Kress Biblical Resources :: Christ-Sufficient Authority Will, When Necessary, Speak in Self-Defense (Boast) for the Sake of the Gospel and Those under Its Care (2Co 10:7-18; 11; 2Co 12:1-13)

Detailed Outline of 2 Corinthians

Defending the New Covenant Gospel Ministry of Grace and the Sufficiency of Christ

IV. God-Ordained authority and the sufficiency of Christ (2Co 10; 11; 12; 13:1-10)

2. Christ-Sufficient authority will, when necessary, speak in self-defense (boast) for the sake of the Gospel and those under its care (2Co 10:7-18; 11; 2Co 12:1-13)
   1. Boasting in Christ-Sufficient authority—not self-acclamation (2Co 10:7-18)
      1. The proper perspective on authority (2Co 10:7-11)
         1. Do not rely on a superficial/external perspective of authority (2Co 10:7a)
         2. Determine to assess authority with a spiritual perspective (2Co 10:7b-11)
            1. Spiritual authority necessitates salvation in Christ (2Co 10:7b)
            2. Spiritual authority is exercised for edification—even when it involves self-defense (2Co 10:8-11)
               • The summary—self-defense is necessary if it builds other believers up in the faith (2Co 10:8)
               • The specific accusation—his writing is powerful, but his personal presence is insignificant (2Co 10:9-10)
               • The solemn truth—actions confirm character and words written in letters (2Co 10:11)
      2. The proper practice of authority (2Co 10:12-18)
         1. It does not constantly compare itself to others (2Co 10:12)
         2. It does not constantly seek to extend its authority beyond its God-assigned sphere of influence (2Co 10:13-14)
            1. The testimony (2Co 10:13)
            2. The witnesses—the Corinthian Church itself (2Co 10:14)
         3. It does not credit itself for the accomplishments of others (2Co 10:15-16)
            1. The declaration (2Co 10:15a)
            2. The desire—Corinthians encouragement and support to properly extend their God-given ministry authority (2Co 10:15b-16)
         4. It does consistently concern itself with honoring the Lord and desires the approval of the Lord (2Co 10:17-18)
            1. The proper perspective on boasting and ministry (2Co 10:17)
            2. The proper perspective on commendation in ministry (2Co 10:18)
   2. Boasting in Christ-Sufficient ministry support (2Co 11:1-15)
      1. The biblical concern for the gospel and God’s people (2Co 11:1-4)
         1. Holy sarcasm about wisdom and folly (2Co 11:1)
         2. Holy jealousy over Christ and His Bride (2Co 11:2)
         3. Honest concerns about satanic deception and tolerating false teaching and teachers (2Co 11:3-4)
            1. Satanic deception of targets thinking (2Co 11:3a)
            2. Satanic deception seeks to lead people astray from the simplicity of devotion to Christ (2Co 11:3b)
            3. Sanctioning false teaching and false teachers [by allowing it/them to go unchallenged] is true foolishness (2Co 11:4)
      2. The boasting necessary to rebuke the enemies of a Christ-Sufficient approach to ministry support (2Co 11:5-15)
         1. A necessary boast/defense of ministry authority (2Co 11:5-6)
            1. The self-assessment given—not inferior in authority to the self-proclaimed “super-apostles” (2Co 11:5)
            2. The self-evident proof manifested—irrefutable fruit of ministry (2Co 11:6)
         2. A necessary boast/defense of waiving direct ministry support (2Co 11:7-12)
            1. Offering the gospel without charge—is that a sin? (2Co 11:7)
            2. Other churches supported the missionary effort (2Co 11:8-9)
            3. Others who want to compete for ministry authority will not silence this boast (2Co 11:10-12)
               • Waiving direct support will continue in Achaia (2Co 11:10)
               • Why?—because I love you (2Co 11:11)
               • Why?—to give no opportunity to those who desire an opportunity to exalt themselves by comparing ministries (2Co 11:12)
         3. A necessary denunciation of those who oppose Christ’s sufficiency in regard to ministry authority and support (2Co 11:13-15)
            1. Such men are false apostles (2Co 11:13)
            2. Satan disguises himself as a messenger of truth (2Co 11:14)
            3. Such men are Satan’s servants and will be judged according to their deeds (2Co 11:15)
   3. Boasting in Christ-Sufficient service (2Co 11:16-33)
      1. Boasting rebuked and yet required (2Co 11:16-21)
         1. Asking for forbearance concerning the foolishness to follow (2Co 11:16)
         2. Acknowledging that Jesus did not boast (2Co 11:17)
         3. Answering a fool according to his folly (2Co 11:18)
         4. Asserting the foolishness of embracing the arguments of those who oppose Christ-Sufficient ministry (2Co 11:19-20)
            1. The folly of seeing yourself as wise in your tolerance (2Co 11:19)
            2. The folly of submitting to legalism and authoritarian exploitation (2Co 11:20)
         5. Acknowledging the wisdom of weakness and assuming the argument of the foolish—for the sake of the gospel (2Co 11:21)
      2. Boasting required for the sake of the gospel and the good of God’s people (2Co 11:22-33)
         1. The ethnic issue addressed (2Co 11:22)
         2. The evidence of being a servant of Christ detailed (2Co 11:23-33)
            1. The insane comparison via holy sarcasm (2Co 11:23a)
            2. The introductory evidence summarized (2Co 11:23b)
            3. The irrefutable evidence of service to Christ detailed (2Co 11:24-29)
               • Many beatings (2Co 11:24-25a)
               • Many dangers nearing death (2Co 11:25b-26)
               • Many hardships (2Co 11:27)
               • Many pastoral concerns (2Co 11:28-29)
            4. The insufficiency of self and the sufficiency of Christ (2Co 11:30-33)
               • The weakness of self (2Co 11:30)
               • The witness of God (2Co 11:31)
               • The watch in Damascus (2Co 11:32)
               • The window in the wall and the escape from Damascus (2Co 11:33)
   4. Boasting in Christ-Sufficient gifting and power (2Co 12:1-13)
      1. The required boasting continued (2Co 12:1a)
      2. The revelation of God experienced (2Co 12:1b-6)
         1. Divine revelation introduced (2Co 12:1b)
         2. Dispatched to the third heaven (2Co 12:2-4a)
            1. Who—a man Paul knew (2Co 12:2a, 3a)
            2. When—fourteen years ago (2Co 12:2b)
            3. How—I don’t know (2Co 12:2c, 3b)
            4. Where—the third heaven/paradise (2Co 12:2d, 4a)
         3. Disallowed to repeat the specifics of the revelation (2Co 12:4)
         4. Determined to boast in weakness rather than wonders (2Co 12:5-6)
            1. The rhetorical device used
            2. The reason for the rhetorical device
      3. The reward of the exceeding revelations and exceptional gifting from God explained—a thorn in the flesh for the sake of humility (2Co 12:7-10)
         1. Privilege may necessitate painful trials (2Co 12:7)
         2. Prayer may not always receive what is specifically requested (2Co 12:8)
         3. Power from God is perfected in weakness (2Co 12:9-10)
            1. Christ’s power in our weakness (2Co 12:9)
            2. Contentment in Christ in our weakness (2Co 12:10)
      4. The response to Christ-affirmed authority solicited (2Co 12:11-13)
         1. Commendation rather than compelling the foolishness of boasting (2Co 12:11)
         2. Confidence and celebration rather than consternation and questioning (2Co 12:12-13)
            1. The proofs of a true Apostle (2Co 12:12)
            2. The privilege of being led by a true Apostle—without any financial burden (2Co 12:13)