Wednesday 7th June
Read 2 Corinthians 11:21b-22
“Whatever anyone else dares to boast about – I am speaking as a fool – I also dare to boast about. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I.” (NIVUK)
Finally Paul gets to the ‘boasting’ he has been laying the groundwork for, but even as he begins he can’t help but remind them that what he is doing is foolish beyond belief! The first matched ‘boast’ he deals with is about credentials. Although we must read between the lines to work out what the false apostles claimed it seems that at least one of their claims was to superiority based on where they had come from. They most likely came from Judea, and specifically, Jerusalem.
Two questions spring to mind. Why would that even be important to a Greek church and is there any difference between the three ‘claims’ – Hebrew, Israelite, Abraham’s descendant? In response to the first question, it would not be unusual for new Christians to hold the ‘mother church’ in high regard. Particularly as their Saviour, the one in whom they trust, was a Jew. Today we are bolder in our thinking and may even discount Jewish ‘priority’ in salvation as an unfair anachronism. But four decades after Jesus lived and died and rose again that would be a much harder position to take. They would be held in the highest honour.
Consider Peter’s words in one of his first sermons: “And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, “Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.” 26 When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.’” (Acts 3:25-26) (NIVUK). Or Paul’s words to the Roman church: “the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. 5 Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, for ever praised! Amen.” (Romans 9:4-5) (NIVUK). We would be unwise to consider this claim, this boast, as ungrounded.
The three claims themselves are nuanced variations. ‘Hebrew’ likely refers to the language and culture and thought background in which they were steeped (as was Paul). ‘Israelite’ likely refers to heredity, descended from parents who were both Israelite (as was Paul). Whilst ‘Abraham’s descendant’ is likely a reference to all that Peter and Paul both acknowledge above – they are the chosen people of God (as was Paul). Paul is, against his will, stating that if the Corinthians value such ‘credentials’ they have in him an apostle with exactly the same credentials!
Before anyone mistakes me for arguing the Corinthians may be right to consider these things important I think it best to let Paul have the final word on their value: “If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. 7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.” (Philippians 3:4-8) (NIVUK). Let us not rely on credentials in any way…or compare one another in these ways.
