[:en]PAUL’S DEFENSE OF HIS MINISTRY (vs. 1-18)
Some Corinthian believers sided with Paul but a minority continued to slander him saying that his letters were weighty and forceful, but in person, he was unimpressive and his preaching amounted to nothing. (v. 10) Paul was using God’s mighty weapons – prayer, faith, hope, love, God’s Word and Holy Spirit – to fight against the devil’s “strongholds”. Satan was building a wall to keep people from finding God and having a relationship with Christ. Paul used military terminology instead of human proud arguments to describe his warfare against sin and Satan. He asserted his authority because he and his companions were the first to bring the Good News to Corinth.
Greece was known for its eloquent and persuasive orators. So the people were comparing Paul to other speakers they had heard. Paul was not the most powerful preacher but he was able to introduce Christianity to the Roman Empire.
False teachers were comparing themselves with others and they thought that they were better. But Paul told them to look up to God’s standard instead. By human nature, we want to be recognized and appreciated. But that is dangerous because it leads to pride. We should seek the praise of God rather than praise of men. And when we receive praise, we should give God the credit. “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord” (v. 17)[:]