“I have become foolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, for in no respect was I inferior to the most eminent apostles, even though I am a nobody. The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles” (2 Corinthians 12:11-12).
In this context, Paul was defending his apostleship while trying not to sound arrogant. Some in Corinth were attempting to discredit Paul and turn the brethren away from him. He was trying to combat this by defending his message without elevating himself. There are some important lessons we can learn from Paul in this.
He warned the saints in Rome not to think too highly of themselves, and this warning is just as necessary for us. He wrote, “For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith” (Romans 12:3). We are not to overestimate our significance, just as Paul was to “keep…from exalting” himself (2 Corinthians 12:7). At the same time, we are not to underestimate our importance as the Lord and the angels in heaven earnestly desire to see our salvation (Luke 15:7).
It is often easy to think of ourselves the way Paul described – as a “nobody” – yet forget that we are “in no respect…inferior” to others in the sight of the Lord. How can we have a proper view of self and not have an attitude of arrogance or feelings of inferiority? Let us consider what Paul’s example can teach us about this.
Reject Reasons to Boast in Self
Paul said, “I am a nobody.” But was he really a nobody? Paul had many reasons to boast, but he refused to do so. Let us notice a few passages in which Paul mentioned the reasons he could have boasted and thought of himself as “better” than others:
“Although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless” (Philippians 3:4-6).
Paul mentioned a few reasons he could have boasted in the passage above. First, he was “circumcised the eighth day,” which is a testament to his family’s faith (his parents, in particular). While having faithful parents is a great blessing, it is not a reason to boast because we are individually accountable before God (Ezekiel 18:9-13, 20). We need to have our own faith, not rely on our parents’ faith.
Second, he could trace his heritage as a Hebrew of the tribe of Benjamin. Yet in Christ, our background is irrelevant in terms of our standing in the kingdom (Colossians 3:11). For those who were inclined to boast in their heritage as Paul could have done, John the Baptist reminded them that “from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham” (Matthew 3:9).
Third, as a Pharisee, he strictly adhered to human tradition. Yet Paul told the Colossians that following man-made religious laws were “of no value” (Colossians 2:23). In fact, Jesus even warned that if we elevate human traditions to the same level as divine law, we render our worship vain (Matthew 15:3-9).
Fourth, Paul could cite his personal righteousness and the fact that he was “blameless.” Yet even if we could rightly claim what Paul did in this, we still need to watch our attitude. Notice what Jesus said: “So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done’” (Luke 17:10). Even if we were to perfectly obey the Lord, we must still recognize ourselves as humble servants, not boast in our perfect obedience.
“Are they servants of Christ? I speak as if insane I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure” (2 Corinthians 11:23-27).
In this passage, Paul mentioned his “labors” in the gospel. He was specifically called to be an apostle and to carry out what we often call the “Great Commission” (cf. Romans 1:1). Yet he explained in his first letter to Corinth that he had “nothing to boast of” if he preached because he was simply fulfilling his obligation (1 Corinthians 9:16) as a bond-servant of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:5). We need this same attitude when we teach others as we are to be “ready to make a defense…with gentleness and reverence” (1 Peter 3:15).
Paul also gave a long list of all that he suffered for the cause of Christ – beatings, imprisonments, shipwrecks, and more. None of us will likely face hardships to the same degree as the apostle Paul. Yet whatever suffering we must endure for the cause of Christ, we are to “keep on rejoicing” (1 Peter 4:13). Like the apostles, we are to rejoice when we “suffer shame for His name” (Acts 5:41), not use it as a reason to draw attention to ourselves.
“Boasting is necessary, though it is not profitable; but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a man was caught up to the third heaven. And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows—was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. On behalf of such a man I will boast; but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to my weaknesses. For if I do wish to boast I will not be foolish, for I will be speaking the truth; but I refrain from this, so that no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me” (2 Corinthians 12:1-6).
Although Paul described the experiences of certain “a man in Christ,” it is generally understood that he was referring to himself. Yet having unique experiences does not make one superior to others. Compared with the other apostles, Paul was the last to see Christ (1 Corinthians 15:8) and did not even follow Him during His earthly ministry. Yet as we noticed in our opening text, he was “in no respect…inferior to the most eminent apostles” (2 Corinthians 12:11). We may have experienced many things in life that others could only dream about, yet that does not make us “better” than them.
“But when they stretched him out with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, ‘Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman and uncondemned?’ When the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and told him, saying, ‘What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman.’ The commander came and said to him, ‘Tell me, are you a Roman?’ And he said, ‘Yes.’ The commander answered, ‘I acquired this citizenship with a large sum of money.’ And Paul said, ‘But I was actually born a citizen.’ Therefore those who were about to examine him immediately let go of him; and the commander also was afraid when he found out that he was a Roman, and because he had put him in chains” (Acts 22:25-29).
In the passage above, Paul used his Roman citizenship to his advantage to avoid being scourged illegally. Certain privileges came with Roman citizenship, which was why the commander was willing to pay “a large sum of money” to obtain it. For those of us who live in the United States, we recognize that there are benefits and privileges that come with that citizenship. People around the world also recognize this because so many are willing to make sacrifices to come here and obtain U.S. citizenship. However, while citizenship in an earthly nation can be valuable, it is worthless if we do not obey the Lord. God will welcome people from “every nation” if they fear and obey Him (Acts 10:34-35). First and foremost, we need to make sure our “citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20).
“The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles” (2 Corinthians 12:12).
Apostles played a crucial role in the early church. They were specifically chosen by Christ to “go into all the world and preach the gospel” (Mark 16:15), and they helped make up the foundation of the church (Ephesians 2:20). Yet at the same time, Paul recognized that the apostles had “become a spectacle to the world” and “the scum of the world, the dregs of all things” (1 Corinthians 4:9, 13). Yet they endured this because of their love for Christ and others and their duty to carry out His work.
So Paul had many reasons to boast in self, but he refused to do so. Instead, he would only boast in Christ, as he wrote, “He who boasts is to boast in the Lord” (2 Corinthians 10:17).
Reject Feelings of Inferiority
We often have to fight feelings of inferiority. We are tempted to look at others and what they have accomplished or are currently doing and think we are less important than them. However, even though Paul declared that he was a “nobody,” he recognized that he was “in no respect…inferior to the most eminent apostles” (2 Corinthians 12:11). He said the same thing a chapter before: “For I consider myself not in the least inferior to the most eminent apostles” (2 Corinthians 11:5).
When we are tempted to embrace feelings of inferiority, there are a few facts we need to remember:
- All are equal before God – Peter made this point when he visited the household of Cornelius. He said, “God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him” (Acts 10:34-35). Regardless of our ethnicity, economic status, or gender, God welcomes and accepts all who will come to Him in obedient faith (Galatians 3:26-28).
- All are equal within the church – We will not take the time to do an in-depth study of the passage, but Paul explained in his first letter to the Corinthians that every member of the church is important (1 Corinthians 12:14-27). Not only can we not look at our brethren and think they are unnecessary or expendable (1 Corinthians 12:21-22), but we also cannot look at ourselves and think we are unnecessary or expendable because we do not fill the same role that others do (1 Corinthians 12:15-17).
- All have been made in the image of God – We are told this in the very beginning when God first created Adam and Eve: “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:26-27). Because we have been made in God’s image, we have an inherent sense of worth so that each of us is valuable to Him.
- God wants all to be saved – In possibly the most well-known verse in the Bible, Jesus said, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16). He is “not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
Satan tempts us to think we are unimportant and that our lives and efforts do not matter. Yet the Scriptures show us just how important and valuable we are in the eyes of God. So while we are to combat arrogance and the temptation to boast in self, we must also reject feelings of inferiority.
Accept Responsibility for Important Work
However, refusing to boast in self and recognizing his inherent worth, Paul did not just sit back and do nothing. He did the work of an apostle (2 Corinthians 12:12; cf. Acts 26:15-20), despite being a “nobody” (2 Corinthians 12:11) and the “foremost of all” sinners (1 Timothy 1:15).
We are not apostles as Paul was, but what can we do? The New Testament shows us that there is important work for us as well.
- Teach others – Paul told the Ephesians elders that when he was among them, he taught “publicly and from house to house” (Acts 20:20). Even though we are not apostles, we are to speak “as one who is speaking the utterances of God” (1 Peter 4:11). Each one of us can do this as we strive to answer for “the hope that is in [us]” (1 Peter 3:15).
- Assemble with the church – We meet with the church in order to “stimulate one another to love and good deeds” and to “[encourage] one another” (Hebrews 10:24-25). We can do this even without ever holding a position of leadership in the church.
- Lead in worship – Though this point would be limited to men (cf. 1 Timothy 2:11-12), it is important that “each one” of the men of the congregation work to develop their abilities to be able to contribute something to the corporate worship (1 Corinthians 14:26).
- Serve the church – Even though leading in worship is limited to the men, both women and men can serve the church in various ways, just as Phoebe, who was described as a “servant of the church which is at Cenchrea” (Romans 16:1).
- Visit those in need – James wrote, “Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world” (James 1:27). This is referring to our individual responsibility as Christians, and it is something that nearly everyone in the church can do.
- Show hospitality – The Hebrew writer admonished us to “not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it” (Hebrews 13:2). This is about more than just showing kindness to others; it is about caring for others, even if we are not closely acquainted with them.
- Engage in benevolence – This is another responsibility we have as individual Christians. Paul told the brethren in Galatia, “So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith” (Galatians 6:10). While we are at liberty as individual Christians to help all people, we are to look out especially for our brethren who are in need.
- Encourage others – Paul wrote, “We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone” (1 Thessalonians 5:14). This may not win us a lot of recognition, but it is an important work that each one of us can do.
- Be an example – Jesus said, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). We are to behave in such a way that others can see Christ living in us (cf. Galatians 2:20). Doing so will encourage them to behave in the same way.
Even a “nobody” can do important work for the Lord. Remember what Jesus said: “And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward” (Matthew 10:42). If we are faithfully serving the Lord “in the name of a disciple” (as a disciple), He sees it and will reward us, even if no one else is aware of what we are doing.
Conclusion
Avoiding arrogance does not mean we need to swing to the other extreme and think that we are personally unimportant or that our efforts do not matter. Even if the world considers us a “nobody,” God recognizes our inherent value as one who was made in His image. Because of this, He sent His Son to die on the cross for us so that we could be with Him for eternity. Knowing this, let us not boast in self or embrace feelings of inferiority. Instead, let us accept the responsibilities God has given us and faithfully serve Him in all we do.
