The Tactics of the "Super-Apostles"

Who is Sufficient for These Things? Part 4

A Series on Our Attitude Toward Serving God - Servanthood - and Personal Growth

The Super-Apostles: Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing

(Check out the rest of the series. You can find the series index here)

Primary Series Passage

“For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?“ — 2 Corinthians 2:15-16 (ESV)

In our last post, we looked at the chaos and spiritual immaturity that plagued the Corinthian church. Yet, as dark as that situation was, a more sinister threat had crept in. A group of arrogant men had arrived, attempting to steal the hearts of the people by claiming eminent authority and tearing down the Apostle Paul’s foundational ministry.

Pau’s Sarcastic Label

Paul used a term laced with heavy sarcasm to describe his opponents: he called them “super-apostles”. They may have considered themselves “super” or “above” everyone else, but in the eyes of Paul, they were dangerous frauds.

In reality, Paul warned the church that these men were “false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:13).

Paul’s greatest fear was that the Corinthian believers were being led astray by a counterfeit message that would corrupt their pure devotion to Christ.

These false teachers were proclaiming “another Jesus... a different spirit... a different gospel”.

How did these “super-apostles” operate, and what were their chief characteristics? Paul exposes their tactics clearly:

• They used earthly wisdom: Instead of relying on the grace of God; they built their ministries on the philosophies and wisdom of the world.

• They were preachers for hire: Paul called them “peddlers of God’s word”. They were spiritual hucksters who sold the Word of God to the highest bidder for personal profit.

• They used false credentials: Because they had no true spiritual authority; they brought forged letters of commendation to gain entrance into the community and deceive the people.

• They elevated themselves by crushing others: They constantly boasted about their own accomplishments while viciously condemning Paul’s ministry.

• They attacked Paul’s physical presence: To destroy the church’s confidence; they claimed Paul’s bodily presence was weak and his speaking abilities were of no account.

• They were slick performers with no power: They were highly skilled in the philosophical speaking styles prized by the Greeks, yet their arguments contained no true spiritual power.

These men claimed to be the most eminent and celebrated of all leaders. Yet, they were merely servants of Satan, disguising themselves as servants of righteousness to build their own empires.

This is exactly why Paul wrote so passionately. The authentic gospel was at stake.

Have you ever know someone that claimed to be a servant of Christ, yet, in fact, they exhibited the characteristics of a “Super-Apostle”?

Reference Scriptures for Further Study:

• The danger of false shepherds and deceitful teachers is a consistent theme throughout Scripture. For further study on Old Testament warnings against leaders who scatter the flock and feed themselves rather than the sheep, see the prophetic indictments in Ezekiel 34:1-10, Jeremiah 2:8, Jeremiah 10:21, and Jeremiah 23:1-2. For the Apostle Paul’s warnings to other churches regarding false teachers and spiritual wolves, see his tearful address to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:28-31, his fierce defense against a distorted gospel in Galatians 1:6-10, his warnings about teachers seeking “shameful gain” in Titus 1:10-11, and his prophetic caution about people accumulating teachers to suit their own passions in 2 Timothy 4:3-4

Reflection Questions:

1. Personal Assessment: Are we drawn to modern “super-apostles” who rely on slick presentation and worldly wisdom, or do we value genuine spiritual power and biblical truth?

2. Spiritual Application: How can a church guard itself against spiritual “hucksters” who attempt to peddle God’s Word for shameful gain and personal profit?

Next Time: How do we tell the difference between a true shepherd and a false apostle? In Part 5, we will begin looking at the proofs of a sincere servant’s heart, starting with Proof #1: Integrity and Character.

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