On my last post I considered the commendations Jesus offered, namely, the works He manifested (John 5:36; 10:37; 14:10), the Name He substantiated (John 5:19 & 43; John 14:9), and the witness of the Scriptures (John 5:39).
In this present post I will focus on the commendations Paul reckoned to be absolutely trustworthy and by which he validated his ministry.
The first one is mentioned in 2 Corinthians 4:2.
But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.”
Paul’s example
Paul didn’t commend himself by proclaiming the greatness of his ministry, neither by presenting diplomas—which is by far the most used letter of commendation nowadays—nor by boasting of the greatness of his knowledge; but rather by the manifestation of the truth. His letter of commendation was not hidden in his pocket. It was manifested to all in his very flesh. For Paul, the truth was not only an object of knowledge or an academic subject. It was something he substantiated; and he substantiated it as it is in Jesus (Eph. 4:21).
It must be understood that this sort of commendation is rather costly, for the man who manifests the truth is actually manifesting Jesus (John 14:6), and this, with all what it entails. Referring to this divine manifestation Paul writes:
… always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh” (2 Cor. 4:10,11).
Here Paul is simply attesting that the person avoiding the cross, i.e., evading the dying of the Lord Jesus, will have no divine life to manifest. He will be left with doctrinal fabrications and human rituals. The apostle of the gentiles was not among such. He commended himself by that which he manifested, namely, the Truth and the Life.
A common mistake
Today, we tend to put our trust and expectation on men testifying of great spiritual experiences or of great achievements. For instance, if a missionary working in Siberia would visit a normal church in the West, testifying how God gave him a vision while his family was passing hunger, in which vision a moose was caught-up by the horns in a bramble bush, and that the vision became reality two days later, many would conclude that this brother must be truly in tune with the Spirit of God. And if peradventure he would also testify how he trapped a hare two months later and found a piece of gold in its mouth, many would be tempted to classify him among the Apostles although all these experiences would not exhibit any trait of his character, but rather the simple fact that God is faithful.
And what to say about the ministers exercising the gift of healing or casting out demons? Such brethren easily win the ears and hearts of many, being generally regarded as trustworthy teachers on account of their “obvious spirituality”. But the apostle Paul attests that this apparent spirituality should not be accepted per se as a trustworthy commendation. Listen to what he says:
It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord: 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— 4 how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 5 Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities. 6 For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me” (2 Corinthians 12:1–6).
Here Paul is saying that his astounding spiritual experience should not induce the Corinthians to think of him above what they see him to be or hear from him. Obviously, the apostle believed that experiences in themselves—as knowledge in itself—do not prove anything. Ultimately the final test is our life: the sum total of who we are and do, including our speech in times of irritation, adversity, or frustration.
The details of Paul’s commendation
As we all know, every Christian can excel in a few areas, including those who are carnal or unstable as water. Consequently, a fraction detached from the whole doesn’t prove anything. This is precisely the point Paul is making in 2 Corinthians 6:3–10.
We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed. 4 But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, 5 in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; 6 by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, 7 by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8 by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.”
Here the apostle emphasizes that his commendation extends to all things. As we have seen elsewhere (post March 23, 2015), genuine spirituality will always express itself in the whole spectrum of life.
In my next post I will consider some of the particulars included in Paul’s commendation, namely, the characteristics he incarnated.
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