The Second Epistle to the Corinthians

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Chapter 1

perdition." So too, here, those who mask the true righteousness of God in the crucified One, peddling instead a Torah-righteousness that brings only condemnation, face the same dreadful "end." Perhaps Paul implies a pointedly deeper meaning here. As "ministers of righteousness," they have preached "the law" and, therefore, "its works"; their end - perdition - issues from their "works," that is, their "works"-righteousness.

Here, then, Paul sets forth a clear warning to those engaged in ministry, especially missionaries and church pastors. The righteousness of God is located only in the vicarious death of Christ and not in the works of the Law. Those who preach and teach must direct their hearers to the message of the cross so that no one is in doubt as to the means of divine acceptance. Let those who preach otherwise take note of the consequences set forth here by the apostle.

Five. A Fool Boasts

Sixteen I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then receive me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting. Seventeen In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would, but as a fool. Eighteen Since many are boasting in the way the world does, I too will boast. Nineteen You gladly put up with fools since you are so wise! Twenty In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or pushes himself forward or slaps you in the face. Twenty-one To my shame I admit that we were too weak for that!

Having directed such strong attention to the "false apostles," Paul now moves to the subtle triangular interplay between them ("anyone" - Sixteen, Twenty; "many" - Eighteen; "fools" - Nineteen), the Corinthians ("you" - Sixteen, Nineteen, Twenty), and himself ("me" - Sixteen; "I" - Seventeen, Eighteen, Twenty-one a; "we" - Twenty-one a). He does so by picking up the "fool" theme from One. Paul tells the Corinthians not to take him for a "fool." Nonetheless, if they prefer to do so, let them receive him just as they would any "fool," so that he, too, can "boast," a reference back to the "false apostles" who are characterized by "boasting."

What proceeds now is full of biting irony. Since "boasting" is what "fools" do, we are meant to infer that Paul is imitating and parodying these men as "fools." Yet - let the Corinthians understand - he is not speaking "according to the Lord," but "as in foolishness," in this mode of "boasting" (i.e., as the

Two: Sixteen-Twenty-One a A FOOL BOASTS

Eleven sixteen to twenty-one A A FOOL BOASTS

INTHIANS

B. The "Fool's Speech" Proper (eleven twenty-one b to twelve ten)

(One) Comparison: The Opponents and Paul (eleven twenty-one b to twenty-three a)

Eleven twenty-one b to twenty-three a Comparison: The Opponents and Paul

Two twelve B to twenty-three A COMPARISON: THE OPPONENTS AND PAUL

Two: twenty-three B to thirty-three PAUL'S CATALOGUE OF WEAKNESSES

Two Paul's Catalogue of Weaknesses (eleven: twenty-three b to thirty-three)

THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS

Twelve point one to ten THE CLIMAX OF WEAKNESS

Three. The Climax of Weakness

The Second Epistle to the Corinthians

Visions and Revelations

Twelve one to six VISIONS AND REVELATIONS

THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS

Twelve point one to six VISIONS AND REVELATIONS

THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS

Twelve point one to six VISIONS AND REVELATIONS

The Thorn in the Flesh

c. The "Fool's Speech": Epilogue (twelve eleven to thirteen)

C. PREPARATION FOR THE IMMINENT THIRD VISIT (twelve through thirteen)

Overview

This document examines the teachings and warnings presented by Paul in his Second Epistle to the Corinthians, emphasizing the necessity of understanding righteousness through Christ rather than the Law. It discusses the role of false apostles and the implications of boasting in the Christian ministry.

Key Points

1Paul warns against a "works"-righteousness that leads to perdition
2The document highlights Paul's irony in addressing the Corinthians and their acceptance of false teachings
3It emphasizes the importance of directing hearers to the message of the cross
4The "Fool's Speech" serves as a rhetorical strategy to expose the foolishness of false apostles
5Boasting in the ministry should reflect authenticity rather than self-confidence.

Details

Category: Humanities

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