Paul defends his apostleship because it was continually challenged by those who questioned his authority and credentials.
Les Feldick teaches that Paul was constantly accused of being an impostor because he had not walked with Jesus during His earthly ministry like Peter, James, and John did. His defense was also necessary because of divisions in churches and because many Jewish believers considered him a renegade. Paul proved his apostleship by pointing to the revelations he received, the believers saved through his preaching, and the suffering he endured for the gospel.
1 Corinthians 9:1 — Paul opens his defense by asking rhetorical questions that affirm his apostleship, freedom, and having seen Jesus Christ the Lord.
1 Corinthians 9:2 — Paul tells the Corinthians they themselves are the seal of his apostleship, proving his calling by their changed lives.
In 1 Corinthians 9:1-2, Paul directly addresses those who doubted him: '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.' Paul is grounding his apostolic identity not in having walked with Jesus during His earthly ministry, but in the resurrected Lord he had seen and in the changed lives of the Corinthians themselves. Paul's declaration in Romans 11:13 further identifies him as the apostle of the Gentiles, the very role that put his apostleship under constant attack.
Les Feldick explains that Paul defended his apostleship in every letter because it was under constant attack. Paul's critics—especially the Jewish element—called him an impostor because he had not walked with Jesus for three years like Peter, James, and John (Clips 1, 2, 7). The Corinthian church also had divisions, with believers aligning themselves with Paul, Apollos, Peter, or even Christ, and this forced Paul to reassert his God-given authority (Clips 4, 5). Paul's strongest defense, Les points out, was the Corinthians themselves: they had been saved out of abject paganism through his preaching, making them the living proof of his apostleship (Clip 3). Paul also pointed to the revelations he had received and the suffering he endured for the gospel (Clips 1, 7). Les also stresses that Paul would still need to defend his apostleship today, because even many conservative believers refuse to give Paul the time of day, despite his being the man God designated to carry salvation to the Gentiles (Clips 1, 6).
According to Les Feldick, Paul was repeatedly accused of being an impostor. Because he had not walked with Jesus during His three years of earthly ministry like Peter, James, and John, the Jewish element in Corinth said, 'Who do you think you are?' (Clips 1, 2). Paul was also viewed as a renegade to Judaism and had to defend his authority to churches divided between followers of Paul, Apollos, Peter, and Christ (Clips 4, 5).
Les Feldick highlights Paul's favorite proof: the Corinthians themselves. They had been saved out of abject paganism as a result of his preaching, so Paul could say they were proof enough that he was an apostle (Clip 3). Paul also rested his defense on the revelations he received from the risen Lord (Clip 1) and on the tremendous suffering he endured so the Gentiles could receive the gospel (Clip 7).
Les teaches that Paul's apostleship remains controversial even today. If Paul were alive now, he would still have to defend his apostleship, because many in conservative Christianity will not give him the time of day (Clip 6). This matters because God designated Paul to take salvation to the Gentiles, and for believers in the age of grace, Paul is the authority through whom God speaks to the whole human race (Clips 1, 4).
Should You Eat Meat Offered to Idols? 1 Corinthians 8 Explained
Verse 10. For if any man see thee, who has knowledge, sitting at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols? And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? Are you going to cause him to stumble? Verse 12.
Paul's Constant Defense
Les shows that Paul had to keep insisting 'I AM an Apostle' because his critics said he was an impostor who had not walked with Jesus like Peter, James, and John.
Corinthian Critics
Les explains that the Jewish element in Corinth accused Paul of being an impostor since he did not spend three years with Jesus of Nazareth, forcing Paul to defend his apostleship.
The Corinthians as Proof
Les highlights Paul's favorite defense: the Corinthians themselves, who had been saved out of abject paganism through Paul's preaching, were living proof of his apostleship.
Authority and Divisions
Les teaches that Paul had to establish the authority connected to his apostleship because of divisions in Corinth and because Jewish people thought he was a renegade to Judaism.
Divisions in the Church
Les notes that Paul defended his apostleship when addressing divisions where believers followed Paul, Apollos, Peter, or even Christ, and he points out Paul went first to the Jew.
Relevance Today
Les says Paul would still have to defend his apostleship today because many people, even in conservative Christianity, refuse to give Paul the time of day.
Suffering as Credential
Les shows that Paul's suffering for the gospel was part of his defense, as he constantly had to prove he was not an upstart but a genuine apostle.
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 with rhetorical questions that directly counter those who denied his apostolic credentials.
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.
Paul tells the Corinthians that their very salvation through his ministry is the seal proving his apostleship.
Romans 11:13: For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
Paul declares his unique role as the apostle to the Gentiles, the role that Les says put him under constant attack.
Les Feldick says Paul's critics pointed out that he had not walked with Jesus during His three years of earthly ministry like Peter, James, and John. The Jewish element in particular thought he was a renegade who had turned on his own background.
According to Les, Paul's favorite proof was the changed lives of believers like the Corinthians, who were saved out of abject paganism through his preaching. Paul also pointed to the revelations he received and the suffering he endured for the gospel.
Les Feldick notes that many people, even among conservative Christianity, still refuse to give Paul the time of day. Because of this, Paul would still be defending his apostleship if he were alive today.
Watch the Teaching: Should You Eat Meat Offered to Idols? 1 Corinthians 8 Explained