11th Week in Ord. Time, Friday – 23rd June 2023 – 2 Cor 11,18.21-30; Mt 6,19-23
Weak Credentials
In writing to the Corinthians, Paul continues to defend his credentials against the false teachers who were misleading the Christians of Corinth. His spiritual opponents brag about themselves with a hope of winning over the hearts and minds of the Corinthians. This is not a game, rather a war (2 Cor 10,3-5) against the servants of Satan (2 Cor 11,13-14), who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ in order to seduce the Corinthians away from Jesus. Apparently, they were boasting of their qualifications and Paul feels he must do the same. Therefore, he is making a show of joining his opponents in the game of boasting. The intention of those who boast was to impress others by bringing glory to themselves. On the other hand, Paul says that he will now “boast” even though it is foolish and not Christlike (2 Cor 11,17). He has described worldly bragging as something the fools do and not something the Lord would expect. He is confident that their record is no match for his own. Because, he describes his greatness as a servant of Christ in terms of how much he has suffered. He focuses on God’s power that strengthens him in his weakness and not about any achievements of his own. He gladly accepts those struggles and sufferings, if they benefit others and enable them to draw closer to Christ.
