What proof did Paul have for his ministry?
Paul’s proof for his ministry was the converted pagans themselves: people saved and established on the rock Christ Jesus. He lacked letters of commendation from Peter, but these Gentile believers themselves directly validated his own ministry rather than human credentials.
Les explains that Paul was constantly being undermined by Judaizers from Israel, the pagan world, and even believing Jews from the twelve in Jerusalem, who claimed he was an imposter and false teacher. They said he lacked credentials, and if he had letters of commendation from Peter, he would not have had so many problems. But he did not have such letters. All he had for the proof of his ministry were the pagans who had been saved and set on the rock Christ Jesus, and their lives were proving it. Les also notes that 2 Corinthians came within about a year after the first letter, which corrected horrible problems in the Corinthian assembly, including gross immorality. Paul was not a minister of Jerusalem, Judaism, or Peter and the eleven, but his ministry was validated by these saved pagans.