How did Paul defend his apostleship regarding his message?
Paul defended his apostleship by declaring he did not corrupt the Word of God, did not come with false teaching, and did not bring half-truth. He contrasted himself with false teachers, pictured as clouds without water and withered trees, whose promised hope vanishes and leaves nothing behind.
Les explains that Paul, in defense of his apostleship, maintained he did not come corrupting the Word of God. He was not like a raging wave of the sea foaming out shame or a wandering star reserved for blackness. Paul did not come with false teaching or half-truth. The false teachers, by contrast, are clouds without water, carried about with wind, and trees whose fruit withereth. Les likens them to a small cloud in a drought that raises hope but suddenly disappears, leaving nothing. The world is falling for such adulterated teaching.
For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.