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Commissioned
2 Corinthians 1:1
Paul spends the first seven chapters of 2 Corinthians defending his legitimacy as an apostle. His second visit to the Corinthian church had been cut short because the Christians there had openly rebelled against him. Rather than retaliating at that time, he decided that the most merciful thing he could do for the Corinthians was to leave. By the time he wrote this letter, the people had repented. He still felt the need to defend his apostleship, however, because if the Corinthians rejected him, they would also reject his message—the Gospel of Christ. He offers the following proofs of his apostleship:
- He was commissioned by God to preach the gospel (1:1, 21; 4:1; 5:18–20; 10:14–16).
- He was truthful and straightforward (1:13, 14, 18; 4:2).
- He relied on God's power (2:17; 10:1–6; 13:4).
- He did good work among the Corinthians and loved them (2:4; 3:2, 3; 6:11; 11:11; 13:9).
- His life was an example of Spirit-filled living (1:12, 22; 6:6–8).
- He endured great suffering for the cause of Christ (4:8–12; 6:4–9; 11:22–29).
- He conducted his financial affairs with integrity (7:2; 8:19–21; 11:7–9).
- He received a special revelation (12:2–4).
- He was humbled by a thorn in the flesh (12:7–10).
- He performed miracles among them (12:12).
