Epistles of Paul 64

Chapters 10 through 13 of 2 Corinthians are chapters in which Paul is addressing those people that are still being influenced by false teachers. As a matter of brief review, before we start on chapter 12, let me just recap a couple of points. In chapter 10, we can see at the end of verse 2, it's talking about that Paul says, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. So Paul is mentioning here that people were accusing him of behaving carnally. Here was walking according to the flesh.

And that this reminds us, and Paul reminds us here, as we can see in verse 4, that this is a spiritual warfare, and therefore we need weapons which are spiritual and not carnal, which are mighty in God for pulling down strongholds or fortresses. So we can see that we need to keep a focus that our real challenge is coming from a spiritual environment, even though often we attacked by people. But we could also be attacked by our own carnality or society.

And so he talks about that it is a spiritual war against these strongholds or fortresses, as some versions pull it. And in verse 5 it describes what some of those strongholds are, arguments, and every I think that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. And then he says that we need to bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. And that is, in other words, our ultimate objective as a true follower of Christ. I beg your pardon. So the real issue is that when we we encounter challenges and difficulties with people, we quite often look at people and we start challenging or feeling challenged by people and we start comparing ourselves with people and things like that.

And in chapter 10 in 2 Corinthians, he says that when we compare ourselves to other people, it's not wise. We can see that in verse 12 he says, at the end there, and they measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves amongst themselves are not wise.

And then as we complete this chapter in verse 17 and verse 18, we really need to look at God and we are measured, we are to be commanded by God, and that's what's important. It's from God that we need to get the commendation. And so Paul in chapter 10, where he starts that people are accusing him as being carnal, he then emphasizes that the importance is that we mustn't look at people.

We are in a spiritual warfare and we're going to look beyond, but we mustn't compare ourselves. We've got to look at God because it's God's praises that matter. But then he continues in chapter 11, getting back to the fact that people were attacking him, and then he says, okay, bear with me. I'm going to use a little folly. A little folly is of boasting that he is indeed an apostle through highlighting the many things that he has suffered, the many difficulties and physical pains that he's gone through. So he uses that, as he calls it, a little folly.

And he is specifically attacking these false teachers, which later on he calls them most eminent apostles. He calls them, in verse 5, as most eminent apostles. In other words, false teachers that claim themselves to be super preachers or super pastors or whatever they are. And he's saying, hey, what? He is now saying, we've got to be careful with these people because they're preaching another Jesus. And that's what he says in verse 4.

And we see that continuously in this false Christianity that we encounter today. It's another Jesus. We read that in 2 Corinthians 11, verse 4, that we have not preached. Or if you receive a different spirit, which you have not received, or a different gospel, which you have not accepted, you may well put up with it. And so he's saying, be careful, because if you are listening to these people, if you're listening to their programs, or you're reading their stuff on the internet, sooner or later it could affect you. And therefore, we need to be careful. That's why it says, be sanctified, be separate, avoid that. And then in this chapter, later on, he is exposing these false teachers, as you can see in verse 14 through 15 of chapter 11, he says, these are false apostles.

They are false ministers. They're false pastors, false preachers. They're deceiving deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And it was transforming themselves into, in our today's context, into ministers of Jesus Christ. It says no wonder, because Satan himself comes across as an angel of light. And then in verse 15 says, these ministers also transform themselves into, as if they were ministers of righteousness. But they're not, because they give a false doctrine, a doctrine in which they say, basically, all you need is grace, and you don't have to do anything.

And then he says, whose end will be according to their works. And so he then says in verse 16, so again, let no one think of me as a fool. I'm not a fool, Paul is saying. And then he goes on, and boasts of this little folly which he mentioned, and that he mentions some of those things that he's boasting of, from verses run about verse 23 to 27, where he says, he's had, he's labored more abundantly, he's had more stripes, he's been in prison more frequently, in near-death situations often, he received 40 stripes minus one five times, and so on.

He highlights a number of physical sufferings that he went through, and but in the end his main concern, as he says in verse 28, he says, my main concern is, as he says, my deep concern is for the congregations, is for the churches. And he says, and even another possibility of cause of people accusing him, was could have been the way he escaped, when he escaped, as it says there in Damascus, and then he said he was let down in a basket through a window, and maybe some people were even accusing him of being a coward as a possibility.

So he is saying, people, we are in a spiritual war, we got to be careful that we are understand that we're not comparing against ourselves against people, we got to compare ourselves against God, but we got to understand that these are false apostles, false ministers, and Paul is saying they're accusing me, but they really have not stood up in that test of going through trials like I have gone.

And now chapter 12, which is where we finished previous times in chapter 11, so now in chapter 12, let's start reading in verse 1. It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. You see, so now he says, okay, I'm not boasting, and maybe another reason of people accusing him may have been that he had been ridiculed as a person with an unsound mind because he had all these visions, as he says, and revelations. The Expositor's Bible commentary states, and I quote, it was easy to call them mere illusions, signs of a disordered brain. It was not too much for malice to hint that his call to apostleship rested on nothing better than one of these ecstatic hallucinations. So you can see how possibly, according to the Expositor's Bible commentary, they were accusing him of having visions and revelations, and therefore, hey, he had these hallucinations, quote-unquote, and therefore, his brain is not right there. Now, indeed, Paul mentions of visions and revelations. We can see that in the New Testament, where there are at least six occasions where Paul's visions are recorded. Let's just look at those six occasions where Paul's visions are recorded. The first one is in Acts 9 verse 12. Acts 9 verse 12. Let's just read them very briefly to see that he did have visions. Acts 9 verse 12.

And in a vision, he was Eacenae Man Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him so that he might receive his sight. You see, so this is the situation in which Ananias himself had a vision, and then the Lord is telling him how Paul had a vision about coming to encounter Ananias. So that's Acts 9 verse 12, one situation that Paul had a vision. Another situation is in Acts 16 verse 9. So it's another instance where in the book of Acts talks about Paul having a vision. Acts 16 verse 9 and 10, and it says, An in a vision appeared to Paul in the night, a man of Macedonia, a man of Macedonia, stood and pleaded with him, saying, Come over to Macedonia and help us. And after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them. Then we see also in Acts 18 verse 9, Acts 18 verse 9, Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by vision, Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent, For I am with you, and no one will attack you or hurt you, for I have many people in this city. Another situation is described in Acts 22, Acts 22 verse 17 and 18. Acts 22 verse 17 and 18. Now it happened when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple that I was in a trance, and I saw him saying to me, Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for they will not receive your testimony concerning me.

And then he says, So I said, Lord, they know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believe in you. And so he goes, But yeah, it's a situation where he had another vision.

Acts 23 verse 11. Acts 23 verse 11, he says, But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, Be of good cheer, Paul, for as you have testified for me in Jerusalem, so you must also be a witness at Rome. And then in Acts 27, Acts 27 verse 23 and 24, we say, For there stood by me this night an angel of the Lord, to whom I belong and whom I serve, saying, Do not be afraid, Paul, so you must be brought before Caesar, and indeed God has granted you all those who sailed with you. So here we have at least six occasions where Paul's visions are recorded. So indeed, Paul had visions. But yeah, in 2 Corinthians 12 verse 1 says, you also add revelations. And if you turn with me to Galatians chapter 1, Galatians chapter 1 verse 12, Galatians chapter 1, verse 12, it says, For another received it from man, nor has taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ. So the gospel came to Paul by the revelation of Jesus Christ. And then look at Galatians chapter 2 verse 2, it says, Then after 14 years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and also to Titus with me, and I went up by revelation, and communicated to them that the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles. So you see, he went up by revelation. And then we see also in Ephesians 3 chapter 3, Ephesians 3 chapter 3, how that by revelation he made known to me the mystery, as I have briefly written already. So by revelation he, Jesus Christ, made known to me, Paul. So we can see also situations in which Paul had revelations from God.

And so going back to 2 Corinthians chapter 12, verse 1 says, I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. So he had visions and revelations. But then in verse 2 he says also that there is a special case of being caught up to third heaven. He, in fact, avoids using our stating that it was him, but by implication it is referring about him. But he just says in verse 2, I know a man in Christ who 14 years ago whether in body, in the body, I do not know, or whether out of the body, I do not know. God knows. But such a one was caught up to the third heaven. And so was it a vision? Was it how he himself says he does not know? But he's talking about I know a man in Christ who 14 years ago, and we saw a little earlier when we read in Galatians that 14 years later he came. So it shows that that probably, very probably, it's referring to him. I believe it is, but anyway, the point here is that he is not becoming, let's call it, he's not boasting about it, but he is saying that that there was this vision of paradise. And let's talk a little bit about that. First place, here we have a situation in verse 2 that it clearly states there are three heavens. See, because talking about the third heaven, that clearly states there are three heavens. And it's talking about the third heaven, which is where God is, where God dwells. So let's talk briefly about the first heaven. The first heaven is the earth's atmosphere. You know, it was the sky. We can see that described, for instance, in Genesis chapter 8 verse 2. Genesis chapter 8 verse 2. And it says, the fountains of the deep and the windows of heaven were also stopped and the rain from heaven was restrained. The rain from heaven. It was the first heaven, which is the earth's atmosphere, the sky around our our planet, that that small layer of oxygen and the atmosphere that is around our planet. Also, in Deuteronomy 11, Deuteronomy 11 verse 11, we've got another example. We are what it's talking about, the rain of heaven. Deuteronomy 11. It says, but the land which you cross over to possess is the land of hills and valleys which drinks water from the rain of heaven. So obviously, being the first heaven. Now let's talk a little very briefly about the second heaven, which is basically the stars, what we call the interplanetary space or the the universe around us. One example is in Genesis 15 verse 5. Genesis 15 verse 5. And it says, then he he brought him outside and said, look now towards heaven and count the stars if you are able to number them. And so that is clearly different than the earth's atmosphere. Look at Psalm 8 verse 3. Psalm 8 verse 3.

Psalm 8. Psalm 8.

It takes a little while to get to it. I'm gonna apologize. Psalm 8. Here we are. Verse 3. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have ordained. And so, considering the heavens, which is the moon and the stars, look at also Isaiah 13 verse 10. Isaiah 13 verse 10. There we are. For the stars of heaven and their constellations, will not give their light. The sun will be dark and it needs going forth, and the moon will not cause its light to shine. So it's talking about the stars of heaven, the sun, the moon. So it really is that space, the universe, the sun, the moon, the stars, all that which is that the universe, the stars, the second heaven. Now let's look at some examples of the third heaven, which is the abode of God, where God operates from. It's like, in other words, where God controls the whole universe. Maybe in modern terminology, we'd call it the nerve center of the universe. It's example, first example is 1 Kings chapter 8. 1 Kings chapter 8 verse 30. 1 Kings chapter 8 verse 30.

And may you hear the supplication of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Here in heaven, you're dwelling place and when you forgive. And so, Yair is talking about heaven, God's dwelling place. Clearly is not the earth's atmosphere, clearly is not the interplanetary space and the stars and the moon, but it is God's dwelling place, the abode of God, the third heaven. Another example is in 2 Chronicles. 2 Chronicles chapter 30. 2 Chronicles chapter 30. Verse 27. And then the priests and Levites arose and blessed the people and their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his holy dwelling, to his holy dwelling place, to heaven. And so, we have here God's dwelling place, which is in heaven, which is in heaven, which is what Paul referred to as the third heaven. And then another example is in Psalm Psalm 123. There are other examples, but I'm just mentioning a few. Psalm 123 verse 1. And to you I lift my eyes, he owe you who dwell in the heavens.

So, we lift our eyes to God, to God who dwells in heaven. So, going back to 2 Corinthians chapter 12 verse 2, he's saying, whether in the body I do not know, whether out of the body I do not know, God knows, such a one must caught up to the third heaven. Okay, so, and then he says here in verse 3, and I know such a man, whether in a body or out of the body, I do not know. So, he says that again, God knows. So, he is again trying to put it in the third person, as a man that he knows, obviously being himself. That's what I believe or we believe. And, but he doesn't want to boast too much. And then in verse 4 he says, now how he was caught up into paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. So, he was caught up into paradise, which is referring to God's dwelling place. Now, we know, for instance, they are. There is that scripture in Luke 23 verse 43 about the thief on the cross, and then Christ says, I'll tell you today, you will be with me in paradise. So, where is the paradise of God? Now, it is going back to Luke 23 43. It basically shows that Christ could see that person's attitude, that he would then be resurrected, he would learn the truth, his spirit was right, and he could see his attitude, and therefore he would make it into the kingdom. So, whether he was just looking at the wonderful wall tomorrow, that will become a lovely paradise at the end of the wall tomorrow, and in the second resurrection, the world will be a paradise. But even beyond that, the true paradise of God is the YH on earth, and it will be when the new heaven and the new earth actually become a reality. So, let's for instance look at Revelation chapter 2 verse 7.

Here we have in the letter to Ephesus at the end of that letter to the first church. At the end of it to him overcomes, I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. And where is that? That is described in Revelation 22 verse 2, which is after the when the new heaven and the new earth is established, which is in chapter 21 of Revelation. And then in chapter 21 verse 2, we see the Holy Spirit in New Jerusalem coming down from God, and that it says God himself will be there. So that will then become the dwelling of God on this new earth. And then in Revelation 22 verse 2 says in the middle of each street, so it's a street in New Jerusalem, and on either side of the river was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits. Each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of that of the tree were for the healing of the nation. So we can see that the paradise of God ultimately will be on earth, and that's where God will dwell. So there'll be a complete change there, because God will move his throne from whatever the third heaven is, and he's going to move it to the new earth, which will where it will be where the New Jerusalem will be. All right, we'll continue now in verse 5. Of such a one, I'll boast, yet of myself I'll not boast, except in my infirmities.

So he's saying, look, I'm really boasting of my infirmities. And as we went through, and I lighted shortly, a short while ago, in chapter 11, verses 23 to about verse 27, he highlighted a number of sufferings and infirmities that he went through. And then he also, in verse 30 of 2 Corinthians chapter 11, he says, if I must boast, I'll boast in the things which concern my infirmity. In other words, his problems, physical problems, his physical challenges and difficulties that he had. Verse 6, for though I might desire to boast, I'll not be a fool, for I speak the truth, but I refrain lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be for years from me. So he's basically mostly talking about the third person, but he is trying and he's saying he's not going to be bragging about some of those things. But the important he gets now is a very important section here in verse 7 through 10, and he says, unless I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of revelations, he also is talking about he had visions, revelations, and the situation about being caught up to the third heaven that he's trying to just say, putting it into the third person. And he says, lest I should be exalted above measure. It was lest that I should get a big head by the abundance of revelations.

A thorn in the flesh was given to me. A messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. And so he is saying that he has this thorn in the flesh that buffets me, and he says, a messenger of Satan, lest I should be exalted above measure. In other words, to keep me humble. Now, some claim that the thorn in the flesh were these false ministers, but it seems to be more towards being a physical problem with his health.

It probably was more of a physical problem with his health, and specifically with his eyesight. Look at, for instance, at Galatians chapter 4. Galatians chapter 4 verse 14 and 15.

He says, and my trial, which was in my flesh, my trial which was in my flesh. And so he's clearly emphasizing that he had a trial, and it was a physical trial in the flesh.

You do not despise or reject, but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

But what then was the blessing you enjoyed? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me. So it appears that his trial was really bad, poor eyesight. Maybe he could barely see. Paul had been stoned. Maybe his cheekbones had been broken. Maybe his face didn't look all that good to be looked at. And so maybe that affected his eyesight to such a degree, and God was not healing him of that, and would kept him really humble. Now, the reason why some people think that it was a human being, or some or these false ministers, is based on the statement Yah in verse 7 of 2 Corinthians 12 verse 7, where he says, A messenger of Satan to buffet me. That's why some people think it was a human being. Now, there is about 180 odd, 188 times that the word argyllos is used in the New Testament, and indeed, most times it refers to angels to either to, let's say, spread beings, but it could also be bad beings, in the words demons. But he says to buffet me. And the word buffet always refers to ill treatment from another person or from other people. And in fact, the word thorn in the flesh in the Old Testament was always a physical opponent or nation opponent to Israel. Let's look at some examples where the word or the terminology thorn in the flesh was used in the Old Testament. The first one is in Numbers 33, Numbers 33 verse 55, Numbers 33 verse 55. But if you do not drive them out, in other words, these nations, the inhabitants of the land from before you, then they, these physical people, shall be then, let me just read, if you do not drive them out, the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall be that those whom you let remain shall be irritants in your eyes and thorns in your sight, and they shall harass you in the land where you dwell. In other words, you will have, as a nation, as a people, you will have physical problems from these people. So there would be challenges to the nation, physical challenges being a thorn in the flesh. In Joshua, Joshua 23, Joshua 23 verse 13, it says, Now for certain that the Lord your God will no longer drive out these nations from before you, but they shall be snares and traps to you, and scourges on your sides, and thorns in your flesh until you perish for this good land, which the Lord your God has from this good land, which the Lord your God has given you. So it is a physical difficulty that they're going to have as a nation, and giving them a lot of trouble to their nation. In Judges chapter 2, Judges chapter 2 verse 3, we also see, read here, Therefore I also said, I will not drive them out before you, but they shall be thorns in your side, and their and their goats shall be a snare to you. You know, it's it's like nations around Israel today are a thorn in the flesh to that nation. It's just it's just a continuous painful situation. And then we look at Ezekiel 28. Ezekiel 28 verse 24. Ezekiel 28 verse 24. All right. And they shall no longer be a breaking brier or a painful thorn for the house of Israel from among all who are around them, who despise them. Then they shall know that I'm the Lord God. So now it's looking at the time in the future, the time in the future when finally it'll be peace, and those nations around Israel will not be a painful thorn to those people. And that's a physical challenge or difficulty. So we believe that clearly Paul had some type of health problem or infirmity that was really keeping him humble.

And God allowed that to remain so. Let's just see that continue in our reading in Corinthians chapter 12 verse 8 and 9. Concerning this thing, I pleaded with the Lord three times, that it might depart from me. And he said, My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in your weakness.

Therefore, most gladly, I'll rather boast in my infirmities. He's talking about his infirmities, his weakness, his physical infirmities, his sufferings, his pains, his head. I'll boast on that.

Why? So that the power of Christ may rest upon me. And that's why he was, he says, well, I'll exercise a bit of folly more than these false prophets, because I've gone through more difficulties, I've gone through more sufferings. And therefore, the principle here is, when we are going through sufferings, we actually become stronger spiritually.

Look at here now, verse 10. Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake, for when I'm weak, then I'm strong. And so, the lesson to us is, when we are weak, when we have trials and difficulties and stresses, then we can be strong in the Lord. We need to rely upon God completely, we need to depend on Him, and we become strong in the Lord. Verse 11. I have become a fool in boasting. You have compelled me, for I ought to have been commanded by you.

There was, I'm doing this folly of boasting about my infirmities, but I should have had to do this.

I mean, you should have realized that indeed, that's what Paul is saying, that I'm a bustle through what I've been serving and doing for you, for he says, yeah, for in nothing was I behind the most eminent apostles, though I'm nothing. It was in no way, in nothing was I inferior to these super ministers, you know, these most eminent apostles. In no way was I behind. I was, in no way was I inferior to them, although I'm nothing. I'm nobody. I'm nothing. That's what he's saying there in verse 11. Verse 12, truly, and that's why he says, you ought to have commanded, for I ought to have been commanded by you. Because, why? Because verse 12, truly, the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds. God backed up Paul with many signs, with many wonders, with many mighty deeds, and those people in Corinth should have commanded Paul and said, yeah, he is an apostle of Christ.

Verse 13, for what is it in which you were inferior to other churches except that I myself was not burdensome to you? In other words, in no way were you inferior to the other congregations. In no way. The only way that you were inferior to other congregations is that I've never burdened you financially. I never took from the local times to support me in the work that I was doing. That's what Paul was saying. In other words, Corinthian churches were never inferior to any other congregation except that I never took from you money. Forgive me this wrong. It's like saying, well forgive me for not taking or not living out of your other tithes from Corinth. So it's kind of a little bit of a statement, you know, a little bit in the cheek. Anyway, verse 14. Now for the third time I'm ready to come to you. This is the third of occasion and now he wants to come and visit them. And I will not be burdensome to you. I'm not coming after your money. For I do not seek yours, but you. In other words, I seek your well-being. I care for you. I want you to be well.

For the children ought not ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. In other words, Paul is presenting himself here as a parent in the faith and they as the children, his children in the faith, because of what he's done to serve them, to serve the congregation there.

And he says, I am not going to require you to support me. Verse 15. And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls. In other words, I'll be quite happy to serve you, to sacrifice, to give of myself for you and for your well-being. Though, the more abundantly I care for you, I love you, the less I'm loved. You know, the more I do, the less I get back.

And in a sense, that's a shame on them. That's really what Paul is saying. Shame on you.

Now, verse 16. But be that as it may, I will not burden you. Nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you by cunning. Well, that's what the false apostles said. Oh, they caught you, they caught Paul with guile. He was crafty, but he wasn't. Verse 17. Did I take advantage of you by any of those whom I sent to you? Did I take money from you? Maybe I, well, I sent men to go and serve you. Do they take from you? Do they take advantage of you? Did I take advantage of you by any of those whom I sent you? For instance, verse 18. I urged titans and I sent our brother with him. Did titans take advantage of you?

Did we not walk in the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same step? You know what's titans and Paul, they never took advantage of them financially speaking. So, and then he continues. Again, do not think that's in verse 19. Again, do you think that we excuse ourselves to you?

We speak before God, but we do all things, beloved, for your edification.

I'm speaking the truth, Paul's saying, and everything I've done is to build you, is to edify Corinth, not to take from you. And so, all these false apostles preaching out a different Jesus and accusing Paul of this, that, and that, he says, no, that's not the case. I've never abused you and I boast in my suffering. I've had this thorn in the flesh that keeps me humble, so I just boast in my sufferings. Verse 20, for I fear, blessed, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish. My concern, says Paul, is that when I come, I find the same problems. I don't see you repentant. I don't see you changing. I fear that. And he says now, for I fear, verse 20, lest when I come, I shall not find you as I wish. There was a wish I'd find you repentant and changed. I shall not find you such as a wish, and that I may be found by you, such as you do not wish. There was an I may find you in a way that you are not repentant, and that's really, in a sense, what you don't wish. Lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbiting, whispering, conceits, two months. In other words, you've not repented and is still having all these arguments, inner fighting, jealousies, screaming and shouting and selfish ambitions and biting one another and whispering and conceits and two months. In other words, just having continuous arguments. And verse 21, again, lest when I come.

So, in verse 20 he says, I fear lest when I come. In verse 21 again, he says, I fear, in a sense, lest when I come again, my God will humble me among you. In other words, I'll be saddened.

I come and I'll be very humbled and very saddened, and I shall mourn for many who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanliness, fornication and lewdness which they've practiced. You know, so his concern is that when he comes, he finds the same problems. People arguing, bickering and all that. And also, lest when he comes, he finds the same sense.

You see, Paul was concerned that it would not be much change. That fornicator that talks about in 1 Corinthians was not only him. There was a problem in Corinth, and many of them had problems. And so Paul is saying, I'm afraid that I'll come, I will have to come, and I'll have to deal with this. And so in chapter 13, which we'll see in the next study, he's basically saying, you better overcome and change, because when I come, I'm not gonna spare. I'm not gonna spare, as he read at the end of verse 2 of chapter 13. I will not spare. I'll come with a rod. So the basic message is, there are problems, there are false ministers, and I'm not boasting. I am a true apostle. I've suffered. God has allowed me to have this phone in the flesh to keep me humble.

But we are here to serve you. We've done everything to serve you. And please repent.

Basically, that's what he says, because I'm afraid that I come, and you have not repented.