Paul proves his apostleship by pointing to the Corinthians themselves as the seal of his apostleship and by declaring his unique commission as the apostle to the Gentiles.
Les Feldick shows that Paul constantly came back to the fact that the Corinthians were saved out of abject paganism through his preaching, making them proof enough that he was an apostle. Paul also insisted, as in Romans 11:13, that he was the apostle of the Gentiles and that he magnified his office. His transformed converts and his God-given commission, not a three-year walk with Jesus, were the evidence he offered.
1 Corinthians 9:2 — This verse states that the Corinthian believers themselves are the seal of Paul's apostleship, the central proof Les highlights.
Romans 11:13 — Paul identifies himself as the apostle of the Gentiles, the unique office he magnifies in his defense.
In 1 Corinthians 9:1-2, Paul asks, 'Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?' He then adds, 'If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.' The Corinthians' very existence as believers is the biblical evidence that Paul's apostleship was genuine. In Romans 11:13 Paul writes, 'For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office' - declaring his distinct calling to the Gentile world.
Les Feldick stresses that throughout Paul's letters Paul has to constantly defend his apostleship, especially to the Jewish element in Corinth who said, 'You're just an imposter. You didn't walk with Jesus of Nazareth. You didn't spend three years with Him like Peter did.' But Paul's favorite reply, according to Les, was, 'You Corinthians are the proof of my apostleship.' Because they had been saved out of abject paganism as a result of his preaching, they were proof enough that he was an apostle (Clip 1). Les also emphasizes that Paul claimed a unique office. He was not simply one of many apostles; he said, 'I am the apostle of the Gentiles' and 'I magnify my office,' showing that God had designated him to take salvation to the Gentiles and had given him revelations that he alone received (Clips 3 and 5). Finally, Les points out that Paul could point to his sufferings - he suffered over and over so that the Gentiles could get this message of grace. That suffering was part of his defense (Clip 7).
According to Les, the Corinthians were 'the proof of my apostleship' because they had been saved out of abject paganism through Paul's preaching. Coming from a city of horrible idolatry and immorality, their changed lives demonstrated that God had honored Paul's ministry. They were proof enough that he was an apostle.
Les explains that especially the Jewish element in Corinth accused Paul of being an imposter because he had not walked with Jesus for three years like Peter had. People also thought he was a renegade to Judaism. Paul therefore had to establish that in this age of grace, he was the one through whom God was speaking to the whole human race.
In 2 Corinthians, Les says Paul refers over and over to the fact that he has suffered and suffered and suffered some more so that the Gentiles could get this message of grace. Paul's willingness to endure those hardships for the gospel was part of his defense of his apostleship.
Les teaches that Paul claimed that it was to him and him alone that God revealed the great doctrines of grace. He identifies himself as 'the apostle of the Gentiles' and says 'I magnify my office,' meaning he would never back down from being God's man for the Gentile world.
Should You Eat Meat Offered to Idols? 1 Corinthians 8 Explained
And so when you wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Because the Lord understands where that weak person is, and He understands where the mature person is, and He knows they have the wherewithal to make it a level playing field. Let's go on. Verse 13. Wherefore if meat makes my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh, while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.
The Corinthians as Proof
Paul's favorite defense was that the Corinthian believers, saved out of abject paganism through his preaching, were proof enough that he was an apostle.
Paul's Apostolic Authority
Because the Corinthians were divided over which teacher to follow, Paul had to establish that he was the authority through whom God was speaking to this age of grace.
Not One of the Twelve
Paul's critics said he was an imposter because he had not walked with Jesus for three years, yet Paul insisted, 'I AM an apostle,' and had received revelations.
Jewish Opposition at Corinth
In 1 Corinthians 9, Paul defends his apostleship to carnal believers from idolatrous Corinth, where the Jewish element questioned his credentials.
Apostle of the Gentiles
Paul declares, 'I am the apostle of the Gentiles' and 'I magnify my office,' showing his unique place as God's messenger to the Gentile world.
Apostleship Still Defended
Even today, people refuse to give Paul's apostleship its due, but Romans 11 plainly shows Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles.
Suffering as Evidence
Paul defended his apostleship by pointing to all he had suffered so that the Gentiles could receive the message of grace.
1 Corinthians 9:1: Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?
Paul opens his defense of his apostleship by appealing to what he has seen and to the Corinthians as his work in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 9:2: If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.
This is the verse Les echoes when he says the Corinthians were the proof of Paul's apostleship.
Romans 11:13: For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
Paul states plainly his God-given role as the apostle to the Gentiles, which he magnified in his defense.
1 Corinthians 3:10: According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
Paul presents himself as a wise masterbuilder through God's grace, laying the foundation of the church at Corinth.
In 1 Corinthians 9:2, Paul called the Corinthians themselves 'the seal of mine apostleship.' Les Feldick emphasizes this by saying that because they had been saved out of abject paganism through Paul's preaching, they were proof enough that he was an apostle.
The Jewish element in Corinth said he was an imposter because he had not walked with Jesus for three years like Peter did. He was also seen as a renegade to Judaism because he had turned on his background.
Paul wrote in Romans 11:13, 'I am the apostle of the Gentiles,' and said he magnified his office. Les teaches this meant Paul was God's designated man to take salvation to the Gentiles and he never backed down from that role.
Watch the Teaching: Should You Eat Meat Offered to Idols? 1 Corinthians 8 Explained