How did the Apostle Paul receive his authority?
The Apostle Paul received his authority from the Lord as a gift. He did not obtain it by working for it or by advancing through ranks. The Lord gave it to him, contrasting with worldly systems where a corporate president reaches the top by paying dues and climbing from lower echelons.
Les explains that Paul boasted of the authority the Lord had given him, not something he earned. He points out that Paul did not get it by working for it, nor by coming up through the ranks as people normally think. In contrast to a corporate president who reaches the pinnacle of success by paying his dues and working his way up from lower echelons, Les notes that the Apostle Paul did not do that.
For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:
More Questions
How did Paul get his authority — did he earn it or was it given to him?
The authority Paul boasted of was given to him by the Lord rather than earned — he did not get it by working for it or by coming up through the ranks, unlike a corporate president who pays his dues and works his way up from the lower echelons.
Why did Paul say the Lord gave him authority over the churches?
Paul says the authority the Lord gave him was for edification and not for the destruction of the Corinthians.
Why did Paul say his authority was given for edification and not destruction?
Paul's apostolic authority was given by the Lord for edification and not for the destruction of believers, which is a flashback to his former days as a persecutor when he destroyed lives as a religious Jew.