2 Corinthians 11:5-6 I do not think I am in the least inferior to those “super-apostles.” 6 I may indeed be untrained as a speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way.
We get more of a glimpse into what may have been the problem in Corinth. Paul gives a label to the false teachers who were teaching a different version of the gospel and causing problems in the church, calling them “super-apostles.” There is no way to know the identity of these people, although the ideas and theories are many. We can consider the words themselves. There are two meanings to “apostle.” In its broadest definition, it refers simply to someone who is “sent out.” It could mean what we might call today “missionary.” These would be people who traveled around preaching the gospel. Then it has a narrower meaning of the special group of people who knew Jesus and were sent by him directly. This would include the twelve apostles and a few others so-named in Acts, such as Barnabas. Sometimes the word has a combination of these two meanings and refers to those with special authority and position in the early church, the key leaders who were commissioned to spread the gospel as leaders in foreign lands.
These opponents in Corinth had come with some type of authority that the Corinthians recognized. Paul adds the label “super” alluding to a claim of superiority or he could be setting them up on a pedestal only to knock it down. They could have come from Jerusalem, Antioch, or some other center of Christianity. Paul had to deal with people who claimed authority but were stuck in Judaism and legalism. We have to be careful not to force this letter into some theory but yet still recognize the key issues that are going on here.
It is possible that the accusation they are giving against Paul shows up in v. 6. They say that he is not a good speaker. This has led interpreters to the idea that these people attracted attention by their speaking ability. Public speaking was a form of entertainment in that day (much like TV and the movies are today). People were attracted to good speakers who would speak in public places. In the book of Acts, Paul was a good enough speaker to attract crowds and debate with knowledgeable people, so I am a bit suspicious of the claim of the opponents here.
No matter the voice or ability of Paul to speak publicly, he had knowledge, especially of the Scriptures and theology. This is evident from his letters, which contain fine arguments and carefully developed theology. He will show that what matters is not one’s human abilities, but if God’s grace is evident and at work in a person who is obedience to God’s calling. If one changes the rules of the game, from human ability to divine grace, Paul comes out the winner. He is arguing his case here not for his own purposes but to help the Corinthians focus upon the truth of the gospel.
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