Why should the Corinthians have commended Paul?
The Corinthians should have commended Paul because he was in no way inferior to the chiefest apostles. He had brought them out of paganism and into the light of the gospel of God’s grace, yet they were turning against him and denying him credit.
Les explains that Paul was compelled to boast because the Corinthians constantly accused him of not being a rightful apostle, saying he had no authority or letters of commendation. Paul could not say he had ministered with Christ for three years like Peter. So he says, 'I ought to have been commended of you.' He should have been, because he brought them out of paganism into the light of the gospel of grace, but they turned against him and gave him no credit. Les notes Paul repeats that he is not behind the chiefest apostles, though he claims to be nothing; when it came to being an instrument of God, 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.
Was Paul inferior to the chiefest apostles?
Paul was not inferior to the chiefest apostles. He declared he was in nothing behind them, and repeated that he was not one whit behind the chiefest apostles. Though he called himself nothing, as an instrument of God he was everything, having brought the Corinthians out of paganism into the gospel of grace.
Why should the Corinthians have commended Paul according to 2 Corinthians 12:11?
The Corinthians should have commended Paul because he brought them out of paganism and into the light of the gospel of God's grace, and because in nothing was he behind the very chiefest apostles. Instead, they accused him, forced him to boast, and failed to give him rightful credit.
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.