"As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart." - Prov 27:19
"It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve." - 2 Cor 11:15
People in Corinth just never seem to fully get it. Paul needed to go on and on about what he had been through just so that they would see that he was the one that should be listened to. As in Prov. 27:19, Paul shows exactly what his heart is thinking. He loves the people of Corinth and wants them to stop all the problems that we have read about all throughout 1 and 2 Corinthians and fully get behind Christ. I wonder if they ever really did?
I do not think Paul was doing anything to move the spotlight over to him and away from Christ. I believe he was just trying whatever it took to have people listen and hear that he was doing all this for the people of Corinth so that they might believe. He wanted to show them that he was not 'masquerading' but that he was simply doing what was in his heart. Boasting, because that seemed to be the only way Corinthians would listen, not boasting because he just wanted some attention. Now that is merely my opinion, what say you?
Lord, help us to not be so hard-headed about believing and accepting everything you have and will do for us. May we believe with open hearts of the love that you have always had for us and not be as blind as the Corinthians. May we boast in the cross and the enjoy the fact that having faith in you will result in a new life and eternity partying with you and the angels. Amen.
Pew
I think you're right, because Paul's life was diminishing and Christ's life in him was increasing, he could boast in Christ without boasting in himself. "But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." - Galatians 6:14
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