Yes, Paul means he is not inferior to the leading apostles like Peter, James, and John, especially in his role as the apostle to the Gentiles.
Paul, under the Holy Spirit's inspiration, asserts his equal or greater standing among the apostles, despite not walking with Jesus during His earthly ministry. Les Feldick emphasizes that Paul received further revelations and became the primary apostle for the dispensation of grace, making him not one whit behind the chiefest apostles.
2 Corinthians 12:11 — Directly contains the phrase 'not behind the very chiefest apostles' and shows Paul's glorying in his apostolic authority.
In 2 Corinthians 11:5, Paul writes, 'For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.' He repeats this in 2 Corinthians 12:11, 'for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.' These statements show Paul's confidence that his apostleship is in no way inferior to that of Peter, James, and John, the leading apostles in Jerusalem.
Les Feldick explains that Paul's statement is not pride but a Spirit-inspired defense of his unique apostleship. Les emphasizes that Paul, though not one of the twelve, was God's chosen vessel to reveal the mysteries of grace. He uses an analogy of a last will to show that later revelations (Paul's) supersede earlier ones. Paul is the primary apostle for the Church Age, and his authority is not behind Peter's or the others. Les also notes that Paul constantly defends his apostleship because critics accused him of being an imposter, since he hadn't walked with Christ like the twelve did.
Les explains that Paul's apostleship was questioned because he did not walk with Jesus during His earthly ministry like Peter, James, and John did. People accused him of being an imposter and a heretic, so Paul repeatedly had to defend his divine appointment and the revelations he received.
Les clarifies that Paul had no connection to the twelve apostles, and he was not meant to fill Judas' place. Paul was a separate apostle, uniquely called to be the apostle to the Gentiles, and he received the revelations of grace that were not given to the twelve.
Paul's Later Revelations
Les uses a will analogy to show that Paul's later revelations give him primary authority, even though he didn't walk with Christ like the original apostles.
Repeated Assertion
Les highlights that Paul repeats his claim of not being behind the chiefest apostles, showing the importance of this point.
Spirit-Inspired Statement
Les emphasizes that Paul's statement is not personal pride but inspired by the Holy Spirit, and that Paul doesn't let Peter have any advantage.
Unique Apostle to Gentiles
Les stresses that Paul alone received the doctrines of grace and was the apostle to the Gentiles, making him unique among the apostles.
God Accepts No Man's Person
Les explains that in God's view, Peter was no greater than Paul, and their former authority was slipping away as Paul took prominence.
Defense Against Critics
Les shows why Paul constantly defended his apostleship—because he didn't walk with Christ, yet he was God's designated apostle.
Why Paul Was Never One of the Twelve — Acts 9 Explained
Now the other thing I always like to point out here is that Saul, or Paul as we'll now know him as the Apostle, had absolutely no connection whatsoever with the twelve. I know a lot of theologians over the years have thought that Peter was remiss, and he got in a hurry, and he shouldn't have let Matthias take that place that Judas left, but he should have waited for Paul.
Why Paul's Letters Are the Most Neglected in the Bible
You got the picture? I'm seeing heads nodding, and that always tickles me. So this is what he means when he says, I am as one who was born before the due time. Because the nation of Israel is still going to experience what Paul experienced, but he's the sampling that came these 1900 and some years ahead of it. Alright, that isn't what I intended to tell you. Verse 9 is where I wanted you to see.
2 Corinthians 11:5: For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.
Paul's direct claim of equality with the leading apostles.
2 Corinthians 12:11: 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.
Paul repeats his assertion, emphasizing he is not inferior while acknowledging his own humility.
Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, defended His apostolic authority against critics who doubted him because he hadn't walked with Jesus. He asserted that he was in no way inferior to Peter, James, and John, as he had received unique revelations of grace.
The chiefest apostles were the leading apostles of the early church, notably Peter, James, and John, who had walked with Jesus during His earthly ministry. Paul affirms he was not behind them in authority or revelation.
Watch the Teaching: Caught Up to the Third Heaven — 2 Corinthians 12 Explained