It is a very well known fact that the great apostle Paul had many who opposed him because they viewed him as a threat to their personal agendas. However, there was one group that had become a thorn on his side specifically because he had been “appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles” (2nd Timothy 1:11). Commonly referred to as the Judaizers, we first read about them and their philosophies in the book of Acts the fifteenth chapter. According to Luke, they were composed of a group of Pharisees that had obeyed the gospel and had a very difficult time accepting that the Old Law was not applicable to the Gentile Christians (Acts 15:5). Paul found himself constantly having to defend the gospel against these zealous men who would not give up on forcing circumcision and the Mosaic law upon the gentiles. His Judaizing opposition became so fierce that his apostleship had been put into question by the gentile church in Corinth (1st Corinithians 9:1-2). A gentile church he had established himself after the Jews of the region rejected the gospel (Acts 18:1-11). It becomes clear then by the time the apostle writes his second letter to the church in Corinth, he does so with much sorrow due to the venom that had been injected in their hearts by these false teachers. These “teachers” had begun a strategy that focused on denouncing Paul as a true apostle because there was no written record from the church in Jerusalem confirming him as an apostle; they, on the other had, did poses such “letters” of recommendation from, what many assume, the church in Jerusalem. In an effort to extract this venomous accusation, Paul goes on to “prove” the authenticity of his ministry by making them his letters of commendation (2nd Corinthians 3:1-2). What he means to teach them is that thru their conversion from a life of lust and sin to one of morality and righteousness, it should prove to anyone that his ministry was one established by Christ. The transformation that had manifested in their daily lives is what the apostle uses as his “letters” to defend his apostleship. Although Paul had been the instrument that God had chosen to preach to the people of Corinth, he makes it abundantly clear that he was merely an amanuensis for the Lord Jesus Christ (2nd Corinthians 3:3). He had already presented this teaching to them once by saying, “Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase” (1st Corinthians 3:5-6). It is wise to compare both texts as parallel verses to each other because in essence the message is the same; we are mere instruments of an Almighty God who uses us according to His will. The concept the apostle presents is that no letter of human recommendation can ever outweigh the visible fruits from a ministry blessed and approved by God! Paul is putting the Judaizers letters from Jerusalem to his “letters” from God’s divine grace side by side for them to judge which one was of more value to them. As it has already been noted in the first letter sent to them, it is obvious that by the second letter the Corinthians still struggled to comprehend that it did not matter who was the man speaking to them but rather the fruits that God manifested by him. This is why Paul found himself wrestling with false teachers who were presenting themselves to the Corinthians as pious men by man-made recommendations (2nd Corinthians 11:3-15). Hence the importance of John’s warning “believe not every spirit” (1st John 4:1a). There are many lessons we can take from this portion of the Holy Scriptures. First, let us learn from the mistake of the church in Corinth. Even though Paul was the minister who “founded” the church in that region, his ministry was still put into question by them. This was an ungrateful attitude shown to the apostle Paul on behalf of a congregation he held so dear to his heart. Undoubtedly this action caused great pain in the heart of the apostle that led him to “foolishly boast” in the flesh (2nd Corinthians 11:16-21). What we must first learn is to be grateful and recognize the service of those men and women who put forth their best effort and work in the vineyard of the Lord. Instead of questioning their capability by destructively criticizing them by comparing them to others, let us encourage them by offering to help them in the ministry so that God may give the increase. Observe that Paul does not reject Apollos’ method of teaching; instead he includes Apollos with him in the ministry given to the Corinthians and concludes that thru their joint service is that God blesses the church with growth. Second, we are to always remember that we are only amanuenses of Christ. In other words, we have been employed by the Lord to write His words in the hearts of men. That is, we are all heralds of the King of kings. It is the duty of all faithful disciples of Christ to preach the gospel to the world. Paul was able to prove not only his apostleship, but also his Christianity through the conversion of the Corinthians. How is this so? If Paul had been lying about being an apostle, could we then approve him as a faithful Christian? It is important to remember that the devil’s best and most dangerous weapon is doubt. Self-doubt is the most venomous; this is what he intended to use against Paul. Paul, however, was able to deflect this dart by making memory of the souls he helped pull from the kingdom of darkness. If ever we find ourselves questioning our Christianity let us look upon those whom we teach the gospel of Christ not as to boast about them, but as a reminder that we are working in the kingdom of the Lord and not just sitting idle. Thirdly, not only are we to write letters but we ourselves are letters of Christ! Paul told the Corinthians that they were letters that were “known and read by all men” (2nd Corinthians 3:2b). Two very important concepts that cannot be ignored in this verse. We are first recognized as Christians and then we are judged as to how faithful we truly are. The world will accept our conduct as a testimony of Christ living in us more than the Bible verses we use to speak to them about Christ. Paul knew that this was his perfect defense against these false accusations because he was aware of the Corinthians sincere obedience from his first letter (2nd Corinthians 7:15). Their transformation from ungodliness to sanctity was what Paul recognized the writing to be “not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God” (2nd Corinthians 3:3b). Only by allowing the power of God to work in us thru His word can we then truly change. It is our transformation that will serve as proof to the world that God will write His “letters” in the hearts of men.
