The child of God and his sincerity is the topic of this chapter.

Paul's motives were directed by love (verses 1-6). Paul desires that these believers bear with him while he indulges in self commendation, which is being forced upon him (verse 1). Paul is asking for understanding that he may speak as he sees fit to meet those who are seeking to destroy his character. He considers this folly or foolishness but nevertheless necessary. Listen to me and bear with me through this experience is Paul's desire of these believers. Jealousy which is pure before God is in verse 2. The jealousy, which is referred to here, is a jealousy which has God's honor at heart. We see in the Church of Jesus Christ all sorts of petty jealousy between saints, and this is not of God. What is referred to here has only God in view. These Christians have been identified as the special possession of Christ. Paul had been used to preaching the gospel to them and saw their union to Christ. As such he is their spiritual father, and his heart's desire is to see them faithful to the purposes and person of Christ. It is generally understood that at the second coming of Christ, this event of being presented to Christ will take place. His desire to present the Christians of Corinth as a pure bride agrees with Ephesians 5:27. A warning against corruption is found in verse 3. Paul feared these people would be deceived as was Eve. Eve was created holy, placed in a paradise of perfection with every conceivable motive to secure her fidelity and yet though subtly she fell. The danger was real, and Paul was not sounding out some senseless warning. They were in danger of listening to false teachers and having their testimony ruined. The God of this world, Satan, is out to corrupt and seduce those who follow Christ. This will kept the followers of Christ from wholehearted and sincere and pure devotion. To listen and be corrupted by false teachers leads to spiritual uselessness. This, of course, is the goal of Satan. People are willing to tolerate false teachers (verse 4). These people seem willing enough to listen to those who set forth false doctrine and false christs. Note the points of falsehood: another spirit, another gospel, another Jesus. Paul was simply asking them to extend the same courtesy as they gave others. He was about to set forth some of his credentials, and why shouldn't he? These people were listening to those of false teachings. Paul states that he is in no way inferior because he is skilled in knowledge (verse 5, 6). Paul was not going to take a back seat to those false teachers that some Corinthians thought so much of He declares that he is not a single bit behind extra-super false teachers. There are times when in our day people think that a thorough knowledge of the Word of God is almost secondary and thus make light of a school which keeps this as its prime goal. Do not be taken in on the wings of present so-called intellectualism. "Even if I am unskilled in speaking, I am not in knowledge," states Paul. Paul knew what he was talking about, and any reference to a lack of knowledge on his part would be confronted firmly. He had given evidence and would give evidence of knowledge which in no way was deficient. Paul has given us evidence that he did not want to defend himself in this manner, but in view of the circumstances, it was necessary.

Paul's sincerity was proven by his attitude in the manner of financial support (verses 711). Did I make a mistake by preaching to you without expense to you as the apostle (verse 7)? Paul took a lowly place and preached the Word of God to them and took nothing for it. Paul preached the gospel in this manner and worked as a tentmaker to promote their spiritual interest. He had their good in mind and did this because of his love for their eternal souls. The reason Paul brings this up is evident from the I Cor. 9 where the false teachers were using the fact that Paul would receive no money as proof that he was a false apostle. Paul declares this charge to be groundless. Paul was supported by other churches (verse 8). Paul received from the Macedonian church money with which to carry on his work when by rights the Corinthians ought to have contributed. Paul had a right to the money he received from these churches but should not have had to use it to preach and sustain himself while in Corinth. Also Paul gave the reason why he would receive from others was that he might carry the message to those who had not heard. Paul never allowed himself to become a burden on the Church at Corinth. Apparently, he took a supply of money with him from the Churches of Macedonia; and when he had further need, they helped him out some more. They had the joy in sharing in the ministry of Paul and seeing Paul won to Christ in the city of Corinth. Paul also was not afraid to work at tent making to help himself. He could have just sat back and felt he was so important that he would not have to work and thus put all the burden of his support on the Churches of Macedonia, but he did not. Paul served in such a manner proving his love and apostleship would not be silenced (verses 10, 11). Paul in no way would silence or check his boast of independence. He calls upon God as his witness that he loved them and that it was no lack of love on his part that brought forth these things. As the false teachers claimed him to be false and pointed to these charges, Paul points to his actions as proof of love and devotion to them.

Beware of those who masquerade as ministers of light (verses 12-15). Paul's devotion cut the ground from under the feet of those who claimed similar devotion (verse 12). Paul did as he was doing to cut off the claims of those who said they worked on the same basis as did Paul. You do not work for nothing unless you are devoted and believe in what you are doing. So Paul points to the proof of his devotion and will let the Corinthians themselves determine if those who are attacking him live on the same terms of devotion. Characteristics of the false teachers are mentioned in verse 13. Paul lays it right on the line by calling them false apostles. With falsehood you must lay it on the line. He further states that they are counterfeit and deceitful workmen. These men were masquerading as messengers of light. Here is one of the most difficult things for some of God's people to detect. You must not believe someone just because he/she claims to be something he/she is not. How interesting to note that these false teachers seek to go about as messengers of Christ. However, this Paul says is nothing new, for Satan himself is a deceiver. It is vital that every servant of God understands the workings of the devil so that he/she can know how to meet him and deal with him. Satan does not greet you every morning and say, "Hello, I'm the devil." His ways are to deceive and make you think that he is from God and that he will lead you into the right path and guide you in the right way. Satan does not live down at the bar or in the house of prostitution. He already has those people where he wants them. He spends his time in churches trying to deceive the people of God who are his special enemies. Therefore, do not be surprised when those who serve Satan use the same techniques (verse 15). They will disguise themselves as righteous servants, but their results will correspond to the devil's goals. If a bad angle can put on the appearance of a good angle, then think it not strange that a bad person can put on the appearance of a good one. How often have you been fooled? Remember these false teachers come as teachers of righteousness. Satan comes guised in virtue, and his teachers come as advocates of truth. Also remember, regardless of what appearance Satan or his ministers come under, there end is the same, the judgment of God.

Paul's sincerity is proven by the ministry of suffering (verses 16-33). To point to his own ministry as proof of sincerity was not of Paul's choosing but rather forced upon him by the false teachers (verse 16-19). Returning in verse 16 to the argument begun in verse 1, Paul is pained and humbled by being obliged to praise himself. His point is that they allowed the false teachers to indulge in boasting of what they accomplished, so he feels that he had to do the same. His thought in verse 17 is that self exaltation is not a thing the Spirit of God would generally lead one to do, but when necessary to uphold one's honor in religion it is a duty. There is a time to defend one's ministry and actions. The false teachers were boasting of their position in the flesh and accomplishments (verse 18). Paul now descends to their level to argue that in whatever they gloried, he could the more. They put up with this foolishness in the false teachers; let them listen to Paul in his foolishness (verse 19). These Christians had disgraced themselves by listening to and allowing these false teachers through such methods to gain a hold over them. Paul asked for the same hearing they gave the false teachers who would bring them into bondage (verse 20, 21). The character of these false teachers is seen in the manner of how they treated the Corinthian Christians (verse 20). How often people are willing and ready to endure more for the false than the true. While the false teachers came in with the spirit of arrogant pride and boastful spirit, Paul came in the spirit of humility, depending on the Holy Spirit (verse 21). From the human point of view, this might appear to be weakness, but from the spiritual point of view it is strength. So weakness, which the false teachers accused Paul of, was only in their eyes, for in truth he was equal to any of them.

The personal life of the Apostle Paul is described in verses 22-33. He points to his national and spiritual heritage (verse 22). As a Hebrew he was one of the designated people of God. As an Israelite he could boast of being descended from the beloved Jacob. As descendant of Abraham he was not a proselyte. With this background he looked forward to the Messianic kingdom. He declares that he is a minister of Christ of a higher sort than they (verse 23). He was more devoted, labored more diligently, and suffered more than all of them. The experience of Paul, which gave evidence of his sincerity of his ministry, is in verses 23-33. That which he suffered in his own body that bore directly upon him is described in verses 23-27. Here is real human suffering in the life of one seeking to carry the good news to all men everywhere. The emotional pressures and cares of the ministry are found in verses 28-30. Those who have had the care of churches know well what Paul is talking about. The humility suffered in serving Christ is found in verses 31-33. Being let down in a basket over a wall is hardly something that would be considered dignified. Paul was willing, as these verses indicate, to suffer the whole gamut of human experience to preach Christ to a lost and dying world.