Paul then goes on to add some other characteristics of his character. He notes “truthful speech,” “the power of God,” and “weapons of righteousness.” When he talks about God’s power, he is saying the same sort of thing that he discusses at greater length in the first letter, starting in the second half of 1 Corinthians 1 and continuing into chapter 2. When Paul came to the church the first time, he did not come with the polish and sophistication of the Greek orators. Rather he came in “fear” and “trembling” because he knew that he was preaching to the Corinthians the revelation of divine truth that was marked by the power of God. Paul came as one whose life has been touched by the Lord and given evidence of the presence of God in how he thinks and acts.
We look at all these things and we ask, “Are they characteristic of me?” Most of us probably have not experienced some of the items found in the first portion, such as beatings, imprisonments, and riots. But perhaps we can identify with some form of troubles or hardships, requiring us to develop endurance. And what about the virtues found in the second group: purity, understanding, patience, kindness, love, truth, and righteousness? All of these things should be present in great abundance in every single Christian and certainly in the ministers of God. When we look at that list we have a way by which we can evaluate our own conduct.
The third category are those things that have to do with the way Paul was received. There are four of them, set in pairs of two: glory/dishonor and bad report/good report. The word “glory” is the word doxa and it initially meant “to have a good opinion of someone.” Another way we could translate it in this verse is “praise,” which could then lead us to render the second word as “dishonor” or also “criticism.” Whether Paul was being praised or criticized, he conducted himself and his ministry as a servant of God. If he was praised, the glory belonged to the Lord. If he was criticized, he would receive it by trying to understand what might be true in the criticism and, if necessary, make corrections.
The second pair contrasts two different kinds of reports. The way I would distinguish between those two sets of things is that the first combination was to Paul directly, while the second was behind his back. There are people who will not say anything to your face, but will say things about you when you are not around and which you later find out about. That happened to Paul, and when it did he tried to conduct himself above reproach in these circumstances.
The last category he talks about is the things that are seen versus what are not seen. If you take all the negatives here and put them together, you really have the way in which Paul must have appeared to those in the Gentile communities to whom he came to minister. Look at the words he uses to describe how he and the other apostles were viewed: “imposters,” “unknown,” “dying,” “beaten,” “sorrowful,” “poor,” and “having nothing.” That is how the world regarded this great servant of the Lord Jesus Christ!
