2 Corinthians 11:6-10

 

2 Cor 11:6 (KJB)

But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been thoroughly made manifest among you in all things.

 

Rude - Untrained or amateur

 

Here the Apostle Paul is stating that he may be rude in speech, in that, he was not a trained lecturer and he was not well trained in Greek rhetoric as the false teachers were. He will grant them that maybe he is not the best speaker but he will not relinquish any ground in the area of knowledge. He is speaking of his knowledge of salvation and things pertaining to the Lord Jesus Christ and the church. The false teachers were attempting to lead astray the church at Corinth but Paul was trying to bring them back to the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul goes on to state that he and his band have been manifested openly to the Corinthians and they have not hidden anything from them or have a hidden agenda. In everything they were transparent and the Corinthians knew this. Sometimes a Christian may be transparent yet there will still be those who will still look to find fault.

 

2 Cor 11:7 (KJB)

Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?

 

An offence - A sin

In abasing - Make low or humble

Freely - As a free gift

 

The false teachers had always charged exorbitant rates for their services, just as they do today. Paul had given his services freely to the Corinthian church and this non-charging of a fee would have probably brought more scorn in the eyes of the false teachers. If a preacher comes along and states that he will not charge a penny to preach, it may get the church people thinking that why should we pay for someone when we can get another for free. Paul asked them straight out that did he commit a sin by humbling himself so the Corinthian Christians can be exalted, that is, saved? Was he sinning because he gave himself to them freely and without any strings attached? The ones you have to watch out for are the ones who charge high rates to preach, because at the outset, they are already thinking more highly of themselves than they should. (Rom 12:3 KJV) For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. This would be evidenced by the rates they charged.

 

2 Cor 11:8 (KJB)

I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.

 

Robbed - Plundered

 

Here Paul gets right to the point concerning his support. He accepted financial support from other churches for the purpose of not burdening the Corinthian church. This is the essence of missions in that we send out a missionary and they plant a church somewhere in the world but it costs them nothing because the cost is borne by those who sent the missionary and this is what Paul was saying. Can you imagine a missionary walking into a strange town and the first thing he does is attempt to take a collection? They would run him out of town but if he comes in with the bills already paid and starts a church, then in time, it may become self-sufficient and then it will send out missionaries to expand its ministry or start a separate church in another region.

 

2 Cor 11:9 (KJB)

And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.

 

Wanted - To lack

Chargeable - To be burdensome

From being burdensome - Without weight or light

 

Here Paul states his policy concerning support. When he was with the Corinthians and he had certain needs, he did not become a burden to anyone in Corinth. It was the churches in Macedonia which had met the needs of Paul while he was planting the church in Corinth. He wanted to remain in the state of not being a burden to anyone in Corinth and that was his ongoing desire. He did not want to risk the reputation that he was in it just for the money as the false teachers were. There was a total difference between the philosophy of Paul and the false teachers. Paul was in it for souls, and the false teachers were in it for the money and notoriety and that was why Paul guarded his reputation so he was not considered part of them. It would have spread like wildfire if Paul was asking for money because his detractors would have immediately accused him of hungering after money and that would have been the end of Paul’s solid reputation.

 

2 Cor 11:10 (KJB)

As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.

 

Paul held to the truth of Christ which was in him and in no way was he going to be deterred from his mission and from the biblically ethical way he was living and planting churches. The false teachers could make all the accusations they wanted to and that would not sway Paul in any way from his mission. He was like the Lord Jesus Christ who knew His mission on earth and would not be deflected in any manner. (Luke 9:53 KJV) And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. The Lord Jesus knew what would have to transpire in Jerusalem and therefore would not be diverted from it. The Apostle Paul knew what his responsibility was and he would not be diverted from it, no matter what the false teachers accused him of. He would be vindicated by staying the course. In our Christian walk we will all run into those who want to divert us from the truth or those who will want us to stop doing our Christian work. We must be like Nehemiah. (Neh 6:3 KJV) And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you? As Christians we must always look out for the diversions which will come our way that attempt to halt our Christian work.

Back