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Scripture Reading: 2 Cor. 12:11-18
What Paul covers in 12:11-18 is neglected by many Christian workers today. All the saints in the Lord’s recovery need to understand what these verses reveal, for they apply to all of us, not only to those who are elders or co-workers. We should not think that what Paul speaks of here has nothing to do with us. What Paul was, what he did, and how he conducted himself are a pattern for all believers, not only a pattern for the leading ones. The New Testament reveals that all believers in Christ should, like Paul, live a life for the building up of the Body of Christ. This is revealed emphatically, strongly, and definitely in the book of Ephesians. According to Ephesians, every part of the Body must live a life for the building up of the Body.
Unconsciously and subconsciously, we are still very much under the influence of our religious background. We are under the control, direction, and manipulation of traditional concepts. In particular, because of this influence, we may think that what Paul speaks of in chapter twelve is limited to leading ones, elders, co-workers, deacons, and deaconesses. We may think that, as common members of the Body, this chapter has nothing to do with us. Actually, Paul’s word is for us all. For this reason, it is rather difficult for me to say how many co-workers I have. The understanding within me is that all of those who meet with us in the Lord’s recovery are co-workers. Nevertheless, because of the influence of our religious background, we may think that if we are not apostles, elders, or deacons, Paul’s word in 12:11-18 does not apply to us. We need to read these verses with the realization that they are meant for us all. Even the young ones among us should realize that these verses are for them. We are not able to predict how far along the Lord will take our young people and how much He will use them in the future. I say this as an introductory word to our considering what is revealed in these verses.
In verse 11 Paul says, “I have become foolish; you yourselves compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you; for in nothing I am inferior to the super-apostles, even if I am nothing.” Here Paul says that the Corinthians compelled Paul to become foolish. They bore the responsibility for this. They should have commended Paul, but they were distracted and withheld their commendation. Their silence was wrong. They should have done something to commend Paul, for it was not fitting for him to be compelled to speak concerning himself. This, no doubt, was the feeling in Paul’s spirit as he wrote verse 11.
We should learn from this verse that there are occasions when we need to say something on behalf of the elders or those in the ministry. If a certain brother is the target of attack or opposition, he may not be able to say anything to defend himself. In such a situation we need to speak up and commend him. For example, years ago when Brother Nee was the target, I did something to vindicate him. The young ones especially need to learn to commend someone in such a situation. They should be bold to speak out. They should not be silent, and they should not be held back.
In verse 11 Paul was compelled to point out to the Corinthians that in nothing was he inferior to the super-apostles. It certainly was not pleasant for Paul to say this on his own behalf. It should not have been necessary for such a word to be uttered by him, since he was the target of the opposition. A number of those in Corinth should have said this for Paul. They should have declared, “You Judaizers must realize that Paul is not inferior to you in any way.” As we have pointed out, Paul had received transcendent visions and revelations. He surely was not inferior to those arrogant, boastful, self-commending Judaizers. But because of the silence of the Corinthians, Paul was compelled to say something on his own behalf. He said forthrightly that in nothing was he inferior to the boastful Judaizers.
In verse 11 Paul says that he was not inferior to the super-apostles, even if he were nothing. Of course, it is not true that Paul was nothing. He really was something. However, he could not say this about himself. Hence, he was compelled to point out that, even if he were nothing, he was not inferior to the Judaizers.
In verse 12 Paul goes on to say, “Indeed, the signs of the apostle were wrought among you in all endurance, by signs and wonders and works of power.” The signs are attesting miracles that furnish credentials of apostleship, the wonders are startling and awakening miracles, and the works of power are miracles that demonstrate God’s power.
I believe that the expression “the signs of the apostle” was used first by the Corinthians, not by Paul. Perhaps the believers at Corinth were discussing the matter of the signs of an apostle. They may have asked themselves what were the signs of Paul’s being an apostle. If they had not raised this question, Paul would not have mentioned it here.
The expression “the signs of the apostle” may sound strange to us, but it did not seem strange to the Corinthians. On the contrary, this expression was familiar to them, since they were probably the ones who invented it. Some of them may have thought that the Judaizers had more of these signs than Paul did. This was the reason in verse 12 Paul speaks of the signs of his apostleship.
Regarding the signs of the apostle, the first thing Paul mentions is “all endurance.” This indicates that endurance is the leading sign of an apostle. With respect to the Corinthians, Paul endured defamation. Some of them went so far as to say that Paul was crafty and with guile took advantage of them. Paul uses the word “guile” in verse 16. In a note on this verse in his New Translation, Darby points out, “The apostle is not saying that he did this, but is answering a charge that he had kept up appearances by taking nothing himself, but knew how to indemnify himself by using Titus in order to receive from them. The charge was false, as he proceeds to show.” The Corinthians were saying that Paul would not come to Corinth to collect money himself. Therefore, he sent Titus to do this for him and thereby used Titus to cover himself. It is hard to believe that certain of the Corinthians would defame Paul to such an extent. Now we can understand why Paul emphasizes the matter of endurance.
In 12:12 Paul seems to be saying to the Corinthians, “You ask me to tell you the signs of my apostleship. The first sign is my endurance. You have criticized me and defamed me, but I have been able to endure it.” Then Paul goes on to mention signs, wonders, and works of power. These are miraculous things. But according to the context, although Paul speaks of these things, he does not emphasize them. Rather, Paul seems to say, “You talk about miracles as signs of apostleship. When I was with you, there were many signs, wonders, and works of power. But instead of emphasizing such things, I would first speak of my endurance.”
In verse 13 Paul continues, “For what is it in which you were treated in an inferior manner to the rest of the churches, except that I myself was not an encumbrance to you? Forgive me this injustice.” The church at Corinth was not treated as inferior to the other churches or weaker than they. After pointing this out, Paul says, ironically, “Forgive me this injustice,” referring to not being an encumbrance to the believers.
In verse 13 Paul seems to be saying, “In the matter of receiving gifts, grace, and God’s blessing, you Corinthians are not inferior to other churches. I begot you in Christ, and I did my best to raise you as a church that was not short of anything. I did not treat you in a manner inferior to the rest of the churches. I did my best to beget you in Christ, to raise you up as a church, and to build you up. Regarding God’s salvation and blessing, divine grace, and spiritual gifts, you are not inferior to any other church. In what way, then, were you treated in an inferior way? Only in that I was not an encumbrance to you. I did not burden you. Forgive me this injustice!” It was a shame to the Corinthians that Paul had to speak this way. The only thing he failed to do for them was to make himself a burden to them. Elsewhere Paul even says that he took wages from other churches in order to work among the Corinthians. Although Paul worked for the Corinthians, they did not give him anything. Thus, his only injustice toward them was not placing any burden on them. Verse 13 is not a pleasant word, but Paul was nonetheless bold in saying it.
Verse 14 says, “Behold, this third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be an encumbrance; for I do not seek what is yours, but you; for the children ought not to store up for the parents, but the parents for the children.” In this verse we have a very important word: “I do not seek what is yours, but you.” We all need to be deeply impressed with this word and remember it. Whenever we work for the Lord, we should not seek what belongs to others — we should seek them. This means that we should not seek others’ money or want their money. Paul could say boldly to the Corinthians, “I seek after you and I want you. I do not seek what is yours — your wealth, your possessions, your material things. I seek you.”
At least a few times Brother Nee pointed out to us that if one who works for the Lord cannot be faithful in the matter of money, he cannot be faithful or strong in the Lord’s work. Many Christian workers, when they come to the matter of money, immediately become weak. Because they are afraid that their financial supply would be cut off, they dare not preach certain things, teach certain truths, or rebuke certain sins. Furthermore, they will not deal with certain matters, also because they are afraid that if they do so, the supply of money will be cut off. Those who have this problem are subdued by money.
Do not think that we are the only ones who know the truth concerning the church revealed in the Word. At least some others know this truth; however, they dare not practice it. They know that in every locality there should be just one church. But, fearing that their supply of funds will be cut off, they are not willing to teach this or practice it.
I am concerned that when you enter into the genuine ministry for the Lord and are faced with the matter of money, you may not be bold for the truth. It is indeed a failure to be influenced by money. This is a shame and a defeat before the enemy. We all must receive grace to forget considerations about money and have the boldness to say to the believers, “I do not seek what is yours — I seek you.”
In these verses we do not have doctrines, but we do have a number of very practical matters. In verse 14 Paul says that the children should not store up for the parents, but the parents for the children. Here we see once again that Paul was frank and honest. He would not give up his standing with regard to the Corinthians. In this verse Paul seems to be telling them, “Corinthians, you cannot deny that I am your spiritual father. I begot you in Christ through the gospel, and I have raised you as my children. As your parent, I do not seek what is yours. It is a shame for parents to seek their children’s money. The children ought not to store up for the parents, but the parents for the children. Corinthians, I do not want to receive anything from you — I want to give to you.”
In verse 15 Paul goes on to say, “But I will most gladly spend and be utterly spent on behalf of your souls, even if loving you more abundantly, I am loved less.” In this verse “spend” means to spend what he has, referring to his possessions. To be utterly spent means to spend what he is, referring to his being. Paul was willing to sacrifice himself — his soul, his life, his entire being — for the believers. He was also willing to give all his money and material possessions. The Lord Jesus gave His soul for us; He was utterly spent for us. In like manner, Paul’s desire was to be utterly spent for the Corinthians. All the saints in the Lord’s recovery need to learn this crucial lesson: to receive grace to spend what we have and to be utterly spent for the saints and for the churches.
In verse 15 Paul says that he was willing to be spent, even if loving the believers more abundantly, he was loved the less. Paul was still willing to be spent for the Corinthians even if he loved them more and they loved him less. Paul did not care about their condition. Their condition could not change his attitude toward them. Here Paul seems to be saying, “No matter what your attitude is toward me, I still love you, and I am glad to spend what I have and what I am for you.”
Verse 16 says, “But let it be so, I did not burden you, but being crafty I took you with guile.” As we have pointed out, this is what some Corinthians charged against the apostle. They said he was crafty in making gain, indemnifying himself by sending Titus to receive the collection for the poor saints. The words “let it be so” mean to let the former matter go. This is to forget about the past, to let the past go.
Although Paul did not burden the Corinthians, some of them were saying that he was crafty and took them with guile. They said that Paul would not come himself, but used Titus as a cover to indemnify himself while he hid behind the scene. They were accusing Paul of being the one who actually collected the money through Titus. In their judgment, that was Paul’s craftiness. Having been inwardly warned concerning the matter, Paul sent more than one person with Titus to collect the money. He did this in order to silence the defaming tongues. However, even though Paul acted carefully and with forethought, some of the Corinthians still defamed him.
We learn from Paul’s experience that even though the saints may be honest, Satan is nonetheless crouching among them. Satan uses money to damage the situation between the ministering ones and the saints. Among the distracted Corinthians, some were criticizing Paul for being crafty in money matters.
In verses 17 and 18 Paul asks, “Did I take advantage of you through anyone whom I have sent to you? I entreated Titus and sent with him the brother. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit? Not in the same steps?” The spirit in verse 18 denotes our regenerated spirit indwelt by the Holy Spirit. This spirit should govern, rule, direct, regulate, and lead us in our Christian walk (Rom. 8:4). The apostles walk in such a spirit.
Paul’s word in verses 16, 17, and 18 helps us to understand what some of the Corinthians had been saying concerning Paul and Titus. They were accusing Paul of deceiving them, cheating them, and taking advantage of them by sending Titus to collect money. It surely was not a pleasant matter for Paul to write about such things. It may seem to us that words such as these should not be found in the writings of a holy apostle, one who had received from the Lord the commission of a high ministry.
In this portion of 2 Corinthians Paul is performing surgery on the church at Corinth. He cut them open and removed the parts that were corrupt. The church in Corinth was so seriously ill that medicine could not cure them. They could only be helped by surgery. Therefore, Paul, a spiritual surgeon, performed surgery in order to heal the church and restore it, recover it. As long as the relationship between the believers and the apostle had not been adjusted, the church would continue to be sick. Therefore, an operation was necessary.
In this chapter we see how honest Paul was as a servant of God. According to the title of this message, here we have Paul’s vindication of his apostolic authority. Actually, I do not like to use the word vindication. Probably Paul did not have the feeling that he was vindicating himself. On the contrary, he was seeking to heal the Corinthians by operating on them, by cutting out anything corrupt from the Body.
I believe that this message can be helpful to all those, especially the young, who have a heart for the Lord’s recovery. Eventually, the young ones will be in the hand of the Lord. It certainly will be necessary for them to have a proper understanding concerning money. We all must learn not to be greedy, but instead, to spend what we have for others, even to spend ourselves, our very being. We should be willing to pour out our whole being — spirit, soul, and body — for the Body of Christ. Then what we do and what we are will be a benefit to the Body. Whenever we touch the work of the Lord for His Body, we must have a pure motive and a proper attitude. Instead of seeking what others have, we should seek only them and desire to gain them for the Lord’s Body and to spend utterly what we are and have for the Body. Then the Body will be healed, and we shall be preserved.
