slaves of you, or devours you, or takes advantage of you, or puts on airs, or strikes you in the face. 21 To my shame, I must say, we were too weak for that!

But whatever anyone else dares to boast of—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast of that.

 

NOTE: Paul makes it very clear that boasting is foolishness, but not if it serves a spiritual purpose. In the next paragraphs, Paul will share the things he went through in order to bring the gospel to the Corinthians and to others. His life had not been easy. But he did not share his boastings to make him seem superior to others, but to remind them of the things he rarely shared but the super apostles did share quite often. Paul did not speak of his sufferings because it was not central to the gospel message. The false apostles did speak of their events so as to build up their reputations. Paul does so now (at this point), only for the sake of the Corinthians. Clearly the "super-apostles" could not match Paul's sufferings or God's protection of Paul, but they needed to be aware that their comparisons were wrong, partly because they did not have all the information, partly because comparisons are never wise, and partly because one does not measure apostleship on suffering.

 

There are times we do need to compare teachers to make sure we are not following a false teacher. While character is important, the most important aspect is the actual message -- does it agree with scripture? Does the person's teaching challenge God's word in such a way that requires a less-than-honest assessment of what was being said? Does the person's teaching twist the words or meaning? Is the person's teaching in contradiction with other scripture?

 

PONDER:

1. How is my teaching, is it based on God's word, not what the world thinks is right, but what God says?
2. Do I regularly check my own teaching? Do I allow others to challenge me? Am I gracious in accepting their challenges? And do I follow up on other's challenges, to search the true, plain meaning?

 

PRAYER: Father, I pray people would not be afraid to challenge my teaching. I pray I would be gracious. And I pray I would listen and learn, most of all from you. I pray for the all-day prayer on Monday -- refresh me, teach me, encourage me, and change me.