2 Corinthians 11:9–10

From verses 6 to 9 we gather that people had belittled the Apostle. They did so partly because his speech was not polished, and partly because he had taken no money from the Corinthians while he was among them. When he refers to this, his language carries a touch of irony. He had humbled himself to lift them up. Was this an offence, a sin? He had accepted help from other churches, especially those in Macedonia. He calls this robbing, or plundering, them — again the language of irony, of course. He had done the Corinthians the greatest possible service, and it cost them nothing.

Paul knew the natural temper of the people he is now addressing. He did not want to stir up feelings among them that might work against the free course of the gospel. So he had allowed an undue pressure on the grace of other saints. These Corinthians, who acted like kings, now have a low place to fill. They found themselves shut out of the honour of supporting the apostle, and that must have been a bitter but healthy blow to their pride... If he came to them, he came at no expense to them. While among them, though he was in need, he would not tell them about his needs. He would live at the cost of others instead — people who could better appreciate his grace.

Later he was at the wealthy city of Corinth, far south of Macedonia, and in real need. It was saints from Macedonia who met that shortage: no doubt saints from Philippi, and perhaps also from Thessalonica and Berea.

The apostle was ready to preach the gospel everywhere at his own cost. In some places he felt free and happy to receive, not only from people but from churches, going on with God in grace and humility. Where the world's spirit ruled, he held back and would take nothing... From the poor Macedonian brothers he received; from the wealthy Corinthians nothing.

The apostle was called in an extraordinary way, and it was fitting that he should act in extraordinary grace. This is what he does. He made the gospel without cost to others, at all cost to himself. He did not use his right to a support for himself... It is the giving up of one's right for special reasons of grace.

We are meant to see how fitting this was in wealthy, trading Corinth. He would not have them think of the gospel as one of the goods they traded in. Money could not buy the priceless gift of God. They should not be able to think, even for a moment, that he was after anything of theirs. No, he sought only the people themselves. He sought them in the love of Christ, who was so rich, yet became poor for men, so that His poverty might make them rich.

It was his boast that he took nothing from them, since the brothers in Macedonia had supplied his needs... But why? Because he did not love them? God was his witness that this was not the case. It was to take away from these false teachers their boast of preaching for nothing. Then they could not say, "We work free of charge while the apostle receives money for his services."

"As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be silenced in the regions of Achaia." This aim matters so much to him that he stakes his faith on his resolve. Nor would he limit his purpose to the walls of Corinth. If there were other churches in Achaia, they must accept the same exemption for their sakes. His boast should be that they were his debtors right to the end. They would then be their own judges. Others might ask them, or they might ask themselves, how they had repaid the man who first brought them the good news of the grace of God.

The apostle was ready to preach the gospel everywhere, at any cost to himself. In some places he felt free and happy to receive support, not only from people but from assemblies walking with God in grace and humility. Where the world's spirit ruled, he held back and would take nothing. The general principle stayed in force: "the laborer deserves his wages." The Lord has commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel. The apostle laid down what is right. But in grace he could go beyond it, and he did — not using it for himself but for Christ, wherever His glory called for it. From the poor Macedonian believers he received; from the wealthy Corinthians nothing.

He states his rights only so that he may give them up. Many quote his words only so that they may insist on the very rights he gave up for the gospel's sake. There would be no grace, no moral beauty, in letting go of privileges you never had a right to. But once the right is clearly established, the grace that lets it go shows in full.

The resolve at the close of this passage sounds stern. At first it may seem out of keeping with the warm language of his love elsewhere in the letter. But there is no real contradiction; it was necessary, for love's very sake, to form the decision and hold to it. The enemies of truth had questioned whether his hands were clean, and whether his apostolic mission was valid. Corinthian believers had listened to the slander.

God knew that this was not because of any lack of love to them; in fact love was in it more than they realised.

His true motive he explains. What he does now, he will keep doing. In that way he cuts off the opening from those who want one, so that in the very thing they boast about, they may be found to be just like us. It is a cheap boast, where men have plenty and need no self-denying devotedness. Such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.