2 Corinthians 12:19 Commentary and Bible Study

Another misunderstanding that they might have, hearing him speak in this way, was to think that Paul was first of all anxious about what the Corinthians thought of him, that he was simply defending himself. If someone is more concerned about how men think of him than of how God thinks of him, he has made himself a prisoner to human opinion and human judgment. But human judgement can be flawed, and the minister of God needs to be supremely indifferent to what men think, especially when it conflicts with God’s judgment. How else will he be able to continue with a course of action that is right, but which is most unpopular. If a parent only disciplined a child when the child agreed that discipline was necessary, the parent’s hands would be hopelessly tied. The minister should be indifferent, not in the sense that he cares nothing about what judgments others make, but in the sense that their judgments only bind him if they are in agreement with the word of God. Of course, he wants other to learn to make good and sound judgments and he will teach them to that end. But the only safe way to proceed is to look first to God and each Christian to be deeply concerned to do what is right by him. Having done that, if others condemn him, he is immune to their condemnation, but if they agree he will welcome their judgment. Paul was not anxious about the approval of the Corinthians as if he needed it to continue. It was enough for him that God approved of the course he had taken. He was completely free from their approval or disapproval in a sense, and that made him well placed to teach them, to edify them according to their need, whether they understood his instruction and correction or not. That was the principle on which the apostle and all working with him proceeded.