825.htm

825.

"THE LETTERS INDEED, SAY THEY, WEIGHTY AND STRONG,
THE BUT PRESENCE OF THE BODY WEAK AND THE WORD HAVING BEEN TREATED AS UTTERLY NOTHING".
(2 Corinthians 10:10 Greek Translation).

WHO WERE THEY, SAYING THESE THINGS, AND WHY?
They were men transforming themselves, recommending themselves in their own boasting, but without Jehovah's recommendation of approval. (2 Cor 10:18 & 11:13). They were men who superficially had transformed themselves from ministers of satan into 'ministers of righteousness', but for the purpose of deceiving. (2 Cor 11:15). They were not men converted as Christ's disciples, although they boasted as being such. Paul's humility should have been an example for them to follow, for their benefit. And yet, although the apostle Paul had manifested to them knowledge and sufferings for the faith, he was criticized as being weak. Because they said he was unskilled in speaking, they claimed he treated the Word as nothing. (2 Cor 11:6).

Paul did a lot of necessary disciplining in regard to the members of the Corinthian congregation, for their benefit. He said: "In fact, you put up with whoever enslaves you, whoever devours [what you have], whoever grabs [what you have], whoever exalts himself over [you], whoever strikes you in the face". (2 Cor 11:20). But what did he mean by further saying, "I say this to [our] dishonour, as though our position had been weak"? (2 Cor 11:21). It was that they were reasonable in putting up with those devouring them, but were unreasonable toward those helping to free them through the "good news" of The Christ. This proved that their unity was with the devourers and not with those substituting for The Christ. (2 Cor 11:19,20). Although Paul was in need when present with them, he did not hold these things against them. Paul said he loved them, and what he was doing he said he would, "…still do, that I may cut off the pretext from those who are wanting a pretext for being found equal to us in the office of which they boast". (2 Cor 11:12).

As ministers of satan but with an appearance of righteousness, satan's 'seed' have been most effective within Jehovah's congregations, and especially so today. But: "Their end shall be according to their works". However, like Paul, we are concerned about those among you that are being devoured by their deceitful works.

THEIR PRETEXT MADE INVALID THROUGH WEAKNESS.
The professed reason they put forward to conceal the real reason, was Paul's weak appearance, which they said treated the Word as nothing. In his defence, Paul said: "Or did I commit a sin by humbling myself that you might be exalted, because without cost I gladly declared the good news of God to you?" (2 Cor 11:7). Because they were comparing themselves with Paul, and then recommending themselves, they looked upon Paul's humility as weakness in connection with the Word of God. They were expecting power and strength from Paul in the spoken Word, rather than manifesting it in their faith by their Godly works. On one occasion the Lord in answer to Paul said this: "My undeserved kindness is sufficient for you; for My power is being made perfect in weakness". (2 Cor 12:9).

PAUL MAKES COMPARISONS AS TO BOASTING.
Ministers of satan always seek a pretext for not measuring up to the office in which they boast. And boasting is manifest in different ways. In the case of the apostle Paul, these 'ministers' erroneously criticized him for not displaying the charisma and forcefulness of character they deemed the prerequisite of an apostle, and that by their absence accused Paul of treating the Word of God with contempt. However, what Paul boasted in certainly cut off their pretext for boasting. Please read 2 Corinthians 11:16 and verses 23-30. Suffering for the truth means more than just calling on people at their homes or attending congregation meetings. (1 Peter 2:20).

23/10/77.