What did Paul mean by 'Are they Hebrews? So am I' in 2 Corinthians 11:22?
Paul meant his Jewish genealogy was equal to his critics'. As a Hebrew, an Israelite, and Abraham's seed, he had no less standing than those challenging his authority. He was defending his God-ordained apostleship to the Gentiles, showing their ancestral claims gave them no advantage over him.
Les explains that Paul had to constantly remind the Corinthians, and us, that he was the God-ordained apostle of the Gentiles. He had to defend that because the Corinthians, mostly Gentiles with some Jews, were accusing him of lacking the authority Peter, James, and John had, since they had been with Christ three years. Les points out that Paul shows he also had direct contact with Christ, not walking up and down the dusty roads of Palestine, but the Lord appeared to him over and over, especially to encourage him amid sufferings and disappointments. At verse 22, Paul returns to this same point: those twelve back there in Israel did not have anything over him. As a Hebrew, Israelite, and the seed of Abraham, his genealogy matched theirs, so they had no superiority over him.
Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.
More Questions
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 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.
What does 2 Corinthians 11:22 say about Paul's equality with the other apostles?
In 2 Corinthians 11:22, Paul claims equality with Peter and the eleven in being Hebrews, Israelites, and descendants of Abraham, so they had no advantage over him in these bragging rights.
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.