Paul defends his apostleship in 2 Corinthians because the Corinthians — especially the Jewish element — accused him of being an imposter who had never walked with Jesus of Nazareth for three years the way Peter had.
Les Feldick explains that Paul had to defend his apostleship throughout all his letters because his critics constantly charged him with being a fake and a heretic. Since he had not spent three years with Jesus as Peter, James, and John had, the Corinthians dismissed his authority. Paul had to keep insisting that he was an apostle, and he pointed to the Corinthians themselves — saved out of paganism through his preaching — as the proof of his apostleship. Les also notes that Paul was viewed as a renegade to Judaism and that even today many people refuse to give Paul the time of day.
2 Corinthians 11:4 — Les points to this exact 2 Corinthians passage where Paul warns against those who preach 'another Jesus' — the setting of his apostolic defense.
1 Corinthians 9:2 — Paul declares the Corinthians themselves to be 'the seal of mine apostleship' — his direct answer to those who questioned him.
1 Corinthians 3:10 — Paul describes his God-given role as 'a wise masterbuilder' who laid the foundation, showing the apostolic authority he defends.
Romans 11:13 — Paul calls himself 'the apostle of the Gentiles,' the office that stood behind his authority.
Scripture shows Paul defending his apostleship plainly. In 1 Corinthians 9:2, Paul asserts: '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 themselves were the seal of Paul's apostleship. In 1 Corinthians 3:10, he describes his unique foundational role: '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.' In Romans 11:13, Paul states his apostolic commission to the Gentiles: 'For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office.' In 2 Corinthians 11:4, Paul warns the Corinthians: 'For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.'
Les Feldick stresses that Paul had to defend his apostleship in all his letters, and the reason is the constant accusation that he was an imposter. Les says that especially the Jewish element in Corinth said, 'Who do you think you are? You're just an imposter. You didn't walk with Jesus of Nazareth. You didn't spend three years with Him like Peter did.' People accused Paul of heresy and imposture because he had not walked with the Lord Jesus those three years as Peter, James, and John had. Les also ties the defense to the divisions in the Corinthian church. Some said 'we follow Paul,' others 'we follow Apollos,' others 'we follow Peter,' and some even went so far as to say they followed Christ. Those who favored Peter argued that Peter was the one with authority because he walked with Jesus for three years. So Paul constantly had to come back and say, 'But I AM an Apostle. I AM the one who has received all these revelations.' Les says Paul would still be defending his apostleship today because many, even among conservative Christians, will not give Paul the time of day. And Les emphasizes the proof Paul offered: the Corinthians themselves, saved out of abject paganism as a result of his preaching, were proof enough that he was an apostle. Paul also had to establish his authority especially to Jewish people, who thought he was a renegade to Judaism.
Paul was called a fake and an imposter. Les explains that especially the Jewish element in Corinth asked, 'Who do you think you are? You're just an imposter. You didn't walk with Jesus of Nazareth. You didn't spend three years with Him like Peter did.' His critics said, 'Peter is the one who has the authority. He walked with Jesus for three years. You didn't.' Paul was also accused of heresy and was seen as a renegade to Judaism who had turned on his background.
The Corinthian church was torn by divisions — 'some said, oh we follow Paul, some say we follow Apollos, and others said, no we're going to follow Peter, and some even went so far as to say in chapter 1 that they followed Christ.' Each faction had its preferred teacher, and those who favored Peter dismissed Paul as 'just a fake' and an imposter. Les notes that this is why the first thing Paul had to establish was the authority connected to his apostleship.
Les says one of Paul's favorite statements was, 'You Corinthians are the proof of my apostleship.' Having been saved out of abject paganism as a result of his preaching, the Corinthians were proof enough that he was an apostle. Paul also constantly came back and said, 'But I AM an Apostle. I AM the one who has received all these revelations.' Scripture confirms this in 1 Corinthians 9:2, where Paul says the Corinthians are 'the seal of mine apostleship.'
In 2 Corinthians 11:4, Paul says, '...if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus.' Les explains that Paul is talking about something other than the One who died for the sins of the world and rose in power and glory from the dead. This is the 2 Corinthians passage Les highlights as Paul confronts those who would lead the Corinthians astray from the gospel he preached.
Les says, 'If Paul were alive today, he would still have to be doing it. Because, you see, there are so many, even amongst rather conservative Christianity, that won't give Paul the time of day.' He also hears believers today saying, 'I don't care what Paul says. I'm going to do what Jesus said' — the same attitude Paul faced at Corinth.
Warning Against Another Jesus
In this 2 Corinthians 11 passage, Les points to Paul's warning about a Jesus other than the One who died for sins and rose from the dead — the kind of false teaching Paul confronted.
The Imposter Accusation
Les explains that the Jewish element in Corinth called Paul an imposter because he did not walk with Jesus of Nazareth or spend three years with Him like Peter did — the core reason Paul defends his apostleship.
Accused of Heresy and Imposture
Les says Paul was accused of heresy and imposture because he did not walk with the Lord Jesus for three years like Peter, James, and John, forcing Paul to insist, 'But I AM an Apostle.'
Divisions in the Corinthian Church
Les shows that the Corinthians were divided behind Paul, Apollos, Peter, and even Christ, and that Paul had to defend his apostleship as he addressed these divisions.
Still Defended Today
Les says if Paul were alive today, he would still be defending his apostleship because many, even among conservative Christians, refuse to give Paul the time of day.
The Authority of His Apostleship
Les explains that the first thing Paul had to establish was the authority of his apostleship — especially to Jewish people who thought he was a renegade to Judaism.
The Corinthians as Proof
Les points out that Paul's favorite answer to his critics was that the Corinthians themselves were the proof of his apostleship, having been saved out of paganism through his preaching.
Peter vs. Paul
Les shows how Paul's opponents said Peter was the one with authority because he walked with Jesus for three years, calling Paul a fake and an imposter.
2 Corinthians 11:4: For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
This is the exact passage Les begins with in his 2 Corinthians teaching — Paul warning about those who preach another Jesus.
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 they themselves are the seal and proof of his apostleship — the proof Les highlights.
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 describes his unique God-given role as the masterbuilder who laid the foundation, which Les cites as plain language of his apostolic authority.
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 office as apostle of the Gentiles — the authority behind his defense.
Les explains that especially the Jewish element in Corinth said Paul was just an imposter because he didn't walk with Jesus of Nazareth or spend three years with Him like Peter did. Because he had not been with Jesus during His earthly ministry, many refused to give Paul the same authority as Peter.
Paul keeps insisting, 'But I AM an Apostle. I AM the one who has received all these revelations.' Les also points out that Paul's favorite argument was to say to the Corinthians, 'You are the proof of my apostleship,' because they had been saved out of paganism through his preaching.
Some Corinthians said, 'No, we listen to Peter,' and dismissed Paul as a fake and an imposter, reasoning that Peter was the one with authority because he walked with Jesus for three years. Others followed Paul, some Apollos, and some even Christ, and Paul had to address these divisions.
Les says if Paul were alive today, he would still have to defend his apostleship, because there are so many, even among conservative Christians, who won't give Paul the time of day. He also notes that people today still say, 'I don't care what Paul says; I'm going to do what Jesus said.'
Watch the Teaching: Why Paul Warned About "Another Jesus" — 2 Corinthians 11:4