Old Llantrisant Hill
Introduction
- Thinking about Paul's boasting
- The word boast - used 29 times (sometimes translated glory) in 2 Corinthians
- The word boast - appears 55 times in the New Testament
- Why used so much?
- He is facing people who are very boastful
- He takes to boasts
- In weakness, tribulations, in the Corinthians (and in his authority - though this is limited)
- He has lived an upright life in Christ
- Are we proud about ourselves?
- Are we proud about others?
- Does pride turn into boastfulness?
- Do we speak clearly of the positive things?
- Paul had no difficulty to boast in God - 2 Cor 7:13-14, 2 Cor 9:2
- Are we too reserved?
- Paul wants to counter those boasting in the wrong way
- 2 Cor 5:12 - so called super-apostles
- 2 Cor 10:7
- Overview
- His boast in a clear conscience
- His boast in the Corinthians
- His boast in his own weakness
- His boast in his authority under God
- His boast in God
His boast in a clear conscience
- 2 Cor 1:12 - they were sincere and transparent
- There were accusations against Paul:
- That he was hiding things/sin
- 2 Cor 4:2 - Sometimes things in secret come out - example
- 2 Cor 5:9 - Paul's aim was to be (well) pleasing to God
- 2 Cor 5:10-11 - A good conscience
- That he was deceptive
- People are gullible - example
- 2 Cor 4:2 - Paul was not walking in craftiness
- 2 Cor 2:17 - Paul was not peddling the word of God
- People should be in ministry for the love of people
- 2 Cor 11:8-10 - Not monetary award but finances to cover costs
- That he twists the word of God
- 2 Cor 4:2 - Paul ministered the truth in a clear conscience
- Ministers must faithfully present the word of God
- Paul does not ask others to speak on his behalf - examples
- He stands up against those who accuse him and speaks truth
His boast in the Corinthians
- Last week we saw there was much that troubled him about the Corinthians - examples
- There may have been a minority opposed to him
- There was likely a majority in his favour
- Verses
- 2 Cor 1:13-14 - Paul boasts in his relationship with the Corinthians
- 2 Cor 3:1-3 - the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit was evident in the lives of the Corinthians
- 2 Cor 5:11
- 2 Cor 8:24 - Paul boasts in the Corinthians
- We need to hear these encouragements
His boast in his own weakness
- Paul does not boast in his strength
- 2 Cor 3:4-5 - his boast is in the Lord
- 2 Cor 12:7-9 - he embraces his weakness
- Paul has learnt to embrace infirmity
- Others were boasting in their strength
- 2 Cor 11:30 - he is bless in his suffering
- Will we learn to embrace and trust God in our suffering?
His boast in his authority under God
- Paul does have a sphere of authority - his work in Corinth
- (This was not the work of the so called super-apostles)
- 2 Cor 10:8 - for their edification
- 2 Cor 10:13-16 - their own area of authority in preaching the gospel in Corinthians
- 2 Cor 10:17 - if we glory, glory in the Lord
- Example of Tim Keller - Quote from Paul Trip
His boast in God
- 2 Cor 5:12
- How much do we glory in the Lord / boast in Him?
- Boast only in the Lord