Paul’s Defense

“I speak as a fool” (2 Corinthians 11:23). These words jump out of the pages of 2 Corinthians; they seem out of place in the Bible. Why would an apostle speak foolishly? A closer look reveals the reason behind Paul’s words. The church at Corinth had been infiltrated by insidious false teachers. Although no one knows what philosophical or theological group these false teachers belonged to, we can ascertain some of their beliefs from Paul’s two letters to the Corinthians. Evidently they were a group who prided themselves on their Jewish heritage (2 Corinthians 11:22). This group may also have held to what some have called an “incipient Gnosticism.” They placed value on spiritual knowledge and experiences (1 Corinthians 8:1) that were only accessible to gifted teachers, perhaps those who were especially skilled in Greek rhetoric (2 Corinthians 11:6). These “false teachers” were not only slandering Paul; they were denying his authority (2 Corinthians 12:11) and the truthfulness of what he preached. Some have postulated that there were several different groups that opposed Paul. That may have been the case, for Paul speaks of several different factions in the church (1 Corinthians 1:12-13).

To counter the accusations of his opponents, Paul took great pains to present his apostolic credentials. He opened his life and ministry for all to review. But he was doing more than defending himself; the great apostle wrote with an additional goal in mind. This was to warn the Corinthians of the dangers the false teachings posed. Thus, Paul reluctantly painted a stark contrast between his own ministry and that of his rivals. According to Paul, these false teachers preached “another Jesus” and a “different gospel” (2 Corinthians 11:4). He regarded them as “deceitful workers” (2 Corinthians 11:13). Unlike Paul, these impostors collected fees for their services (2 Corinthians 11:7-9). And unlike Paul, they enjoyed comfortable, easygoing ministries. To defend himself, Paul was forced to “boast” in his ministry. But his boast was unusual, for it was in his weaknesses and suffering. He did not boast of his own accomplishments, but in the troubles and difficulties that clearly showed the power of Christ in his life (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Many centuries later, the cast of characters has changed, but the story remains the same. The church continues to be infiltrated by those who advocate unbiblical ideas. Many of these present-day “false teachers” appear to be very sincere. They speak with great passion and eloquence. Their ideas seem to make perfect sense. But we must exercise extreme caution. The lucrative potential of modern mass communications has attracted hucksters who tickle the “itching ears” (2 Timothy 4:3) of their audiences in an attempt to profit personally. Every message must be weighed against the Word of God.

And what is a church body to do if it detects false teachers in its midst? On this issue, the New Testament is clear: Those who foster division within the church by persistently advocating unbiblical beliefs are to be removed from fellowship (2 Corinthians 6:14; Romans 16:17-18; 1 Timothy 6:3-5; Titus 3:9-11; 2 John 9-11). There is to be no toleration. When unaddressed, false doctrine is like a cancer that permeates a body, weakening it, and ultimately bringing about its demise.

Courtesy of Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.
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