Suffering as a True Apostle

Even if St. Paul seems a little foolish to the Corinthians, he begins to boast a little, but in unexpected ways. While the false apostles have been strong to enslave the Corinthians in false teaching, St. Paul was far too weak for that. He is Hebrew, and Israelite, and an offspring of Abraham. He is a better servant of Christ for all of the suffering that he has endured for the Lord’s sake, from the time of his call to his present ministry. In all of his boasting, St. Paul focuses on his weaknesses so that God receives all the glory and blessing. Rev. Mark Squire, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in St. Ansgar, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 2 Corinthians 11:16-31. “A Letter of Comfort” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the epistle of 2 Corinthians. St. Paul writes again to the Christians in Corinth to bring them the ongoing comfort of the Gospel in the midst of the attacks of false doctrine from so-called “super apostles.” He seeks to give confidence to the Corinthians—and to us—that the good news of Christ crucified and risen proclaimed by His called ministers will accomplish all that He intends.