with Elder Elico Manenji
✝️In this chapter, the Apostle Paul answers the objections against him of being a true Apostle and shows reasons for his calling to ministry. He claims that no one can disqualify of that calling even when he preached the gospel among them without a pay or earning anything from them. Because he did not demand compensation was not proof that he was not an Apostle as some who were paid for their service. However, his preaching of the gospel without pay was because of the love of God and of the people so he could save them from snares of the evil one. He states that those who were deceiving them were themselves ministers of Satan who wanted to appear as ministers of righteousness yet, them served Satan who transforms himself as an angel of light. Finally, in this chapter, the Apostle describes what he encountered to be an Apostle of Jesus Christ. That he had all personal advantages arising from his birth as an Hebrew, of the seed of Abraham , a renown scholar under Gamaliel and called to ministry by Christ. That he endured hardships, labors and dangers far more any so called Apostles. He enumerates his trials by land, by sea from both Jews and Gentiles which he escaped. Because of his sufferings, trials, and infirmities, he felt that he had a right to speak as these strengthened him and gave him a far higher claim to the confidence of the Church than the endowments which his adversaries boasted of themselves.
*1️⃣2 Corinthians 11:1-15: Paul's true Apostolic claims versus the false messengers of Satan who transforms himself as an angel of light.*
⏹️Boasting about self is foolishness but the Apostle asserts a point that he only preached the essentials of the gospel, though he was not the chiefest of the apostles and yet was the chief of sinners. The Apostle says, *"This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief"(1Timothy 1:15).*
⏭️ Paul says he had godly jealousy, a strong attachment to them as he presented them to Christ as their husband. So his jealousy was that they could not accept to be married to another husband and so his whole interest was to preserve that union and present the Church as a chaste, purified church, blameless and pure to the Redeemer as a
bride to her husband, who is Christ. The Revelator says, *"These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were redeemed from among men, being the first fruits to God and to the Lamb"(Revelation 14:4).*
⏹️So, as an Apostle he did not need wages or pay to preach Christ who called him from darkness into his marvelous light. He would rather preach Christ freely than rob churches by taking wages like the false Apostles did. The Apostle said, *"I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. Yes, you yourselves know, that these hands have ministered to my necessities, and to them that were with me"(Acts 20:33-34).*
⏭️ He cautions that the false Apostles were deceitful workers, impostors, crafty, fraudulent and hypocritical, people who practiced various arts to impose on others. They appear to bear light and truth as Satan himself also appears to be an angel of light when he put on a false and delusive appearances for the purpose of deceiving Adam and Eve. The scriptures say, *"Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, Yes, has God said, You shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said to the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, You shall not eat of it, neither shall you touch it, lest you die. And the serpent said to the woman, You shall not surely die: For God does know that in the day you eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be as gods, knowing good and evil" (Genesis 3:1-5).*
*2️⃣2 Corinthians 11:16-22: Paul's privileges of his call to ministry and advantages that arose from his birth.*
⏹️As some false teachers in Corinth boasted of their birth, rank, natural endowments and eloquence of speech, the Apostle boasts of his endowments, his birth, his calling, his sufferings for the gospel more than any other Apostle, his imprisonment, hunger and perils. For these reasons he does not feel inferior in rank than these false teachers, rather he exalts Christ as gain to all who believe.
⏹️False teachers and ministers are always rapacious as they seek the property and not the souls of those to whom they minister. Not satisfied with a maintenance allowance, they aim to obtain all and their plans are formed to secure as much as possible of those to whom they minister.
⏭️As a true minister of the gospel calling, the Apostle recalls his superior character, that if beyond reproach. He speaks of his superior ancestry, as an Hebrews of the seed of Abraham and a true Israelite of the tribe of Benjamin. He took speak of his superior apostleship, called and ordained by Christ as an Apostle to the Gentiles. Concerning himself, the Apostle said, *"Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ"(Philippians 3:5-7).*
*3️⃣2 Corinthians 11:23-33: Paul endured more labors, more trials and suffering than the other Apostles.*
⏹️As an Apostle, he had an honest industry of service that stood above the rest, a service agreeable to God but not bereft of trials, tribulations, dangers by land and by sea. As a person's work and activities increases with temporary success, so increases the danger of this life, which God allows to test our character. The Apostle says, *"Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church"(Colossians 1:24).*
⏭️ When character is tested, it becomes our defence working holiness in the path of truth and righteousness. The Psalmist says, *"He that walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart"(Psalm 15:2).*
⏹️When we suffer for the work of Christ, when we are not honoured, when we are reviled for the gospel's sake, need we remember that Christ himself suffered, the just for the unjust so that we amy receive the redemption through his sacrifice. The Apostle says, *"In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace"(Ephesians 1:7).*
*🅰️Appeal*
It is a great comfort to a good man that the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is an omniscient God, knows the truth of all he says, and knows all he does and all he suffers for his sake. All who suffer righteously will truly inherit eternal life. The Apostle says, *"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us"(Romans 8:18).* Amen!!!
Elico Manenji
(+263712952704)
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