Why did the apostle Paul always have to defend his apostleship?
Paul continually defended his apostleship because of his background: he had been steeped in Judaism, was a Pharisee of the Pharisees from the tribe of Benjamin, and possibly a member of the Sanhedrin—a Jew’s Jew. His former life and his own description as the least of the apostles made his apostolic authority something he repeatedly had to vindicate.
Les explains that Paul, described by his own words as the least of the apostles, had to always defend his apostleship. And no wonder, because Paul had been steeped in Judaism. He was a Pharisee of the Pharisees, of the tribe of Benjamin, and Les thinks he was a member of the Sanhedrin. He was a Jew’s Jew. That background explains why his apostolic authority was repeatedly challenged and why he had to defend it.