2 Corinthians 11:12-27: a reflection

12But what I do, that I will continue to do, that I may cut off opportunity from those who desire an opportunity, that in which they boast, they may be recognized just like us. 13For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as Christ’s apostles. 14And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light. 15It is no great thing therefore if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. 16I say again, let no one think me foolish. But if so, yet receive me as foolish, that I also may boast a little. 17That which I speak, I don’t speak according to the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting. 18Seeing that many boast after the flesh, I will also boast. 19For you bear with the foolish gladly, being wise. 20For you bear with a man if he brings you into bondage, if he devours you, if he takes you captive, if he exalts himself, or if he strikes you on the face. 21To my shame, I speak as though we had been weak. Yet in whatever way anyone is bold (I speak in foolishness), I am bold also. 22Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the offspring of Abraham? So am I. 23Are they servants of Christ? (I speak as one beside himself.) I am more so: in labors more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, and in deaths often. 24Five times I received forty stripes minus one from the Jews. 25Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I suffered shipwreck. I have been a night and a day in the deep. 26I have been in travels often, perils of rivers, perils of robbers, perils from my countrymen, perils from the Gentiles, perils in the city, perils in the wilderness, perils in the sea, perils among false brothers; 27in labor and travail, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, and in cold and nakedness.

Forced to defend his ministry against boastful false apostles, Paul reluctantly boasts, but not in the way they do. Where they boast of their impressiveness, Paul boasts of his sufferings for Christ, and the list is staggering: beatings, imprisonments, floggings, a stoning, three shipwrecks, constant peril and hardship, hunger, cold, sleepless nights, all endured in the service of the gospel. His credentials are not comfort and success, but everything he has suffered for Christ.

Notice what Paul counts as the marks of genuine service. The false apostles pointed to their impressive qualities; Paul points to his scars, the beatings and imprisonments and dangers he had endured for Christ. His proof of authenticity was not an easy, successful ministry but a costly one, a life poured out and suffered for the gospel. Genuine devotion, for Paul, showed itself not in comfort but in what it was willing to endure.

That reorders our sense of what marks true service to God. We are prone to measure ministry, and our own faith, by success, comfort, and impressiveness, the very things the false apostles boasted in. Paul points elsewhere: to faithfulness that endures cost and hardship for Christ's sake. This is not to seek suffering for its own sake, but to recognize that genuine devotion often shows in what it is willing to bear. Do not measure your faith or service only by comfort and success. Faithfulness to Christ may cost you, and the willingness to bear that cost, as Paul bore his, is itself a mark of genuine devotion. Be willing to suffer for what you serve, and count the cost, when borne for Christ, not as failure but as a mark of faithfulness.

Lord, forced to defend his ministry, Paul boasted not in his impressiveness but in his sufferings for you, the beatings and imprisonments and dangers he had endured for the gospel, counting them the marks of genuine service. Reorder my sense of what marks true faith. Keep me from measuring my faith and service only by comfort, success, and impressiveness, the things the false apostles boasted in. Help me see that genuine devotion often shows in what it is willing to bear. I do not seek suffering for its own sake, but when faithfulness to you costs me, help me bear the cost as Paul did, counting it not failure but a mark of devotion. Make me willing to suffer for what I serve, and faithful whatever it costs.