“I repeat, let no one think me foolish. But even if you do, accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little. What I am saying with this boastful confidence, I say not as the Lord would but as a fool. Since many boast according to the flesh, I too will boast. For you gladly bear with fools, being wise yourselves! For you bear it if someone makes slaves of you, or devours you, or takes advantage of you, or puts on airs, or strikes you in the face. To my shame, I must say, we were too weak for that!” vs16-21

It's good to boast, if it's to bring others to the Lord… if our boasting is selfless. It's OK to tell others that you have served them. It tugs at their heart and convicts them. Paul uses the good example of his conduct. He uses his sufferings for Christ, which are higher than seminary degrees. He says, Compare my love with theirs. We must out-love our opposition, as well as out teach them. Ours is pure doctrine, even without oratory. Ours is a pure life!

“For you gladly bear with fools, being wise yourselves! For you bear it if someone makes slaves of you, or devours you, or takes advantage of you, or puts on airs, or strikes you in the face.” vs19-20

We are sinners by nature, and we love to be abused! We give up our liberty to become the slaves of men! We give up the sweetness of Christ for people pleasing and bondage, because we will not stand. We'd RATHER TRUST in flesh and blood than walk by faith. We'd rather have a king than the King, our Lord Jesus Christ [1 Sam 8]!

Be liberated from this bondage. Call on Him who gives us life. Take the water of life freely. Be free from your chains. Acceptance with God is the highest privilege. Power over sin is the greatest joy. Serving others in the approval of Christ is the greatest life there is. Leave the false apostles behind. True preachers of God’s grace always set the captives free. We are not after personal attention or praise: we don’t want men trembling before us, even as Peter helped Cornelius up. We want your eyes on Christ, liberated from slavery to serve one true Master.

Those that abuse draw attention to themselves. They take you away from completeness in Christ. They add in extra wisdom or knowledge that makes them special, instead of opening the Scripture plainly [Col 2:3]. It could be knowledge of Hebrew and Greek, just as much as false dreams and revelations. It could be waving seminary degrees in front of you, just as much as waving their jacket to make you fall down. The bottom line to them is that Christ is not enough, the Spirit is not enough, and the word of God is not enough. Once they have you, then you are bound. You must look to them, so you tremble. You must praise them to be accepted. Anyone leading you to themself is false and bondage will result.