I do not think I am in the least inferior to those “super-apostles.” I may indeed be untrained as a speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way. Was it a sin for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge? I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you. And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so. As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, nobody in the regions of Achaia will stop this boasting of mine. Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!
- 2 Corinthians 11:5-11
A few verses before this in verse 1, the apostle Paul wrote, “I hope you will put up with me in a little foolishness. Yes, please put up with me!” Paul’s foolishness was the fact that he had just previously written about boasting in nothing but Jesus, but then he proceeded to boast about the Corinthians and his work with them. He continues that boasting in this passage, though he is only employing this technique to make his point clear to the Corinthians. It is only out of love for them and his desire to spread the gospel that Paul boasts about himself in this way.
In verse 5, Paul addresses a group of individuals in the Corinthian church who were boasting about their status, authority, and eloquence, calling them "super-apostles." These false teachers likely presented themselves as more important or superior to Paul because they had polished rhetoric or perhaps even charged money for their services, which gave them an air of prestige. Paul, however, refuses to accept their claim to superiority. His argument here isn’t based on his abilities or accomplishments but on the authenticity of his calling and his deep, sacrificial love for the Corinthians. This speaks to a common theme in Paul's letters: true apostleship is about service, not status.
Paul openly admits in verse 6 that he may not have the rhetorical skills that the "super-apostles" possess, but he highlights what really matters: knowledge of the gospel. In Greco-Roman culture, public speaking was highly esteemed, and eloquent orators were given significant honor. The "super-apostles" likely used this to their advantage, deriding Paul as a weak or unskilled speaker. However, Paul doesn't allow this criticism to undermine his confidence in his ministry. He knows that the foundation of his authority lies not in his speaking style but in his deep understanding of the gospel and the truth of God's Word. The emphasis here is on content, not form. Paul’s knowledge of the gospel was not lacking; he communicated the truth to the Corinthians fully, plainly, and with transparency, including by living out the gospel.
In verse 7, Paul poses a rhetorical question to the Corinthians, pointing out that he never took money from them for preaching the gospel. This decision was a deliberate one on Paul's part, as he didn’t want anyone to think he was in ministry for financial gain. Unlike the "super-apostles" who likely demanded payment, Paul chose to lower himself by working as a tentmaker to support himself, thereby elevating the Corinthians spiritually. Paul implies that the Corinthians had somehow viewed his refusal to accept payment as a negative thing; it could have been seen as undermining one’s credibility. Yet Paul was countercultural, willingly forgoing financial support in order to ensure that the gospel remained free from any accusations of commercialism.
Paul uses hyperbole to make a point in verse 8. He didn’t literally "rob" other churches, but he received financial support from other congregations so that he could minister to the Corinthians without charging them. This was especially true of the church in Philippi, which supported Paul throughout his ministry (Philippians 4:15-16). Paul was willing to depend on the generosity of other churches so that the Corinthians could hear the gospel without cost. This reveals Paul's deep commitment to them and his desire to remove any potential stumbling block from their faith journey.
Paul continues to explain his decision not to accept financial support from the Corinthians in verse 9. He wanted to ensure that his ministry was never a burden to them. When Paul had financial needs during his time in Corinth, believers from Macedonia (likely from the Philippian church) provided for him. Paul’s attitude demonstrates his deep sensitivity toward the spiritual and practical needs of the Corinthians. He didn’t want anything—money, material needs, or expectations—to get in the way of the gospel message. His approach reflects a heart that prioritizes the spiritual welfare of others over personal comfort.
Paul’s statement in verse 10 underscores his confidence in the truth of his ministry. His "boasting" refers to the fact that he has preached the gospel free of charge and has conducted his ministry with integrity and sincerity. He is adamant that no one will stop him from making this claim. The regions of Achaia, where Corinth was located, had seen the effectiveness and authenticity of Paul’s ministry firsthand. Paul’s boldness is rooted in the truth of Christ within him. His assurance in his identity in Christ gave him the confidence to stand firm, despite opposition and false accusations from the "super-apostles."
In verse 11, Paul gets to the heart of the matter: his love for the Corinthians. Some may have questioned Paul’s motives, assuming that because he didn’t take payment from them, he didn’t truly care about them. Paul rejects this notion outright and appeals to God as his witness. Paul’s motivation for everything he did—his refusal to accept money, his hard work to support himself, and his deep concern for the Corinthian church—was rooted in love. His love for them was genuine, selfless, and unwavering, even when the Corinthians misunderstood his actions or were led astray by false teachers.
What does this passage teach us? True ministry is not about status, eloquence, or personal gain, but it is about serving others with humility and love. Paul’s life and ministry point us to Jesus, the ultimate example of selfless love and sacrifice. In a world that often values charisma and success, Paul’s words call us back to the heart of the gospel: love, service, and the truth of Christ.
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The more I learn and am involved in life, I see the book of Genesis everywhere, including in pagan cultural icons. It one thing I love about God: you can’t escape Him. Even though many of the images and pictures of Genesis that remain in culture are certainly corrupted, the mere idea of such things had to come from somewhere; that somewhere is the actual history that Genesis records. What things? Let’s explore.
The Chinese language itself embeds the account of Genesis directly into its language. Here are some examples: “boat” is built from "eight people in a vessel." “Covet” is built from “two trees” and “women.” “Create” is the combination of “speak, dust, life, walk, and mud.” Where would that idea come from? The only logical answer is the history from Genesis. No, the Chinese people did not read Genesis and get the idea from there. They actually got it passed down their lines that literally trace directly back to Japheth, one of the survivors of the Flood, whose descendants populated that part of the world.
Don Richardson was a missionary to the tribes of Ira Jaya and Papua New Guinea. In his books Peace Child and Eternity in Their Hearts, Richardson noted how in many of these tribes, there not only was a knowledge that a true God was out there, but that their origin stories had a lot of similarities to what Genesis says. The skeptics point to the Flood similarities between Gilgamesh and Noah as evidence that Genesis got its ideas from Babylon, but how did the other cultures all around the world get the same ideas? It wasn’t from local catastrophes because local catastrophes don’t do what these myths come close to doing. Even with exaggeration, it would never compare. The only logical conclusion is that all these tribes heard from their ancestors about the same events.
But it gets more interesting. I am a video game player. I won’t call myself a heavy gamer, but I still play. I recently noticed a variety of Genesis references in a number of the games. Tales of Symphonia was originally released for the Nintendo GameCube, and today it is released for the Switch. The story centers around the “Tree of Mana.” There is a series of games called the Mana series because they have titles like “Secret of Mana,” “Legend of Mana,” “Dawn of Mana,” and others. But this “mana” has a source: a tree. In all these games, this legendary tree is so big, strong, and mighty that is known to be the source of life. Mana itself in these games is symbolic of life and the building blocks of life. And it hit me where they got this idea from.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 (Switch) centers around the “World Tree” where the “Architect” dwells and where one can reach “Elysium.” I am not sure about the etymology but this “World Tree” or “Tree of Mana” has another name: Yggdrassil. The list goes on. All seem to have one thing in common: a reference to the Tree of Life from Genesis. It’s not the same thing, but the idea of a tree bearing the source of life and being primarily inaccessible through most of the game sure has some striking similarities.
These games do not pull from Christian themes very much. They purpose to not represent Christianity specifically, though some games do play on somewhat Catholic themes such as Tales of Symphonia where the world is run by the “Church of Martel” headed by a “Pope,” or Final Fantasy X where the world worships “Yu Yevon” with their own priests calls “maesters.” Some games like Xenoblade Chronicles have “gods” as the primary villains, but I notice that each of the gods that play villains never demonstrate to be like a true God, but a corrupt being that only has great power, but not limitless power.
There are movies and games that reference Noah and the Flood. The movie 2012 was a disaster flick about the end of the world as predicted by the Mayans (not really, that’s just when their calendar ran out of space), and to save life, the governments built “arks” from a “global flood” that wiped out everything except Africa. The game Astral Chain is about the last remnants of society living on an island called “the ark,” and then the final boss is named Noah. Again, this is a corruption of the account, but where would one get the idea of an “ark” that would save mankind from a disaster? It does not make sense unless there truly was a historical event in which a man named Noah did save all life via an ark from a worldwide aquatic disaster.
There is the Garden of Eden itself. I already referenced to Xenoblade Chronicles 2, which centers around the search for Elysium – paradise, where the Architect lived so they could find out what was wrong with the world as life was dying. There was even a movie that came out a few years ago called Elysium where there was an ideal, perfect utopia, only to find out that underneath was where all the garbage lay and the outcasts who didn’t play to the ideal system. In both cases, the dream world turned out to be a farce and a façade.
Even the time-traveling adventure game Chrono Trigger, considered one of the best video games ever made, centers around Evolution’s history as seven heroes seek to defeat a world-destroying parasite named Lavos. In one of the side quests, the characters debate how they got on the adventure, and they suggest that some “entity” wanted them to see all those events and resolve some regrets. Even in the evolutionary worldview games, there still seems to be some notion of a God out there and the history that is recorded in Genesis 1-11. Again, it is corrupted, hardly resembling the real thing, and often attempting to overthrow or discard such systems, but the mere mention or fact of these things out there shows that God hides the truth about Him in all these different cultures so that no one has an excuse.
This brings a whole new meaning to how it is Jesus who lights up the world, and that every person is given some light. Some games follow the religious aspects, and some games reject them and seek to show the overcoming of such things, but the fact is that God and the history of Genesis 1-11 are embedded into every culture, including in video games and movies. They can’t escape God even if they tried. Even if they make the Christian symbols the bad guys, they cannot escape God. When I started making these connections, I began to worship God and how amazing He is, and I hope you do too.
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Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
- James 1:2-4
When I was growing up, I was blessed to have the opportunity to participate on a football team in school. I believe I was in my sophomore year of high school when the following happened.
It was a gloomy rainy day, all day, in October. Growing up in Minnesota, I assure you that it was also quite windy and cold, too. While the weather was not clearing up, many of my friends and I were discussing if maybe perhaps we’d have practice in the gymnasium because certainly our coaches would not put us in the windy, cold, and wet weather outside. Surely, they wouldn’t want to have the possibility of getting sick so we might possibly miss a game! After literally discussing this almost every hour during the school day, many of us had convinced ourselves that we most certainly were going to be inside for the evening practice.
Once in the locker room, many of us were just dilly dallying around, hoping to hear the news that we wouldn’t need to put on our football pants in favor of shorts to practice in the gym. Our coach walked into the locker room a little surprised that many of us weren’t dressed for practice, and he said, “Get your gear on! Practice is starting soon!” We all got our practice gear on and headed outside. Large puddles were everywhere on the practice field. It was cold, wet, and windy. One of our coaches said, “I recommend you just jump in the puddles and get used to it. Stretch out!”
On hearing that, many of the team jumped into the puddles and just decided to embrace the situation. Others on the team gingerly sat down on the cold, wet field, clearly not enjoying themselves. Some complained out loud and chose to sit down, at least for a while. It was one of the most miserable practices I’ve ever been through. Those who embraced it helped the entire team raise their spirit through the situation. Even though our hands became numb and we were soaked to the bone, going through that though helped me and many of my teammates realize we needed to go through that difficulty if we were going to be a team that could be good.
As we went through that and other hardships together, we started to galvanize as a team – not just during football but becoming very good friends. We not only started to trust one another, but we genuinely started to actually like one another. With that said, I am thankful for the coaches that pushed us to do better and to be better. They taught us to change our mindset.
I would not be the man I am today without their guidance and influence in my life. Friends, we need to grow and become mature and complete not lacking anything.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
- Romans 12:1-2
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I hope you will put up with me in a little foolishness. Yes, please put up with me! I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.
- 2 Corinthians 11:1-4
Right after Paul finished writing about boasting only in Jesus Christ, he shares concerns that the Corinthian church may easily get deceived by false teachers. There appear to be misleading influences and false apostles that have begun to take root in their congregation.
In verse 1, Paul takes on a tone of irony and almost sarcasm. By asking the Corinthians to "put up with" his foolishness, Paul is preparing to defend himself against accusations that might seem boastful or self-important, especially after his thoughts just before this about only boasting in Christ. Paul feels compelled to engage in what he calls "foolishness" because the Corinthians had been seduced by false teachers who presented themselves as superior to Paul.
Paul had previously warned the Corinthians about these "super-apostles" who were leading them astray (2 Corinthians 10:12). These individuals boasted about their credentials and success, something Paul hesitated to do because he did not want to rely on worldly standards of credibility. However, he realized that in order to save the Corinthians from further deception, he needed to contrast his apostleship with that of the false apostles.
Paul's metaphor of "godly jealousy" in verse 2 speaks of his protective concern for the Corinthians' spiritual well-being. His jealousy isn't born from selfish motives but from a desire to see them fully devoted to Christ. He uses the image of a bride and groom to describe the church's relationship with Jesus.
Paul, as a spiritual father, views himself as the one responsible for keeping the Corinthians faithful to Christ, their spiritual husband. In ancient Jewish and Greco-Roman cultures, the role of a father or guardian was to protect a betrothed woman until her wedding day, ensuring that she remained pure for her husband. Similarly, Paul sees himself as the guardian of the Corinthian believers' spiritual purity, preparing them for the ultimate union with Christ.
In verse 3, Paul references the story of Eve's deception in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:1-7) to illustrate how the Corinthians were being deceived. Just as the serpent used cunning and trickery to lead Eve into sin, Paul fears that the Corinthians are being led away from the simplicity and purity of their devotion to Christ by false teachers.
The false apostles in Corinth were teaching doctrines that were different from what Paul had originally preached. They were likely presenting sophisticated arguments and attractive teachings that appealed to the Corinthians' desires for wisdom and power. Paul reminds them that spiritual deception often comes in subtle ways, just as it did with Eve.
Paul directly addresses the issue of false teachings in verse 4. He is astonished that the Corinthians are so willing to tolerate teachings that deviate from the Gospel he had preached to them. These false apostles were promoting a different Jesus, a different spirit, and a different gospel. Paul emphasizes that any deviation from the true Gospel is unacceptable.
In Corinth, the false apostles were likely mixing elements of Greek philosophy, Jewish legalism, and Christian doctrine in a way that distorted the Gospel. Paul is concerned that the Corinthians, in their desire for wisdom and spiritual experiences, were too quick to accept these altered teachings. This willingness to embrace false teachings shows a lack of discernment and a susceptibility to deception.
Paul’s heart is that of a loving and protective shepherd, concerned for the spiritual well-being of his flock. He sees the Corinthians as betrothed to Christ, and his desire is to present them pure and faithful to their spiritual bridegroom. However, he is deeply concerned that they are being led astray by false teachings, much like Eve was deceived in the Garden of Eden.
We, too, can be led astray by subtle lies and distortions of the truth. It’s important to remain grounded in the simplicity and purity of the Gospel. Paul warns against accepting any teaching that presents a “different Jesus” or a “different gospel,” which is prevalent in our Christian culture today. We must be discerning, testing all teachings against the truth of Scripture.
Paul’s metaphor of the church as a bride betrothed to Christ reminds us of the importance of maintaining our spiritual purity and devotion to Him. Our relationship with Christ should be marked by faithfulness and love, not divided loyalties or compromises with false teachings.
Paul’s “godly jealousy” for the Corinthians shows us the deep responsibility that church leaders and mentors have in protecting the spiritual well-being of those under their care. They must guide, protect, and sometimes engage in “foolishness” for the sake of the truth.
In a world filled with competing ideologies and spiritual confusion, Paul’s words here serve as a reminder to keep our focus on Christ, to cling to the true Gospel, and to be wary of anything that would lead us away from the simplicity and purity of our devotion to Him. Stay in the Scriptures, regularly studying them, pray for discernment regarding what is true and what is false, and stay connected to a community that can help you in these pursuits.
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How is it possible, with so much evidence for God’s existence and power, that to find anyone who believes Him is such a hard task? If God were expressing Himself in a human mind, this must have been what He was thinking regarding King Ahaziah, son of Ahab of Israel. Ahaziah was old enough to see the miracles of Elijah. He knew about the drought. He at least heard about the Mt. Carmel incident. And he knew of Micaiah’s prophecy that sent Ahab to his grave and gave him the throne.
Yet when Ahaziah fell through the terrace in his place, his first turn was to seek the Baals. Why? His mother was Jezebel, and she was one of Baal’s priestesses. His sister was Athaliah, who married Jehoshaphat’s son. Baal worship was rampant in Israel because of Jezebel and her children to the point where Elijah thought he was the last good prophet left. Ahaziah never turned to seek the Lord. He sought Baal, and Elijah stopped the messenger to force the king to face the Lord. Instead Ahaziah sent three different companies of soldiers to arrest Elijah. The first two were slaughtered because Elijah called fire from heaven, and the third pled for mercy. Elijah gave the same message: “Is there no God in Israel?” Ahaziah died and his brother took the throne until Jehu’s cleansing of Ahab’s line.
Let me ask a similar question: Is there no God in the United States? Is there no God in the Church in America? To be clear, Israel was under covenant with God and the United States is not, however the key problem is the same. Those who profess the name of Christ, those who proclaim to be in the covenant with God, are seeking other gods besides the Lord for their needs. Perhaps the greatest idol in the U.S. today, and there are many, is the “man of knowledge.” Yes, we have severe idols with drugs, entertainment, sex, celebrities, money, comfort, etc., but few are idolized greater than the academic. Understand that I am not talking about individuals but academia as a whole. And it's not merely the heathens who worship this god; the Christian in the U.S. worships this idol more than anything else.
There are a lot of good things that have come out of academic studies, but when academic credentials became the standard instead of actual quality work and character, all the academic fields fell into disarray and became total cesspools of false knowledge. Proverbs states that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. There is no true knowledge that can be had that does not find its source in the Lord. A militant anti-theist can say some truthful things from time to time, but those true things never originated out of that person’s thinking, but they actually came from a God-fearing man who got his ideas from the ultimate source. In all the academic studies we have, there are a lot of conundrums that cannot and will not be solved by man’s own efforts. The academics are seeking every source and possible answer except one that reveals the True God, and God is saying, “Here I am.”
George Washington Carver was born a slave and raised and adopted by his owners when slaves were politically freed. However, his people were still slaves to cotton economically because they knew nothing else. Carver had done his studies and realized the peanut plant would be the solution to not only freeing the blacks from cotton but the South itself, which had no other crop to work with. Where did Carver turn to? The academics? The witch doctors? No. He turned to the God of the Bible and asked God how he made each part of the plant and what each part could do, and he came up with 300+ recipes for the peanut plant. It was not even considered a possible crop at the time, and now he had it. He knew there was still a God in the U.S., and he turned to that God to rescue the South from its slavery to cotton.
In the churches, the situation is much worse. Is there a God in the American church? Look at the average church prayer meeting and you’ll find the answer as to whether that church actually believes in God or not. Where is the God that works miracles and shows supernatural deliverance? Where is the God who gave the U.S. the power to overthrow the most powerful empire in the world to earn our freedom? Where is the God that Carver prayed to and Edwards and Whitefield preached of? The answer is simple: He’s still here. He is just being silent because we are not seeking Him. We are not going after Him, not as a nation. I am so grateful for God placing me in a church at the right time to stop me from pursuing the academic-heavy slant I was heading in and reel me back in to use the academic strengths I have for God’s Kingdom instead of my own. My church is actively seeking in prayer for God to come back and do what God has been known to do in the church once again. But churches like mine are hard to come by.
Look at pastoral requirements. You see a standard list of business-like credentials. MDiv? Check. Previous pastoral experience with youth or associate or assistant? Check. Doctrinal statement of beliefs? Check. But show me the church that selects their pastors according to the official credential list found in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1, and I’ll show you a rare diamond in the rough. I will never forget Randy Guilluza of the Institute of Creation Research closing a conference back in 2018 with this statement. He said if he were on a pastoral selection committee, he would not ask about the Trinity. He would ask about how he handles the fear of man, because if he can handle the fear of man correctly, he’ll get the Trinity correct. When helping churches with their pastor selection team, Paul Washer will have the team list all the things they want the pastor to do and it usually ends up being a 160-hours-a-day list. Then he asks how long they want that pastor in prayer and Scripture seeking the face of God. In saying that, prayer and Scripture study and seeking God is almost never on the mind of church leadership.
Is there a God in the U.S.? Do we actually believe there is one? Because as God did with Ahaziah and the family of Ahab, God is going to remind the United States that He is still here, and it is not going to be for fun and games. Judgment is coming and it is here. We are seeing Psalm 50 being carried out before us – where the wicked, professing to be Christians, did all sorts of evil, thinking God was just like them and would readily forgive them all, but instead God is going to wipe them out and tear them to pieces. Our nation has forgotten God, but God has not left. He has merely been silent and left us to our own devices, and He is going to drop the hammer soon. That judgment will start in the House of God and since we have not and will not repent as a whole, the only option left is intense persecution. God is going to purify His bride before He comes to take her home. May we be as the 7000 who did not bow their knee to Baal. May we be among those who did not forget God, and may we proudly declare that there is still a God in the United States and He will be worshiped one way or the other.
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We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the sphere of service God himself has assigned to us, a sphere that also includes you. We are not going too far in our boasting, as would be the case if we had not come to you, for we did get as far as you with the gospel of Christ. Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand, so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. For we do not want to boast about work already done in someone else’s territory. But, “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 10:12-18
Just before this, Paul addressed the idea of being superficial and judgmental along with his authority in Christ. Here, he builds on that by addressing the idea of being boastful – when it is acceptable to boast and when it is not.
Paul begins here in verse 12 by highlighting the folly of self-comparison and self-commendation. The Corinthians were likely being influenced by false teachers who were boasting about their qualifications and achievements. These teachers measured their own worth based on their own standards, which Paul points out is both unwise and arrogant.
We see a similar trend in today’s culture. Social media, personal achievements, and public perception can become the metrics by which we measure our self-worth. Paul, however, warns that comparing ourselves to others, especially by worldly standards, leads to pride and misunderstanding of what truly matters. Instead of falling into this trap, Paul urges us to look to God's standards and remember that our value is rooted in Christ alone, not in how we stack up against others.
In verse 13, Paul underscores the importance of staying within the boundaries set by God. He contrasts his own ministry with those who boast without regard for God’s calling. Paul knows that his authority and the scope of his ministry come from God, and he limits his boasting to that. For us, this is a reminder to focus on the areas of service God has called us to. We should not stretch ourselves beyond what He has assigned, nor should we seek validation outside of God's purpose for our lives. Whether in ministry, business, or personal achievements, it's important to recognize the boundaries of our calling and to give glory to God for the work He enables us to do.
Paul clarifies in verse 14 that he is not overstepping his bounds when speaking about the Corinthian church. He and his team were the first to bring the gospel to them, so Paul’s boasting is not rooted in arrogance but in the legitimate work God has done through him. He has every right to speak of his ministry because it directly impacted the Corinthians. It’s not wrong to acknowledge the work God has done through us, but we must give credit to God and remember that it is His power at work, not our own. We humbly recognize that it is God who leads us to success, not our own efforts.
Paul continues to emphasize the theme of not overstepping boundaries in verse 15. He does not claim credit for the work of others, unlike the false teachers who may have been trying to take credit for Paul’s labor. He expresses his desire for the Corinthians to grow in their faith so that his ministry among them could continue to flourish and expand. This is a call to humility and integrity. It is easy to be tempted to take credit for things we didn’t accomplish or to boast about others' work as if it were our own, but Paul models a better way: be content with what God has given you and focus on growth.
In verse 16, Paul shows that he is forward-thinking in his ministry. His ultimate goal is to take the gospel beyond Corinth to new places where Christ has not yet been preached. His desire is to reach new territories, not to take credit for work already done by others. Paul’s ambition was not selfish; it was rooted in spreading the gospel and fulfilling God’s mission. We, too, should have Godly ambitions, looking for ways to expand God’s kingdom rather than seeking personal recognition.
Verse 17 contains one of the most profound statements in this passage: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” Paul echoes the words of Jeremiah 9:24, reminding the Corinthians that any boasting should be in the Lord alone. If there is anything to boast about, it is what God has done, not what we have accomplished in our strength. In a world where self-promotion is celebrated, this verse turns that notion around. We are to boast only in the Lord, recognizing that all we have, all we accomplish, and all we are comes from Him. Whether in ministry, career, or personal life, all credit and glory belong to God. True success is found in being aligned with His will and purposes.
Paul closes this section in verse 18 by reiterating that self-commendation is meaningless. It is not the approval of others or even our own commendation that matters; it is God's commendation that truly counts. In other words, it is God’s approval that defines our worth and success, not human praise. We should seek God’s approval and live in a way that honors Him, rather than striving for the applause or validation of others. This truth brings freedom, as we no longer need to be bound by the expectations or standards of the world but can rest in knowing that God’s commendation is what truly matters. We don’t need to worry about what others think of us, only what God thinks of us – which is that we are truly precious in His sight.
In a world that constantly measures worth by comparison, accomplishments, and self-promotion, Paul directs our focus back to God. He reminds us that our worth is found in Christ, that our ministry is defined by the boundaries He sets, and that any success we experience is ultimately from Him. We are to boast in the Lord, recognizing that it is His power at work in us that accomplishes great things in our lives and through us.
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Have you ever heard that argument that “my sin only affects me”? Or ever used it? Do you think that your sin will only affect you and you can choose to sin freely without anyone bothering about it? Naivety is the only nice word I can think of to describe such foolishness, because our sin does way more than affect us individually. It affects everyone around us and can even have lasting effects around the world.
The deception of thinking our sin only affects us is a deadly vice. The worst part of it is that this deception actually carries the subtle claim that the person making it thinks he/she will not face any consequences for their sin, and even if they do, they don’t care. It reminds me of the crowd and the Pharisees calling for Jesus to be crucified. They wanted Jesus dead so much that they even cursed themselves with Jesus’ blood upon them and their own children, never once actually realizing their own curse. And the Jewish people have, as a whole, not recognized their Messiah for the last 2000 years as a result (other than Messianic Jews who do). But I have noticed a trend that those who want to blatantly sin simply do not care about the consequences of their choices. They want to be left alone, and so they throw out this foolish lie that it’s their choice and their choice alone and don’t bother telling them about it.
The sin that most people use this argument for is regarding sexuality, specifically the sin of pornography. Pedophiles are renown for telling their victims that their sexual engagement was a secret between them. Potipher’s wife sought to seduce Joseph, and I am certain she said many times it would be their little secret and no one else would know. Porn watchers think they are just getting entertained in their bedrooms or on their phones, but they soon lose track of the fact that on the other side of the camera are real people degrading their bodies for such people’s entertainment, arousal, and pleasure. Not all of those people are doing it by choice. The stronger the lusts, the darker they go, and it goes from willing adults to children enslaved to such acts, both in the receiving and participation in such things. Here in El Paso, TX, we are known for drugs and the bars, but the sex industry is actually a bigger money maker. You cannot drive in or out of the city without coming across the adult stores. It’s a huge industry and to say that it only affects you is total naivety.
Besides Adam and Eve and original sin, there are two accounts I will bring up that showcase the severity of how one’s sin affects many others. One account is the unbelief of the 10 spies sent into the Promised Land and the other is Achan. Let’s look at the 10 spies.
When Moses sent 12 spies to the Promised Land to check it out, two of them, Joshua and Caleb, said that the land was ripe for the taking because they believed in their God. The other 10 feared the giants and the walls and did not see God at all, despite just a year earlier having seen God wipe out Egypt, the most powerful nation in the area. Note that Egypt had economic control over this region too, which is why Rahab reported that Jericho was so scared of Israel at their doorstep. But these 10 spies did not believe, and it caused a great uproar among the people to the point of mutiny. So, God chased them back to the wilderness for 40 years for the whole generation to die off.
Think about that. Everyone in the camp who was 20 or older in that camp had to wander for 40 years so their carcasses would not even be found. All adults were doomed to death, and only Joshua and Caleb would get to live beyond it. Now think about this. What about those teenagers in the camp who were old enough to see what God did in Egypt and actually did believe? We aren’t told of such people, but God has always had a remnant of believers. If any adults believed Joshua and Caleb, they didn’t speak up, so they perished too. But those teenagers who were promised freedom and a land of their own were so close and had to wait 40 years before going in. They were robbed of 40 years of enjoyment of the Promised Land because of the unbelief of others. And think of Joshua and Caleb themselves. They believed and were ready to go and they too were robbed of 40 years of land they wanted. You really think your sin only affects you? Some of you boys or men addicted to porn are costing your wife or future wife time of true pleasure and it may be preventing you from having kids too. Your sin prevents others from getting their blessing, not just you from yours.
And what about Achan? Achan, along with all Israel, went to conquer Jericho and yet God told them not to touch anything in the city. No spoils because God wanted them to trust Him more than spoils of war. Yet Achan saw some clothing and some gold, and he took it and hid it in his tent. What happened? Israel went to take on the tiny town of Ai and lost 36 men in a rout. It was public defeat and total shame. One man’s sin cost the nation 36 men their lives and public shame. Joshua came to confront him, and it cost Achan his and his family’s lives (mostly likely because they knew of the sin and did not report it). Again, Achan’s sin affected more than just him.
It does not matter what the sin is, it has long-reaching affects. This does not even address those sins that come back to visit us years down the road. The nice thing about the sins of the 10 spies and Achan is that there were immediate consequences. Many sins, however, do not come with immediate consequences, so we don’t think twice about it. Do not be deceived! God is going to deal with it all, and He knows precisely how to deal with it, too. David did not see the consequences of his sin with Uriah and Bathsheba for a year, and then later it came to full fruition with Absalom’s rebellion. Don’t think it will be any different with us. Our sins will come and find us out, and they will cost others as well.
Fortunately, the Gospel is able to provide an answer to this all. The Gospel not only deals with our sin, but it can save those our sin affects. The rapist and the murderer affect not just the sinner but the victim; the Gospel will either save the sinner or condemn him, but also save the victim. That is why we must give the Gospel to all people. Every person is both a sinner and a victim of other’s sin. We have all be hit by other people’s sins, too. We all need the Gospel. Only the Gospel can resolve it. Trust the Lord and He will set all things right.
This forum is meant to foster discussion and allow for differing viewpoints to be explored with equal and respectful consideration. All comments are moderated and any foul language or threatening/abusive comments will not be approved. Users who engage in threatening or abusive comments which are physically harmful in nature will be reported to the authorities.
