In this episode of Wednesday in the Word, Krisan Marotta examines how the Apostle Paul defends his ministry against critics who judge him by outward appearance rather than by the message he proclaims. Paul insists that true transformation comes from God’s work in the heart, not from impressive credentials or presentation. Through this passage, Paul calls the Corinthians—and us—to see others through the lens of the gospel, not worldly standards.



In this week’s episode, we explore:




* Why Paul refuses to judge others “according to the flesh”



* What Paul means by being “beside himself” and “of sound mind”



* How the love of Christ shapes Paul’s ministry and message



* What it means to be a new creation in Christ



* The meaning of the ministry of reconciliation



* Why Paul calls himself an ambassador for Christ



* How Paul explains the gospel through the exchange of sin and righteousness




By listening, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of how Paul frames gospel ministry—not as self-promotion, but as a calling shaped by God’s grace and Christ’s love. This episode encourages us to reevaluate how we view others, how we assess ourselves, and how we respond to the gospel’s call to be reconciled to God.







New Creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:12-21)



Paul addresses criticism from the Corinthian church and explains the theological foundation and personal motivations behind his work. His message clarifies both the role of an apostle and the purpose of the gospel.



Review 2 Corinthians so far




* When Paul speaks in the plural (“we”), he usually means only himself.



* Paul has a difficult relationship with this church. Some in the church respect and accept him. But others in the church have rejected his authority as an apostle.



* He repeatedly emphasizes three themes:

* Paul is not adequate to produce the results that his ministry has been producing.



* Paul speaks with openness and integrity. Paul is not a salesman. His goal is NOT to manipulate you into buying the gospel.



* The gospel is superior to the Old Covenant because through His spirit, God is transforming his people.






Motivated by the Love of Christ




* Paul does not fear what men can do to him or what they think of him. He fears God.



* When trying to decide how to conduct himself or proclaim the gospel, his only concern to please God.



* Paul's intent in defending his ministry is to help them see him from the right perspective.



* When they think about how Paul treated them, it should  make them proud of the way Paul acted. 



* Paul reminds them what's true so they have an answer for his critics.




A New Way of Seeing




* Paul's critics judge him by externals like his appearance, presentation, and eloquence. They find him unimpressive as a speaker and a person.



* Paul urges the Corinthians to judge him instead by his motives and his actions.



* Whatever external thing caused them to call him crazy, Paul's commitment to following God was behind it. 




The New Creation




* Paul reminds them his actions are controlled, constrained, determined by his understanding of the love of Christ.