"I am not at all inferior to the most eminent apostles."
Text: 2 Corinthians 11:5
DEFENCE OF APOSTLESHIP
Paul was not one of the original Twelve Apostles. His apostleship was questioned by his detractors, time and again. In the Epistle to the Galatians, Paul had to strenuously defend his apostleship. Once again, Paul found it necessary to defend his apostleship to the Corinthians.
“For I consider that I am not at all inferior
to the most eminent apostles.
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 Corinthians 11:5-6
1. “For I consider that I am not at all inferior to the most eminent apostles”
a) The most eminent Apostle would likely be
i) Those who had been originally appointed as Apostles by Christ Jesus.
ii) Those who stood out in the mother Church at Jerusalem.
b) Some of the well-known Apostles
i) Peter
ii) John
iii) James
c) Paul claimed that he was not inferior in any way!
d) Apostles were empowered especially.
i) Signs and wonders were associated with their ministries.
ii) Paul could claim that these signs and wonders accompanied his ministry too
(Romans 15:19).
2. “Even though I am untrained in speech”
a) Apollos was a well-known gifted speaker.
b) Paul may not have been a golden-tongued speaker in comparison.
3. “Yet I am not in knowledge”
a) Paul’s knowledge was inferior to none.
b) Arguably, he was the most knowledgeable of all the apostles!
4. “But we have been thoroughly manifested among you in all things”
a) What was really the most important thing was “proof of quality in ministry”.
b) Paul appealed to his ministry with his fellow-workers in founding the church in Corinth.
c) The worth of their ministry was “thoroughly manifested” to all! His labour for the Lord was proven!