From the Pulpit...

Paul wraps up the defense he has been offering, in which we see that Paul is not merely defending himself as if he is irked that his name has been run through the mud. His personal reputation is by far secondary to the apostolic office invested in him by Jesus Christ and the gospel message that comes with it. His defense is of the Lord’s work in and through him. He has made his whole appeal to the church “before God” and “in Christ” with the purpose to build them up. And even though Paul was an apostle, he was willing to sacrifice himself for the spiritual benefit of the Corinthians.