The Torah, Prophets and Writings of the Old Testament were the only Scriptures Paul and the other apostles had when they began to preach the gospel. The message of Christ was based on the Apostles’ eyewitness accounts about his life and teaching.

Most of the Apostles were workingmen, and although they were educated in their local synagogues, their knowledge of the Word came from spending time with Jesus. They were able to impress even the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem when they were put on trial.

“When [the ruling council] saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that they had been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13

But Paul was a Pharisee, an expert in the Old Testament Scriptures, skilled in teaching and debate. He was able to demonstrate how Jesus fulfilled the Law and the Prophets.

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5

Paid to Preach

The gospel spread so fast that it was hard to control what was taught in every location. False preachers followed the apostles around and tried to steal their converts. They cast aspersions on Paul and his teaching and took advantage of new converts, fleecing them for money.

Paul never asked to be paid when he preached. He worked hard with his hands to make a living, or he was supported by freewill offerings from the churches. He trusted God to provide for him and rarely mentioned his own needs.

“I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so . . . Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!” 2 Corinthians 11:9, 11

Paul could have asked for his needs to be supplied by those he served, but he left all that up to the Lord. He said that he was content with whatever the Lord gave him, whether he had an abundance or lived in poverty.

“I know what it is to be in need and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:12-13

Paul’s Credentials

Paul hated to talk about himself, but he wanted to establish his credentials as an evangelist and church planter. The effectiveness of the gospel was at stake; people needed to know who was telling them the truth about Jesus.

“I do not think I am in the least inferior to those ‘super-apostles.’ I may indeed be untrained as a speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way . . . And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 11:5, 12-13

People needed to know who Paul was and compare his credentials with those of false teachers in order to make a sound decision about who to follow.

The false teachers claimed to be Hebrews, true Israelites and descendants of Abraham; Paul could make the same claims. They claimed to be servants of Christ – and here was where Paul’s credentials outshone theirs. None of them could match the passion Paul had shown in proclaiming the gospel. None of them had risked their lives, traveled great distances, suffered life-threatening punishment, and poured out their hearts for people the way Paul had.

In essence Paul asked the Corinthians, “Who truly loves you?”

“I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the ‘super-apostles,’ even though I am nothing. I persevered in demonstrating among you the marks of a true apostle, including signs, wonders and miracles.” 2 Corinthians 12:11-12

Paul’s Extraordinary Experiences

Fourteen years before Paul wrote this letter to the Corinthians, the Lord gave him an unexpected experience in the heavenly realm. He was caught up to paradise in the third heaven where he heard “inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell.” 2 Corinthians 12:4

It’s impossible to say exactly when this experience happened, where Paul was, or what he saw. He only mentions that he heard things he was not allowed to repeat. This is the only place Paul speaks about this experience, and he only brings it up as a way to explain his “thorn in the flesh.” 2 Corinthians 12:7

God gave Paul a physical affliction to humble him and whatever it was, it tormented him. No amount of prayer could take it away. Like Jesus in Gethsemane, Paul asked three times that the Father would remove this ordeal from him, and God gave him grace to endure instead. He wanted to fill up  Paul’s weakness with his power.

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’” 2 Corinthians 12:9

Paul was so willing to obey God that he actually embraced his suffering.

“Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

No false teacher could come close to the endorsement God gave Paul as his servant of the gospel.

Paul’s Final Visit to Corinth

Paul was planning his third and final visit to Corinth as he closed this letter and he sounded like a Dad coming to visit his adult children in their home.

“Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less?” 2 Corinthians 12:14-15

Paul asked the Corinthians to review their relationship with him and see that he had taken good care of them. He hadn’t come earlier, when he said he would, but he sent Titus in his place and Titus represented Paul well.

“Titus did not exploit you, did he? Did we not walk in the same footsteps by the same Spirit?” 2 Corinthians 12:18

Preparation for the Visit

Paul had decided not to come with Titus on the previous trip because he was afraid of how the visit might turn out. Even now he was apprehensive.

“For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder. I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged.” 2 Corinthians 12:20-21

This letter, in advance of the visit, gave the Corinthians the opportunity to “clean up their act” before Paul came.

“ . . . and our prayer is that you may be fully restored. This is why I write these things while I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority – the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.” 2 Corinthians 13:9-10

He didn’t want a warning to be the last word, so Paul finished his letter with a cheery word of encouragement.

“Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.” 2 Corinthians 13:11

The Incident in Troas

After Paul and Titus made that final visit to Corinth and collected the offering for the church in Jerusalem, they began the long journey home. They trekked back through Macedonia and sailed across the Aegean Sea to Troas.

Earlier Paul had found an open door for the gospel in Troas, but he was looking for Titus and he soon left that city for Macedonia. This time he was just passing through also, but he decided to spend one evening talking with the believers. He had a lot to say and it got so late that a young man named Eutychus went to sleep on a windowsill and fell three stories to the ground.

The crowd rushed outside and found Eutychus dead on the ground, but Paul wrapped his arms around him and he came back to life. They all went back upstairs where they shared a meal and Paul continued talking until daybreak. When Paul and Titus finally said goodbye they all went home, including Eutychus, and were greatly comforted.

Paul was encouraged to have found such an attentive group of believers in Troas. He gave them all the help he could in those hours together — and he never saw them again.

Paul had labored in Asia, Macedonia and Greece, for ten years. He and his co-workers had risked their lives and planted countless churches, large and small. Now Paul’s work was done in these regions and he hoped his next trip would take him far beyond them, to Rome and then to Spain.

But first he had to go to Jerusalem . . . and Paul didn’t know yet what awaited him there.