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the Apostle's argument. It is fatal to its understanding and is merely wishful thinking to
prop up an idea that is considered to be `orthodox'.
Paul, in contemplating the resurrection state, now stresses that among the first
experiences will be for him to stand before the Lord's tribunal when He will assess his
earthly service of what sort it is. The fact of this assessment for all believers he has
already dealt with in the first Corinthian epistle (I Cor. 3: 10-15). With this in view he
states that it has a profound effect upon his present life and outlook:
"Wherefore also we make it our aim (literally `we are ambitious') whether at home or
absent, to be well-pleasing unto Him" (5: 9).
The thought of Christ as the righteous Judge (II Tim. 4: 8) was a profound stimulant
to the Apostle, constantly urging him on to make all his thoughts and actions here and
now conform to the Lord's approval and pleasure, for His final verdict is going to have
eternal consequences.
"For we must all be made manifest before the judgment-seat of Christ; that each one
may receive the things done in the body, according to what he hath done, whether it be
good or bad" (5: 10 R.V.).
Rom. 14: 10 R.V. teaches similarly except that the phrase is the `judgment-seat of
God', which is a strong testimony to the Deity of Christ. All judgment has been
committed to the Son (John 5: 22-27) the One Who has added humanity to His Deity and
so can judge men with absolute impartiality, whether it is unbelievers for their sins or
believers for their service. The thought of this engenders awe and reverence in the
Apostle. He therefore discharges his ministry with the fear or reverence of the Lord in
view (`terror' in the A.V. is too strong. Believers have no need of being `terrified' by the
Lord). The Apostle's work is to preach the gospel faithfully and seek to persuade men,
and in this he is transparently open to the Lord as he will be at His judgment seat in the
future. He trusts the purity of his conduct is likewise recognized by his converts at
Corinth (verse 11). At the same time he was not idly boasting, but with his critics in
view, men who evidently did their best to belittle and undermine his witness, he gives the
Corinthians material for a reply (verse 12).
Evidently these opposers did not hesitate to accuse Paul of being mad:
"For whether we are beside ourselves, it is unto God; or whether we are of sober
mind, it is unto you" (5: 13 R.V.).
The phrase `we are beside ourselves' or `are mad' could be a reference to the ecstatic
revelations he refers to in chapter 12: which were being described as `madness' by his
enemies. This is for God to assess, declares the Apostle, not men--`it is unto God'. In
his ministry to them he had passed on the message soberly and quietly which his
opponents could not deny, and the great motive power behind it all was the love of
Christ: