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2 Corinthians 3:1 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need as some, a letter of commendation to you or of commendation from you?
2 You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men.
Paul needed no introduction in Corinth, having spent 18 months living among them
and thoroughly introducing them to sound Christian doctrine and lifestyle. Acts 18:11
He is clearly distressed that he must justify his authority over them, and cites his own behavior,
and the confirmation of the Spirit as his witness.
2 Corinthians 1:12 For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves
in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you.
2 Corinthians 2:17 For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity,
but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.
Where does this idea of a letter of commendation originate? We are told that at Galatia there were false brethren who came to spy on Paul’s ministry,
and Acts confirms that there were some sent from Jerusalem. It is very possible that they bore with them letters of commendation from the religious
leaders there. However, considering both letters to the Corinthians and the testimony of Acts, the discussion seems centered on the ministry of Apollos.
Acts 18:24 Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus.
25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord,
though he knew only the baptism of John.
26 So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him,
they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.
27 And when he desired to cross to Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him;
and when he arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace;
28 for he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is Christ.
The concern I have always had about this narrative is that after being taught “the way of God more accurately”, there was no laying on of hands,
no baptism in the Holy Spirit or any evidence of anointing on his work.
Simply a greater determination to convince a Jewish audience that Jesus is the Christ. Paul handles the rift forming in the fellowship
with diplomacy, insisting that neither himself or Apollos is the key figure here.
1 Corinthians 3:
5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one?
6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.
7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.
In his first letter to them, Paul emphasizes the confirmation of the Spirit in the work of his ministry.
1 Corinthians 1:6 even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you,
7 so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,
8 who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 Corinthians 2:1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom
declaring to you the testimony of God.
2 For I was determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.
4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom,
but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
The lesson being that man should look to the Lord for confirmation of truth.
1 Corinthians 4:6 Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sake,
that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other.
For Paul, the only legitimate commendation comes from the Spirit,
as registered upon the conscience of those bearing witness.
2 Corinthians 4:1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart.
2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully,
but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
2 Corinthians 5:
11 Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God,
and I also trust are well known in your consciences.
12 For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you the opportunity to boast on our behalf,
that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in the heart.
16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ
according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.
In the Gospels we learn of the son of man, and the Son of God manifest in flesh.
Now, we know Him as the ascended Lord of lords and King of kings. The tribulations endured by Paul also speak
to the legitimacy of his ministry, as taught by the Lord.
Matthew 5:10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.
12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
2 Corinthians 6:3 We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed.
4 But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, tribulations, in need, in distress…..
Finally, Paul presents the confirmation of the Spirit as his authority over the churches at Corinth,
as a father who has “given birth” to children of God in Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:12 For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves.
But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
13 We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us—
a sphere which especially includes you.
14 For we are not overextending ourselves (as though our authority did not extend to you),
for it was to you that we came with the gospel of Christ;
18 For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.
2 You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men.
Paul needed no introduction in Corinth, having spent 18 months living among them
and thoroughly introducing them to sound Christian doctrine and lifestyle. Acts 18:11
He is clearly distressed that he must justify his authority over them, and cites his own behavior,
and the confirmation of the Spirit as his witness.
2 Corinthians 1:12 For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves
in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you.
2 Corinthians 2:17 For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity,
but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.
Where does this idea of a letter of commendation originate? We are told that at Galatia there were false brethren who came to spy on Paul’s ministry,
and Acts confirms that there were some sent from Jerusalem. It is very possible that they bore with them letters of commendation from the religious
leaders there. However, considering both letters to the Corinthians and the testimony of Acts, the discussion seems centered on the ministry of Apollos.
Acts 18:24 Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus.
25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord,
though he knew only the baptism of John.
26 So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him,
they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.
27 And when he desired to cross to Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him;
and when he arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace;
28 for he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is Christ.
The concern I have always had about this narrative is that after being taught “the way of God more accurately”, there was no laying on of hands,
no baptism in the Holy Spirit or any evidence of anointing on his work.
Simply a greater determination to convince a Jewish audience that Jesus is the Christ. Paul handles the rift forming in the fellowship
with diplomacy, insisting that neither himself or Apollos is the key figure here.
1 Corinthians 3:
5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one?
6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.
7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.
In his first letter to them, Paul emphasizes the confirmation of the Spirit in the work of his ministry.
1 Corinthians 1:6 even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you,
7 so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,
8 who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 Corinthians 2:1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom
declaring to you the testimony of God.
2 For I was determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.
4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom,
but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
The lesson being that man should look to the Lord for confirmation of truth.
1 Corinthians 4:6 Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sake,
that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other.
For Paul, the only legitimate commendation comes from the Spirit,
as registered upon the conscience of those bearing witness.
2 Corinthians 4:1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart.
2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully,
but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
2 Corinthians 5:
11 Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God,
and I also trust are well known in your consciences.
12 For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you the opportunity to boast on our behalf,
that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in the heart.
16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ
according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.
In the Gospels we learn of the son of man, and the Son of God manifest in flesh.
Now, we know Him as the ascended Lord of lords and King of kings. The tribulations endured by Paul also speak
to the legitimacy of his ministry, as taught by the Lord.
Matthew 5:10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.
12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
2 Corinthians 6:3 We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed.
4 But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, tribulations, in need, in distress…..
Finally, Paul presents the confirmation of the Spirit as his authority over the churches at Corinth,
as a father who has “given birth” to children of God in Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:12 For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves.
But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
13 We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us—
a sphere which especially includes you.
14 For we are not overextending ourselves (as though our authority did not extend to you),
for it was to you that we came with the gospel of Christ;
18 For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.
