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Friday 1 July 2011

2 Corinthians 12:11-21 - No super-apostles

The only reason that Paul indulged in all this "boasting" was because the Corinthians forced him to. They had failed to use proper Christian discernment and were insisting on being impressed by the worldly boasting of the "super apostles". They should have had more sense and effectively told the "super-apostles" where to get off. 
So we have a duty to use Godly discernment. We need to be wise in what we give attention to. If we come under attack as Paul did, we need to use the same wisdom he used. First we need to be patient, then if we are forced to respond, we need to get the attention on to the things that really matter. 
The "super apostles" may also have told them that Paul did not value them as much as other churches. This, along with everything else they said, was complete nonsense. Paul had spent a year and a half with them, and in that time had performed many signs and wonders. The only thing he had not done was take money off them!
Paul would visit them shortly, and he would continue to refuse to be a burden to them in any way. Paul wanted them, not their money. He wanted to be able to present them to Christ as pure and spotless.
Then Paul closes this section by expressing his fears. He worries that wrong attitudes may be abounding in the church. If we start listening to the wrong voices our lives will start going astray. We need to be careful who we listen to.

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