Why did the Corinthians compel Paul to boast about his apostleship?
The Corinthians forced Paul to boast because they continually accused him of not being a rightful apostle. They questioned his authority, noted he lacked letters of commendation, and contrasted him with Peter, who had ministered with Christ for three years. Their persistent challenges compelled him to defend and claim his apostleship, even though they should have commended him.
Les explains that in chapter 12, verse 11, Paul says he became a fool in glorying and that the Corinthians compelled him. They forced him because they constantly accused him of not being a rightful apostle. They said he had no authority and no letters of commendation, and unlike Peter he could not claim three years with Christ. Paul should have been commended by them, since he brought them out of paganism into the light of the gospel of the grace of God, yet they turned against him and did not give him credit. He insists he was in nothing behind the very chiefest apostles, a point the Holy Spirit repeats in chapters 11 and 12. Paul claimed to be nothing, but as God's instrument he was everything.
I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.
More Questions
What credentials did Paul lack that the Corinthians used against him?
Paul lacked the credentials the Corinthians wanted: he had no authority, no letters of commendation, and could not say he had ministered with Christ for three years as Peter could.
What did Paul say about himself in relation to the chiefest apostles?
Even though Paul said he was not behind the chiefest apostles, he also said that in himself he is nothing.
Why did Paul boast about his credentials if he didn't want to?
Paul was reluctant to recite his own credentials — he called it becoming a fool in glorying — but he did it because the Corinthians were dismissing him as of no account.