Limits of Paul’s Authority
June 27, 2022
Commentary
Paul poses three questions that we may ask ourselves as we seek to measure our ministries:
1. Am I where God wants me to be? (vv. 13-14) God is not going to measure us by the gift and opportunities that he gave to D.L. Moody or Jack Wyrtzen but by our own work. Paul was assigned to go to the Gentiles where no other apostle had ministered (acts 9:15). He was not trying to duplicate the work of others, and neither should we.
2. Is God glorified by my ministry? (vv. 15-17) The Corinthians were prone to glory in men. When they heard the report of what these Judaizers had done and saw the letters of recommendation that they had, they were very impressed. We must remember that the final test is not when the reports are published but at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
3. Can the Lord commend my work? (v. 18). How does God show His approval of our work? It usually comes through testing. He permits difficulties to come in order that our work may be tested and approved. This may come through financial losses, physical hardship, or spiritual battles.
Whenever anybody boasts, Paul says, it is to be in what the Lord has done: “But he who glories, let him glory in the Lord. For not he that commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends” (vv. 17-18). You never hear that from Paul. He recognized that the only thing that counts is what Christ did in him, not what he did for Christ.
Application
I want to be able to answer the three questions above in a positive way as it applies to my life. I do not want my life to be spent on myself but on the things that will count for Christ and eternity.
2 Corinthians 10:13– 18 (NET)
13 But we will not boast beyond certain limits, but will confine our boasting according to the limits of the work to which God has appointed us, that reaches even as far as you. 14 For we were not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach as far as you, because we were the first to reach as far as you with the gospel about Christ. 15 Nor do we boast beyond certain limits in the work done by others, but we hope that as your faith continues to grow, our work may be greatly expanded among you according to our limits, 16 so that we may preach the gospel in the regions that lie beyond you, and not boast of work already done in another person’s area. 17 But the one who boasts must boast in the Lord. 18 For it is not the person who commends himself who is approved, but the person the Lord commends.