[:en]PAUL AND THE FALSE APOSTLES (vs. 1-15)
Paul waswarning the Corinthian Church to keep away from false doctrines and stay pure and devoted to Christ. Just as Eve was lost by listening to the serpent, we can also be lost if we are overcrowded withdistractions and confusions.
The Corinthian believers were being convinced with smooth talk and false teachings by those who spoke like authoritative preacher but they contradicted God’s Word. Thjey distroted the truth and preach a different Jesus, a different spirit than the Holy Spirit and different way of salvation. Be sure to watch out for “super apostle” whose teachyings are contrary to God’s Word. They spoke lies and are servants of Satan.
Paul was a brilliant thinker but not a trained eloquent speaker. He presented the Gopod News in a simple way so that some people thought that he was a simple-minded person. But in teaching and preching, what is important is the content and clarity.
Since the Corinthians measured competence of the preacher by the amount they charge, they considered Paul as amateur, cimcompetent and without authority because he preached the gospel “free of charge”. We must be caredful not to assume that well-known evangelist who demand a large honoranium is superior at teaching God’s Word.
Paul did not ask financial support from the Corinthian Church because there were false teachers who hoped to make a good profit for preaching. He wanmted to separate himself completely from false apostles, deceitful workers masqurading as apostle of Christ but were really agents of Satan.
BNeware of smooth talking people, Bible-questioning leaders who are cults, deceiving people, blinding into the practice of immorality and deceit. A true follower of Christ based his teachings on the Scripture. He proclaims that Jesus came to save people from sins and his life-style is consistent with biblical moral standard.
PAUL BOASTS ABOUT HIS SUFFERINGS (vs. 16-33)
Paul listed all his trials during his third missionary journey as follows:
- Frequently being imprisoned
- Being flogged severely
- Exposed to death many times
- Receiving 39 lashes five times
- Beaten with rods three times
- Stone once
- Shipwrecked three times
- Spent a night and day in the open sea
- Dangers from rivers, bandits, countrymen, Gentiules, city, country, at sea, and false brothers
- Gone without sleep
- Known hunger and thirst and often gone without food
- Cold and naked
- Pressure of his concern for all the churches
There was a governor under King Aretas in the city of the Damascenes who guarded the city in order to arrest Paul. But Paul was able to escape when he was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.[:]