After addressing the collection for the saints in Jerusalem, Paul shifts gears quite abruptly to address particular group who have been trying to undermine his apostolic authority and ministry in Corinth during in his absence. While he facetiously describes them as “super-apostles” (11:5), the gloves come off a few verses later as he exposes them as “false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ (11:13).”

One of their defining qualities is self-exalting boastfulness. In chapter five he characterized them as “those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart (5:12).” So it shouldn’t surprise us that the keyword through the next three chapters is BOAST (occurring 21 times in just 3 chapters). But before Paul, for the sake of argument, enters into a tongue-in-cheek “boasting” match with these impostors, he establishes the bottom line. What is the difference between legitimate and illegitimate boasting?

“Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord (10:17).”

This Sunday Eric Twisselmann will be preaching 2 Corinthians 10:1-18 and Kenny Clark will be leading our sung worship. Would you pray for each as they prepare? And as we pray for our church family, let’s ask God to help put to death our boastful pride and “humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God” (1 Peter 5:6). After all…

“Consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:26–31)

See you Sunday, Grace. Come hungry!

 

Song Link of the Week

All My Boast Is in Jesus by Matt Boswell, Matt Papa, Keith and Kristyn Getty

I boast not in riches, in strength or might
But in the grace of God
I glory in weakness, to live is Christ
In plenty or in want
That I may know, that all may see
His power within me

All my boast is in Jesus
All my hope is His love
And I will glory forever
In what the cross has done