2 Corinthians 11 (2)

Pray Psalm 33.1-5
Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous!
For praise from the upright is beautiful.
Praise the LORD with the harp;
Make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings.
Sing to Him a new song;
Play skillfully with a shout of joy.
For the word of the LORD is right,
And all His work is done in truth.
He loves righteousness and justice;
The earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.

Sing Psalm 33.1-5.
(Truro: Shout, for the Blessed Jesus Reigns)
Sing with rejoicing in the LORD, for praise becomes His righteous ones!
With harps and songs raise grateful words, and let new songs of praise be sung!

Joyfully shout! His Word is true; He does His work in faithfulness.
His love prevails the whole world through; the LORD loves truth and righteousness.

Read 2 Corinthians 11.1-6; meditate on verses 5, 6.

Preparation
1. What did Paul claim?

2. What did he recall to the Corinthians?

Meditation
By “the most eminent apostles” Paul referred at least to Peter and Apollos, who, we recall, had been invoked by certain people in Corinth as a means of vaunting their spirituality and dividing the Body of Christ. But he also may have been referring to the “super apostles” who were still working in Corinth at the time of this writing and still leading people astray into false teaching. Paul regarded himself as inferior to none of these. The Corinthians should, too.

But why? Because they had seen Paul, heard him teach and preach, observed his humble way of life, and knew his courage and conviction where the Gospel was concerned. If we want people to hear our witness for Jesus, we must be careful to live that witness faithfully in all our ways.

Paul may not have been eloquent in speech, but he was no rube. He knew how to make persuasive arguments that the Spirit could use in many ways. None of the apostles exceeded Paul in knowledge, that is, in knowledge of the Word of God. Even a casual reading of his epistles reveals a mind fully saturated with the Word of God. He also had enough of this world’s knowledge to hold his own with philosophers and God-deniers. The Corinthians had seen that, too.

Paul commended his life and teaching to the Corinthians, reminding them of what they had seen in him when he was among them. His purpose in mentioning this was to keep them on the good path, the Jesus path, which they had begun to walk again. This they would do if they remembered him as they should. And we will, too, as we look to Paul’s example and teaching to guide our walk with and work for the Lord.

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162.
“Even though I am untrained in speech, yet I am not in knowledge.
But we have been thoroughly manifested among you in all things” (2 Cor. 11.6).

It’s that word manifested that bespeaks his intent: to make evident or certain by showing or displaying.

To prove; put beyond doubt or question. To show something clearly, through signs or actions. We would right choose to use the verb manifest when someone shows something for everyone to notice.

David Otis Fuller and Billy Graham have both been attributed with the creation of this question, although it matters not which one said it first. The power of the question remains: “If you were arrested and tried in a court of law for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?”

That gets at the heart of what Paul was saying here. His behavior, not his grandiose speech, was the proof positive of his belief. His life was a megaphone proclaiming loudly and clearly, purely and simply, his devotion to Christ Jesus.

“My heart is overflowing with a good theme;
I recite my composition concerning the King;
my tongue is the pen of a ready writer” (Ps. 45.1).

And Paul, along with most all the other disciples, was convicted handily of being a Christian. The evidence overwhelming, the forensics undeniable—guilty as charged.

Will the same be said of us?
Do our lives manifest the Good News of Jesus Christ?

Do we make evident, showing, displaying, proving beyond doubt or question by our signs and actions—for everyone to notice—that we belong to Christ, that He is our Lord and King, and that we are servants in His Kingdom for the long haul?

May others see and believe, as we manifest Christ and His glory, using the megaphone of our lives well-lived to proclaim these truths:

“For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes…” (Rom. 1.16). “For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day” (2 Tim. 1.12).

Thoroughly manifested and convicted of being His child.

For reflection
1. How is it “manifest” to the people in your Personal Mission Field that you are a servant of Christ?

2. In what ways are you working to improve your presence for Christ in your Personal Mission Field?

3. How can Christians encourage and help one another to be more “visible” as followers of Jesus?

It is far better to be plain in speech, yet walking openly and consistently with the gospel, than to be admired by thousands, and be lifted up in pride, so as to disgrace the gospel by evil tempers and unholy lives. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on 2 Corinthians 11.5-15

Pray Psalm 33.13-22.
Call on the Lord to watch over you today and to help you walk in hope and in the fear of His Name. Cry out to Him for help, and pray that He will shield and protect you from all evil as you serve Him today.

Sing Psalm 33.13-22.
(Truro: Shout, for the Blessed Jesus Reigns)
God from His throne looks down on men; He knows our works and made our hearts.
Let not Your Church, let none depend on strength or skill or human arts.

God watches those who fear His Name, who hope upon His grace and love:
He keeps their souls from death and shame who trust in Him Who reigns above.

God is our Helper and our Shield; upon us let Your grace descend!
We hope in You; to You we yield; we trust in Jesus to the end.

T. M. and Susie Moore

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter, available by clicking here.