Wed, 21 September, 2005: Today’s Bible readings.

2 Corinthians 10:13-18

¹³ But we will not boast beyond limits, but will boast only with regard to the area of influence God assigned to us, to reach even to you. ¹⁴ For we are not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach you. We were the first to come all the way to you with the gospel of Christ. ¹⁵ We do not boast beyond limit in the labors of others. But our hope is that as your faith increases, our area of influence among you may be greatly enlarged, ¹⁶ so that we may preach the gospel in lands beyond you, without boasting of work already done in another’s area of influence. ¹⁷ “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” ¹⁸ For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

In this chapter, Paul begins to defend his apostleship against false teachers at Corinth who have been questioning Paul’s authority. They have accused him of being a poor speaker and timid when with them, but then sending harsh letters when he is far away.

In the passage above, Paul is saying that God has given him authority over the Corinthian church. He is an apostle, and this church is one to which he has the responsibility of ministry.

Paul was instrumental in the founding of the church at Corinth, and he spent a year and a half there building up the people in their congregation. He felt personally responsible for them, and so he took action to confront the problems in the congregation. Thus he will deal with those who try to undermine his authority.

What do we learn from this?

There are people whom God place into positions of spiritual authority within the local body of believers. They do not have unlimited or unregulated power over the congregation. Paul says that his authority is limited to the area of influence God assigns. Paul’s power over them was no more than what God assigned, but also it was no less.

Since Paul was used in founding and nurturing this church, the spiritual issues with in the Corinthian church were within his realm of spiritual authority. This doesn’t mean that Paul can abuse them or make use of them for his own personal gain. But it does mean that Paul must act to confront the problems within the church, for their own good. Paul would be negligent before God if he did not do so.

The spiritual leaders in the local church are responsible before God to confront sin and error within the congregation. They are to build up and encourage the weak. They are to spur the congregation on to good works. They are responsible for monitoring and promoting the spiritual health of the congregation. And as they are not faithful to this call, they are abusing their call and are neglecting their duty.

We should honor the spiritual leaders within our own local church and seek to make their job easier in dealing with us. We should listen to them, pray for them, and encourage them in their efforts to build up the believers in our congregation. They are Christ’s representatives to us, and so we should honor and respect them in their work.

Where is Christ in this passage?

Paul’s authority over the Corinthian church was linked to the fact that he preached the gospel of Christ to them. And as such, Paul had a responsibility before the Christ of whom he spoke to nurture, guide, discipline, and protect them. Paul, like the spiritual leaders in our own local church, was Christ’s representative.

Paul’s authority is the authority of Christ, as he is Christ’s representative in bringing them to faith, and then building them up in the faith.