LET ME COUNT THE WAYS (15 OF 17)
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 11:1-33
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Let Me Count the Ways (15 of 17)
Series: 2 Corinthians
Robert Dawson
2 Corinthians 11
Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861) wrote a poem that most of you are familiar with, at least the first line of it. It goes, ''How do I love thee? Let me count the ways!'' That, in many ways, was at the heart of the question being asked of Paul by some in the Corinthian church spurred on by the pseudo apostles in their midst.
They questioned his calling, rejected his authority, demeaned his abilities, questioned his motives and doubted his commitment and love for them.
How do you answer charges like that? Prove you love us. Prove yourself to us. How do you go about convincing people like that, a church, that you as a minster, that love them? As Warren Wiersbe said...
- It's hard to do without boasting or bragging.
- If you stay silent, it reinforces their misguided assumptions.
Paul decides to defend himself and do a little boasting, but, as we will see, with a twist.
2 Corinthians 11.1, 16-18 - I wish that you would bear with me in a little foolishness; but indeed you are bearing with me... Again I say, let no one think me foolish; but if you do, receive me even as foolish, so that I also may boast a little. 17 What I am saying, I am not saying as the Lord would, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting. 18 Since many boast according to the flesh, I will boast also.
After going round and round with the church on these issues and trying to battle the false teachers who walked in with long letters of commendation and recommendation filled with glowing statements about their ministries and abilities Paul says, ''If this is what you want, if this is what it is going to take for me to get through to you, to show you that I care, that I love you and that my message is true then I will, if you allow it and understand that I believe it is utter foolishness, if you will indulge them then I will indulge you and participate in a little boasting of ...
Series: 2 Corinthians
Robert Dawson
2 Corinthians 11
Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861) wrote a poem that most of you are familiar with, at least the first line of it. It goes, ''How do I love thee? Let me count the ways!'' That, in many ways, was at the heart of the question being asked of Paul by some in the Corinthian church spurred on by the pseudo apostles in their midst.
They questioned his calling, rejected his authority, demeaned his abilities, questioned his motives and doubted his commitment and love for them.
How do you answer charges like that? Prove you love us. Prove yourself to us. How do you go about convincing people like that, a church, that you as a minster, that love them? As Warren Wiersbe said...
- It's hard to do without boasting or bragging.
- If you stay silent, it reinforces their misguided assumptions.
Paul decides to defend himself and do a little boasting, but, as we will see, with a twist.
2 Corinthians 11.1, 16-18 - I wish that you would bear with me in a little foolishness; but indeed you are bearing with me... Again I say, let no one think me foolish; but if you do, receive me even as foolish, so that I also may boast a little. 17 What I am saying, I am not saying as the Lord would, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting. 18 Since many boast according to the flesh, I will boast also.
After going round and round with the church on these issues and trying to battle the false teachers who walked in with long letters of commendation and recommendation filled with glowing statements about their ministries and abilities Paul says, ''If this is what you want, if this is what it is going to take for me to get through to you, to show you that I care, that I love you and that my message is true then I will, if you allow it and understand that I believe it is utter foolishness, if you will indulge them then I will indulge you and participate in a little boasting of ...
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