2 CORINTHIANS 11 (THIRD READING)
2 CORINTHIANS [p. 324] 11 (THIRD READING)
CAC The apostle had so ordered his ways that there should not be any occasion to blame the ministry. There were those at Corinth who would have been glad to say he had worked for his own selfish ends. He shows how it was all loss and suffering for him though some said he was to be blamed. We see how very early the enemy was making the assembly, not the world, the scene of his activities; all is under a religious guise, “False apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And it is not wonderful, for Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. It is no great thing therefore if his ministers also transform themselves as ministers of righteousness”. They were probably using Scripture all the time. There is always some selfish motive behind a wrong action. Paul would not take anything from them as an assembly but he took from individuals amongst them (see 1 Corinthians 16: 17). I do not think it was because they were in a bad state that he could not receive from them but he wished not to be under any obligation to them. He discerned a certain worldly element with them and subsequent events proved how wise he had been. He followed his occupation, and they could not say he was idling about and living on the saints. He was independent; he would not in any way give up his independence though he was very glad to receive from any that were simple, like the Philippians.
It was a great reproach on the Corinthians that they had not discerned the character of those evil workers. It is a great reproach upon us when any who are not ministering the interests of Christ find support from the saints.
[p. 325] This was a positive work of the enemy. We find as a matter of fact that Paul’s teaching was soon lost in the church. Their slothfulness and unwatchfulness was the work of the enemy. We very soon let things slip. J.B.S. used to say that the best and highest bit of truth goes first; it is the best bit that the enemy goes for, like any thief. Satan often defeats the mind of God by putting people on a lower level so that the saints live on the line of Old Testament saints. A man thus lives like a man in the flesh and not at all in simplicity as to the Christ. The apostle’s heart would have been happy to have been ministering Christ, but it was needful for them that the whole character of suffering should be depicted and all had been worked out in his own experience. In verses 18 to 20 he draws a picture that was really true of them, and it applies to present circumstances. I think if men come in and take clerical places it leads to this. Clericalism relieves people of their responsibility and they like some one to do this for them. In verse 21 the apostle had been abasing himself; he had a place of dishonour amongst them — it looked almost as if he had been weak, not bold enough to take care of himself. He was with them in weakness and dishonour. He did not come amongst them in religious prominence but worked and took the place of dishonour. It was very fine. Paul was absorbed with things much greater than the things of earth because, great as they were to a man, they were very insignificant compared to these things.
Ques How could the apostle have the care of all the assemblies (verse 28)?
CAC I suppose letters passed in that day as in this; we find abundant evidence of letters passing and messengers coming; he had the burden of all the assemblies on his heart. As a matter of fact, the apostle was safer in prison than anywhere else. In his own history you see the [p. 326] place of the testimony in the world. If you are getting an easy time you may depend upon it you know little about the testimony.
Ques Why did the robbers and others always attack Paul?
CAC I think Satan had a hand in it; Paul was a marked man. If all this happened to a man in these days he would soon begin to suspect he had missed his way. Paul was fully set for the path he was in, and he knew all was against him. Every wrong in the assembly he felt personally; every wrong and weakness was like a blow at his heart; it is really the love of Christ. He brings it in in verse 28; no doubt he felt it far more than what was without and he felt it according to God. We do not carry the burden of it; the apostle carried the burden of it according to God; he entered into it and felt it in relation to divine Persons. It was a real care on his heart. I do not suppose the things without were much to him but it was a real care to him if anything was wrong in the assembly. The apostle was so entirely free from himself that he could better apprehend what was done than if he had had himself before him.
Ques Why does he bring this in in verse 33? Do you think that he thought that in this way he had run away?
CAC He brings it in in connection with his infirmity; he speaks of it in such a remarkable way, “The God and Father of the Lord Jesus knows — he who is blessed for ever — that I do not lie”. I think he was going to speak of things now connected with his infirmity and he gives this illustration. In the case of Peter it was needful for the testimony that he should be taken out of prison, but in Paul’s case it was necessary for the testimony that he should be left in prison.
The Lord is the supreme One and supreme in every sphere. God allowed Paul to remain in prison for years [p. 327] and the epistles are the result; it was for the testimony. It was a matter of what was good for the testimony. The Lord is really maintaining the testimony of God and nothing can happen to upset it.