Criticism due to success

Why was Paul criticized? One possible reason is that his ministry had been highly successful. There were many people who were jealous of his success. Therefore, Paul explains the attitude with which he had continued his ministry. The best way to demonstrate that the message of the gospel is true is for the life of the person proclaiming it to be consistent with what he is preaching. What is written here became a means by which those who supported Paul could defend him (ref. 5:12). Paul specifically lists the afflictions he had gone through, dividing them into three groups (v 4-5). (1) General afflictions: great endurance, afflictions, hardships, distresses, and so on. (2) Afflictions inflicted by others: beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, and so on. (3) Afflictions he imposed on himself: sleeplessness, hunger, and so on.

Two kinds of evaluations

Next, Paul lists the inner qualities he had sought to cultivate as an apostle (v 6). He pursued purity and knowledge, patience and kindness, the Holy Spirit and genuine love. Furthermore, Paul lists the power by which he had fought (v 7). The word of truth and the power of God, and the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left, were the power behind Paul’s ministry. Paul writes, “by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report” (v 8), he was commending himself as a servant of God. He had been dishonored and received evil reports from people. However, God’s evaluation was different. He had received glory and a good report from God. Because he based his conduct solely on God’s evaluation, he was able to say, “regarded as deceivers and yet true; as unknown and yet well known, as dying and yet behold, we are alive; as punished and yet not put to death, as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing and yet possessing all things” (v 8-10). If Christ dwells within us, we possess all things. Let us spend this day giving thanks for this truth.