What is the meaning of 2 Corinthians 11:5? I consider myself Paul begins with a personal affirmation: “I consider myself….” He is speaking plainly about how he views his own ministry. • He is not boasting in the flesh, but stating a settled conviction born from God’s calling (2 Corinthians 10:17; Galatians 1:15-16). • Earlier he wrote, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord” (2 Corinthians 10:17). His self-assessment rests on what the Lord has done through him, not on self-promotion. • His aim is to protect the Corinthian believers from being swayed by flashy outsiders (Acts 20:29-30). In no way inferior Paul insists he is “in no way inferior,” countering accusations that he lacks credentials or eloquence. • He had already addressed this: “Even if I am unskilled in speech, I am not in knowledge” (2 Corinthians 11:6). • God authenticates true apostles with fruit and endurance, not merely oratory (1 Corinthians 2:1-5; 2 Corinthians 6:4-10). • Signs, wonders, and perseverance in suffering marked Paul’s ministry (2 Corinthians 12:11-12; Acts 14:19-20). • By saying “in no way,” he leaves no room for compromise: the gospel he preaches is fully authoritative (Galatians 1:11-12). To those “super-apostles” The term “super-apostles” is Paul’s ironic label for the intruders who claimed a higher status. • They boasted in letters of recommendation and outward impressiveness (2 Corinthians 3:1; 10:10-12). • Their message mixed legalism and self-glory, leading believers away from “the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3). • Paul contrasts their self-exaltation with his own humble service: “For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake” (2 Corinthians 4:5). • By exposing their false superiority, he guards the church against deception similar to what he later calls “another Jesus…a different spirit…a different gospel” (2 Corinthians 11:4). summary 2 Corinthians 11:5 shows Paul confidently defending his God-given apostleship. He knows, before God and the Corinthians, that he lacks nothing essential—despite what self-styled “super-apostles” claim. Grounded in the Lord’s calling, demonstrated by authentic fruit, and centered on the true gospel, Paul’s ministry stands equal to any, protecting believers from error and pointing them unwaveringly to Christ. |
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