Sixty-one years ago, I read an article in the Awake! magazine, December 22, 1963, which I still remember. The article did not discuss one of the important subjects in the Scriptures, and neither did it give me arguments that I could use in my preaching work. But the article helped me to understand the need to have good teachers in order to understand the Bible, and the need for myself to participate in a deep interactive Bible study in order to reap the benefits from what my teachers taught me.
One of the methods I learned was to find all the places the same Greek, Hebrew, or Aramaic word occurred, and compare the contexts where the same word occured. This could also be extended by comparing the contexts where different synonym words occur. This is the basic method I use in all my Bible studies. And I am very grateful to my teachers who taught me through the Watchtower literature these Bible study methods in the 1950s and 1960s.
THE TWO GROUPS IN THE CONGREGATION OF CORINTH
The first time Paul made a statement like the words in the heading was in 2 Corinthians 5:12, 13:
12 We are not again recommending (synistēmi) ourselves to YOU, but giving YOU an inducement for boasting (kaukhēma) in respect to us, that YOU may have [an answer] for those who boast (kaukhaomai) over the outward appearance but not over the heart. 13 For if we were out of our mind (eksistēmi), it was for God; if we are sound in mind (sōfroneō) it is for YOU.
These two verses are a good example that we cannot understand the Bible by ourselves without good teachers. A person who reads these two verses will not understand their meaning because he cannot put them into the right setting. What does it mean to be “out of our mind” for God and to be “sound in mind” for you? And what is the relationship between these two ideas and recommending and boasting? Why should there be a need for a Christian to be boasting?
There is a strain in the quoted verses between “ourselves” and “those.” giving us a small hint at the situation. The connection between the two pronouns is “boasting” (kaukhēma). And this boasting is related to two different things, boasting over “the outward appearance” in contrast with boasting “over the heart.” This contrast shows that there was a tension between some persons in the congregation in Corinth, a tension that the members who read Paul’s letter were acquainted with but which modern readers will not instantly understand. So, we need to find the situation in the congregation that is the background for all the comments of Paul regarding boasting.
I quote 2 Corinthians 10:8-18 where three different groups are mentioned. I have marked the pronouns referring to Paul and his co-workers in blue, to the enemies of Paul in brown, and the pronouns of the members of the congregation in Corinth in red:
8 For even if I should boast (kaukhaomai) a bit too much about the authority that the Lord gave us to build YOU up and not to tear YOU down, I would not be put to shame, 9 that I may not seem to want to terrify YOU by [my] letters.
10 For, say they: “[His] letters are weighty and forceful, but [his] presence in person is weak and [his] speech contemptible.” 11 Let such a man take this into account, that what we are in our word by letters when absent, such we shall also be in action when present.
12 For we do not dare to class ourselves among some or compare ourselves with some who recommend themselves. Certainly they in measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves with themselves have no understanding.
13 For our part we will boast (kaukhaomai), not outside our assigned boundaries, but according to the boundary of the territory that God apportioned to us by measure, making it reach even as far as YOU. 14 Really we are not overstretching ourselves as if we did not reach to YOU, for we were the first to come even as far as YOU in declaring the good news about the Christ.
15 No, we are not boasting (kaukhaomai) outside our assigned boundaries in the labors of someone else, but we entertain hope that, as YOUR faith is being increased, we may be made great among YOU with reference to our territory. Then we will abound still more, 16 to declare the good news to the countries beyond YOU, so as not to boast in someone else’s territory where things are already prepared. 17 “But he that boasts (kaukhaomai), let him boast (kaukhaomai) in Jehovah.” 18 For not the one who recommends himself is approved, but the man whom Jehovah recommends.
The pronouns in blue refers to Paul and his co-workers. The pronouns in red refers to the members of the congregation in Corinth to whom Paul wrote the letter. There was no tension between these two groups. But between the third group, whose pronouns are written in brown, and Paul, there was tension. But so far in our reading of 2. Corinthians, we do not know the identity of the members of the third group.
What is clear from our reading is that the third group were enemies of Paul, and Paul outlines the contrast. According to 10:8 Paul boasts about “the authority the Lord gave us,” This authority, according to 10:13-14, was the assignment of a territory where they could preach the good news of the kingdom.
Paul outlines the contrast with the other group in 10:12, pointing out that the members of this group could not refer to any authority they were given, but they were “measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves with themselves.” In other words, they referred to the authority that they had given themselves. Then, in 10:18, Paul shows that the one who has received authority from Jehovah is the one who is approved, and not the one who recommends himself.
After Paul in several verses have referred to the members of this other group with pronouns, he made a clearer identification of them in 11:4-6, 12-15:
4 For, as it is, if someone comes and preaches a Jesus other than the one we preached, or YOU receive a spirit other than what YOU received, or good news other than what YOU accepted, YOU easily put up [with him]. 5 For I consider that I have not in a single thing proved inferior to YOUR superfine(hyperlian) apostles. 6 But even if I am unskilled in speech, I certainly am not in knowledge; but in every way we manifested [it] to YOU in all things.
12 Now what I am doing I will still do, that I may cut off the pretext from those who are wanting a pretext for being found equal to us in the office of which they boast. 13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself keeps transforming himself into an angel of light. 15 It is therefore nothing great if his ministers also keep transforming themselves into ministers of righteousness. But their end shall be according to their works.
Paul identifies the members of this other group as “the superfine apostles.” The adverb hyperlian has the meaning “in the highest degree, preeminently, especially, superlatively” (Mounce). Paul uses the adverb in a derogatory sense because these people boasted that they were apostles of Jesus on the same level as the real apostles and Paul.
THE ACTIONS AND VIEWPOINTS OF THE SUPERFINE APOSTLES
In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul tells the congregation to disfellowship that man who lived with his father’s wife. The congregation did that, and when the man stopped living with the wife of his father, he was reinstated into the congregation, something in which Paul agreed.
When Paul compares the superfine apostles to Satan and refers to their actions that were serious sins, these people deserved to be disfellowshipped. Why did not Paul tell the congregation that they should do that? We do not have much information about the situation, but the most likely explanation is that the superfine apostles had a high position in the congregation, and there were noone who had the power to expel them. According to 2 Corinthians 11:22, the superfine apostles were Israelites. And they may have used their heritage as Abraham’s seed to support their special position.
Let us look at the actions and viewpoints of the superfine apostles as a background for the boasting of Paul. I quote some passages and list the main points of the passages in Table 1.1:
2 Corinthians 10:10
10 For, say they: “[His] letters are weighty and forceful, but [his] presence in person is weak and [his] speech contemptible (eksoutheneō).”
2 Corinthians 10:12
12 For we do not dare to class ourselves among some or compare ourselves with some who recommend themselves. Certainly they in measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves with themselves have no understanding.
2 Corinthians 11:3
3 But I am afraid that somehow, as the serpent seduced Eve by its cunning, YOUR minds might be corrupted away from the sincerity and the chastity that are due the Christ.
2 Corinthians 11:4
4 For, as it is, if someone comes and preaches a Jesus other than the one we preached, or YOU receive a spirit other than what YOU received, or good news other than what YOU received, or good news other than what YOU accepted, YOU easily put up [with him].
2 Corinthians 11:12
12 Now what I am doing I will still do, that I may cut off the pretext from those who are wanting a pretext for being found equal to us in the office of which they boast.
13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.
Table 1.1 The actions and views of the superfine apostles
| 10:10 | They criticized Paul, saying that his presence was weak and his speech was of little value. |
| 10:12 | They recommend themselves and use themselves as the authority. They have exalted themselves. |
| 11:3 | They were corrupting the minds of the congregation members. |
| 11:4 | They preached another Jesus than the one Paul preached. |
| 11:4 | They preached another good news than Paul preached. |
| 11:12 | They claimed to be apostles of Jesus like the other apostles. |
In view of the bad actions and viewpoints mentioned in Table 1.1, there can be no doubt that the superfine apostles were wicked people who portrayed themselves as apostles of Jesus and servants of God. And their personalities were of the kind that they deserved to be removed from the congregation.
THE BOASTING OF PAUL IN THE CHRISTIAN SETTING
Let us look at the background of Paul’s “unreasonableness” and boasting and his bahaviour as a madman.
PAUL’S “LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION”
What was the Christian position of Paul? We read in 2 Corinthians 1:1 (above) and 8:23 (below):
1 Paul, an apostle (apostolos) of Christ Jesus through God’s will, and Timothy [our] brother to the congregation of God that is in Corinth, together with all the holy ones who are in all of A·chaʹia:
23 If, though, there is any question about Titus, he is a sharer with me and a fellow worker for YOUR interests; or if about our brothers, they are apostles (apostolos) of congregations and a glory of Christ.
The noun apostolos means “one sent as a messenger or agent, the bearer of a commission, messenger” (Mounce) Paul was a special messenger of Jesus Christ, but he was not counted among the 12 apostles. There were also others who could be called apostles because they were messengers of different congregations, as we read in 8:23.
How could the members of the congregation in Corinth know that Paul was a special messenger of Jesus Christ, and apostle? We find the answer in 2 Corinthians 3:1-3:
1 Are we starting again to recommend ourselves? Or do we, perhaps, like some men, need letters of recommendation to YOU or from YOU? 2 YOU yourselves are our letter, inscribed on our hearts and known and being read by all mankind. 3 For YOU are shown to be a letter of Christ written by us as ministers, inscribed not with ink but with spirit of a living God, not on stone tablets, but on fleshly tablets, on hearts.
Paul had preached the good news of the kingdom in Corinth, and many members of the congregation had become Christians because of Paul’s teaching. They were “letters of recommendation,” proving that Paul and his co-workers were ministers of Jesus Christ. But the “superfine apostles” did not accept that.
THE CRITICISM OF PAUL BY THE SUPERFINE APOSTLES
The superfine apostles had exalted themselves to be apostles on par with Paul. By criticizing and belittling him, they claimed that they were better than him. We read in 10:10:
10 For, say they: “[His] letters are weighty and forceful, but [his] presence in person is weak and [his] speech contemptible (eksoutheneō).”
The Greek verb eksoutheneō has the meaning “to despise someone or something on the basis that it is worthless or of no value.” (Louw and Nida) The way Paul spoke to the Corinthians is seen in 10:1:
1 Now I myself, Paul, entreat YOU by the mildness and kindness of the Christ, lowly though I am in appearance among YOU, whereas when absent I am bold toward YOU.
No one could criticize Paul for lack of knowledge (11:6), but the superfine apostles may have interpreted Paul’s mild way of speaking as something that had no value. What was the meaning of the criticism that “his presence in person is weak”? This may be seen in 11:7:
7 Or did I commit a sin by humbling myself that YOU might be exalted, because without cost I gladly declared the good news of God to YOU?
What did Paul mean that he declared the good news “without cost.” According to Acts 18:1-3, Paul worked as a tentmaker and supported himself when he stayed in Corinth. This may have been viewed as a weakness by the superfine apostles.
THE REASON WHY PAUL HAD TO BOAST
The problem that concerned Paul was that the superfine apostles had persuaded many congregation members to take sides with them and against Paul. This is clearly seen in 12:11-13:
11 I have become unreasonable (afrōn). YOU compelled (anagkazō) me to, for I ought to have been recommended by YOU. For I did not prove to be inferior to [YOUR] superfine apostles in a single thing, even if I am nothing. 12 Indeed, the signs of an apostle were produced among YOU by all endurance, and by signs and portents and powerful works. 13 For in what respect is it that YOU became less than the rest of the congregations, except that I myself did not become a burden to YOU? Kindly forgive me this wrong.
The Greek adjective afrōn has the meaning “unwise, inconsiderate, simple, foolish” (Mounce), and the reason why Paul had become “foolish” was that “you forced (compelled) me to.” Paul should have been recommended by the congregation members because of the good work he had done in the congregation, and because of his “signs, portents of powerful works.” But they did not recommend him, which shows that they sided with the superfine apostles. This is also seen in 11:16-20:
16 I say again, Let no man think I am unreasonable (afrōn). Still, if YOU really do, accept me even if as unreasonable (afrōn)., that I too may do some little boasting (kaukhaomai). 17 What I speak I speak, not after the Lord’s example, but as in unreasonableness (afrosynē), in this cocksureness peculiar to boasting (kaukhēsis). 18 Since many are boasting (kaukhaomai) according to the flesh, I too will boast(kaukhaomai). 19 For YOU gladly put up with the unreasonable (afrōn) persons, seeing YOU are reasonable (fronimos). 20 In fact, YOU put up with whoever enslaves YOU, whoever devours [what YOU have], whoever grabs [what YOU have], whoever exalts himself over [YOU], whoever strikes YOU in the face.
In verse 16, Paul says that he is not unreasonable (afrōn). But the readers may logically think that he is unreasonable because he does not speak “after the Lord’s example” (verse 17); but he is “boasting according to the flesh,” he is boasting in the way people of the world boast, in the same way that the superfine apostles boasted.
Then he shows how members of the congregation have sided with the superfine apostles by saying that “you gladly put up with unreasonable persons,” which is a refence to the superfine apostles (verse 17). The result is that the congregation members have been enslaved, devoured, and grabbed by the superfine apostles, who have exalted themselves and stricken the congregation members in the face (verse 20).
All this shows that Paul was forced to boast and say “unreasonable things.”
THE CONTENT OF THE BOASTING OF PAUL
As we have seen, Paul was forced to boast because the members of the congregation had taken sides with the superfine apostles and did not appraise Paul as an apostle of Jesus Christ. Paul comments on this in 10:2:
2 Indeed I beg that, when present, I may not use boldness with that confidence with which I am counting on taking bold measures against some who appraise us as if we walked according to [what we are in the] flesh.
The superfine apostles described Paul, not as a spiritual person, but as a fleshly one. Therefore, Paul had to take “bold measures” against them. He describes them in 11:12-15:
12 Now what I am doing I will still do, that I may cut off the pretext from those who are wanting a pretext for being found equal to us in the office of which they boast. 13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself keeps transforming himself into an angel of light. 15 It is therefore nothing great if his ministers also keep transforming themselves into ministers of righteousness. But their end shall be according to their works.
The superfine apostles were boasting to show that they were apostles of Christ. But Paul showed that they, in reality, were servants of Satan.
The following passages show the boasting of Paul:
3:1-3
1 Are we starting again to recommend ourselves? Or do we, perhaps, like some men, need letters of recommendation to YOU or from YOU? 2 YOU yourselves are our letter, inscribed on our hearts and known and being read by all mankind. 3 For YOU are shown to be a letter of Christ written by us as ministers, inscribed not with ink but with spirit of a living God, not on stone tablets, but on fleshly tablets, on hearts.
11:5, 6
5 For I consider that I have not in a single thing proved inferior to YOUR superfine apostles. 6 But even if I am unskilled in speech, I certainly am not in knowledge; but in every way we manifested [it] to YOU in all things.
11:21-28
21 I say this to [our] dishonor, as though our position had been weak. But if anyone else acts bold in something—I am talking unreasonably—I too am acting bold in it. 23 Are they Hebrews? I am one also. Are they Israelites? I am one also. Are they Abraham’s seed? I am also. 23Are they ministers of Christ? I reply like a madman (parafroneō), I am more outstandingly one: in labors more plentifully, in prisons more plentifully, in blows to an excess, in near-deaths often. 24 By Jews I five times received forty strokes less one, 25 three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I experienced shipwreck, a night and a day I have spent in the deep; 26 in journeys often, in dangers from rivers, in dangers from highwaymen, in dangers from [my own] race, in dangers from the nations, in dangers in the city, in dangers in the wilderness, in dangers at sea, in dangers among false brothers, 27 in labor and toil, in sleepless nights often, in hunger and thirst, in abstinence from food many times, in cold and nakedness. 28 Besides those things of an external kind, there is what rushes in on me from day to day, the anxiety for all the congregations.
11:30-33
30 If boasting there must be, I will boast of the things having to do with my weakness. 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, even the One who is to be praised forever, knows I am not lying. 32 In Damascus the governor under A·reʹtas the king was guarding the city of the Dam·a·scenesʹ to seize me, 33 but through a window in the wall I was lowered in a wicker basket+ and escaped his hands.
12:1-4
1 I have to boast. It is not beneficial; but I shall pass on to supernatural visions and revelations of [the] Lord. 2 I know a man in union with Christ who, fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know; God knows—was caught away as such to the third heaven. 3 Yes, I know such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body, I do not know, God knows— 4 that he was caught away into paradise and heard unutterable words which it is not lawful for a man to speak.
12:7-9
7 just because of the excess of the revelations. Therefore, that I might not feel overly exalted, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, an angel of Satan, to keep slapping me, that I might not be overly exalted. 7 In this behalf I three times entreated the Lord that it might depart from me; 9 and yet he really said to me: “My undeserved kindness is sufficient for you; for [my] power is being made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, will I rather boast as respects my weaknesses, that the power of the Christ may like a tent remain over me.
12:12:
12 Indeed, the signs of an apostle were produced among YOU by all endurance, and by signs and portents and powerful works.
Table 1.2 The boasting of Paul
| 3:1 | Paul made disciples in Corinth. |
| 11:5 | Paul was skilled in knowledge. |
| 11:5 | Paul was not inferior to the “superfine” apostles in a single thing. |
| 11:21-28 | Paul experienced different kinds of persecution. |
| 11:30-33 | Paul boasts in his weakness. He escaped the king of Damascus. |
| 12:1 | Paul boasts of his supernatural visions, showing that he had Jehovah’s support. |
| 12:7-9 | Paul was given a thorn in the flesh, thus, boasting about his weakness. |
| 12:12 | Paul’s evidence of being an apostle were “signs, portents, and powerful works”. |
The word parafroneō in 11:23, green text, has the meaning “to think or reason in a completely irrational manner.” (Louw and Nida) The two authors suggest the following translation of the verb parafroneō in 1 Corinthians 11:23 “I am speaking like an insane person.” The discussion above has shown the reason why Paul speaks as a madman. He had to counter the superfine apostles and demonstrating for the members of the congregation in Corinth who had sided with these superfine apostles, that these persons were servants of Satan.
I will now return to the two verses, 5:12, 13, that I presented as a problem at the beginning:
12 We are not again recommending (synistēmi) ourselves to YOU, but giving YOU an inducement for boasting (kaukhēma) in respect to us, that YOU may have [an answer] for those who boast (kaukhaimai) over the outward appearance but not over the heart. 13 For if we were out of our mind (eksistēmi), it was for God; if we are sound in mind (sōfroneō) it is for YOU.
On the background of what has been discussed, we can understand verse 12. The superfine apostles boasted regarding the outward appearance and not over the heart. Because of this, Paul had to boast to counter the superfine apostles. But what is the meaning of verse 13?
I quote the comments in the article “Reason Along with the Writer” in Awake! of December 22, 1963, page 28:
What was the meaning of Paul’s earlier statement in chapter 5, verses 12 and 13: “For if we were out of our mind, it was for God; if we are sound in mind, it is for you”? Was Paul out of his mind? Again his boasting may have made it seem so. But he had to boast “for God.” How could that be? Well, it was to prevent the Corinthians from being lost to God through their mistaken thinking, to recover them for God. But this may not have seemed to be so upbuilding for the brothers as would have been a letter from Paul completely devoted to giving them answers to their Bible questions. In other words, it would have been more beneficial for them if he had not had to spend his words in this necessary boasting, but rather could have dedicated his entire letter to other matters. If they had allowed him to write exclusively as one “sound in mind,” it would have been to their greater advantage. (italics in the original.)
These comments are clearly correct and to the point. The whole article is a good example of how deep interactive Bible study can be done in a simple way. Unfortunately, such excellent study articles are no longer found in the Watchtower literature.
