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appointed by the twelve. He had not received his authority from Jerusalem. The
difficulty of proving his claim, to such a nature as Paul's, must indeed have been great.
He tells them that they compel him to be a fool on his boasting:--
"Are we beginning again to commend ourselves? or have we need, like some, of
commendatory letters unto you, or from you?" (II Cor. 3: 1).
"We commend not ourselves unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf,
that you may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance and not in heart.
For whether we have been beside ourselves (they had said that he was demented), it hath
been for God, or whether we are sober-minded (they had complained of the severe tone in
his letters), it is for you, for the love of Christ constraineth us" (II Cor. 5: 12-14).
"Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, . . . . be trying yourselves whether
ye are in faith, be putting yourselves to the test! or do ye not recognize yourselves (this
uncharitable attitude had destroyed their vision), seeing that Jesus Christ is in you, unless
perhaps ye fail in the testing. I hope however that ye shall come to know that we fail not
in the testing" (II Cor. 13: 3-6).
The way in which the other apostles were magnified to the detriment of Paul and his
authority may be gathered from the strange colloquialism, tõn huperlian apostolõn, "the
extra-super apostles" (II Cor. 11: 5). The indignation of this sarcastic title is levelled not
at the twelve, but at those who sought to gain authority and to displace Paul by
emphasizing the claims of the twelve at Jerusalem. The apostle, with many interjected
disparagements of the cause of apparent boastfulness, lays before the Corinthians at least
six different points wherein he compared favourably with the twelve, viz., in knowledge
(11: 5, 6), self-denial (7-21), privileges of birth and race (22), labours and sufferings
(23-33), the pre-eminent character of his revelation (12: 1-10), and the signs of his
apostleship (11, 12). They are arranged as follows:--
A | 11: 5, 6. Not one whit behind the extra-super apostles in knowledge.
B | 11: 7-21. Contrast with the false apostles and messengers of satan.
C | 11: 22. Favourable comparison with their higher claims (birth and race).
C | 11: 23-33. Favourable comparison by reason of superabounding sufferings.
B | xii.1-10. Vision of such magnitude, that a messenger of satan is sent of buffet him.
A | 12: 11,12. Not one whit behind the extra-super apostles in miraculous signs.
One writer has said that 2nd Corinthians is the least systematic of all Paul's writings,
yet, upon examination, the most impassioned and personal sections bear witness to that
"inspiration of God" which lifts them above the words of man to the authoritative "thus
saith the Lord."
Examining the structure more closely we find:--
A (II Cor. 11: 5, 6).--The apostle concedes that the other apostles may be his superiors
in eloquence, but he yielded no point with regard to his knowledge. "And even if
uncultured in my discourse, certainly not in my knowledge."
B (II Cor. 11: 7-21).--Other churches he had taken from readily (it wounded his
sensitive nature to have to do it), but though he was in positive want among them he was