I too will boast

I too will boast

Don’t you find it funny that Paul would condemn those who boast, but then turn around and spend a lot of time boasting himself?   He goes to such great lengths to tell the Corinthians about his credentials as an apostle and about all the hardships he has endured.   It’s almost as if he were pointing to himself as some sort of superhero they should admire!   Later on, he again states that boasting is not “profitable,” but then he dives right back in and describes his extraordinary spiritual experiences (2 Corinthians 12:1-4).

Maybe some context can help. It seems that other people, whom Paul labeled as false apostles, had come to Corinth preaching a different form of the gospel than the one he and the other apostles were preaching.   These “superapostles” were impressing the Corinthians with their showy preaching, their easier message, and their impressive credentials (2 Corinthians 11:5).   So Paul, fearing that the people were being led astray, leapt to his own defense—and, more important, to the defense of his message.

Paul was always a passionate man, so it shouldn’t surprise us that he was so extreme in his argument.   He was also a shrewd man:   he hoped that by speaking in such extremes, he could shock the Corinthians back to their senses.   Remember, this is the same man who once wrote that he would do whatever it took to bring people to Jesus (1 Corinthians 9:22).

Paul’s words, not just in today’s readings (2 Corinthians 11:18) but throughout his writings, show us that sometimes we have to fight for the sake of the gospel.   Sometimes we have to show a little passion to help shake people up a bit.   And sometimes we need a good shaking up as well!

Of course, our Christian witness should not always be one of argument and boasting.   Sometimes we need to be gentle and compassionate.   Other times we need to be quiet and meek.   God wants us to be flexible, resourceful, and creative as we respond to each situation with his wisdom.   That’s how we, like Paul, can do whatever it takes to bring the good news to the people we see every day.

Word Among Us