What point does Paul make in 2 Corinthians 11:22 about the twelve?
Paul asserts that the twelve had no genealogical advantage over him. He asks whether they are Hebrews, Israelites, and the seed of Abraham, and answers that he is all three as well. Regarding Jewish heritage, they had nothing over him, proving his equal standing.
Les explains that Paul had to constantly remind the Corinthians, and us, that he was the God-ordained apostle of the Gentiles. The Corinthians accused him of lacking the authority of Peter, James, and John, since they had been with Christ for three years. Paul counters that he also had direct contact with Christ, though not by walking the dusty roads of Palestine; the Lord appeared to him over and over, especially to encourage him amid sufferings. In 2 Corinthians 11:22 he returns to the same point: those twelve in Israel had nothing over him. He asks, “Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I.” Thus regarding genealogy, they had nothing over Paul, for he too was all these. The next verse moves on to ask, “Are they the ministers of Christ?”
Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.
More Questions
What was Paul's genealogical background compared to the twelve?
Regarding genealogy, Paul was also a Hebrew, an Israelite, and the seed of Abraham, so the twelve had no genealogical advantage over him.
How does Paul answer the credentials of the Jerusalem apostles in 2 Corinthians 11:22?
Paul matches the Jerusalem apostles credential for credential, answering 'so am I' to being Hebrews, Israelites, the seed of Abraham, and ministers of Christ.
Who is Paul talking about when he asks 'Are they Hebrews? Are they Israelites?' in 2 Corinthians 11:22?
In 2 Corinthians 11:22 Paul is talking about the twelve apostles back in Jerusalem.
How did Paul answer the charge that the twelve had superior Jewish credentials?
In 2 Corinthians 11:22 Paul claims equal standing with Peter and the eleven on every Jewish credential — Hebrew, Israelite, and seed of Abraham — answering each with 'So am I,' so they had nothing on him there.