Super or Obedient?

When we read about the Apostle Paul, or any heroes of the faith in scripture, it can be very easy to imagine them as being capable of things that we are not. What is it about Paul or others in scripture that we admire or should aspire to?

I was reading for one of my seminary classes, and something stood out to me in Paul’s story and his second letter to the Corinthians. In 2 Corinthians, Paul mentions a group of people called “the Super-Apostles.” I thought to myself, if anyone, wouldn’t Paul be considered the “super-apostle?” Just look at his life and all that was accomplished through him. Paul is writing to the Corinthians in reference to a group of false teachers who were taking on the title of “Super-Apostle.” The congregation was comparing Paul to this group of individuals. In 2 Corinthians 11:5-6, Paul writes, “I do not think I am in the least inferior to those ‘super-apostles.’ I may indeed be untrained as a speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way.” These Super-Apostles were well-trained and elegant speakers. They knew the rules of the trade and could captivate an audience. Paul readily admits he does not have their training.

What does this mean for Paul? What does this mean for us? While Paul may not have been a trained speaker, he was filled by the Holy Spirit and spoke the truth of who Jesus is. That is all the equipping that was necessary for the task God had for Paul. Paul was called to share the Gospel. We too are called to do the same in our lives. There are times I have questioned my ability. We are not “super-apostles,” nor should we be. Like Paul, when Jesus is Lord of our life, we are filled with the Holy Spirit and fall under the same Great Commission of sharing the truth of Jesus to the ends of the earth. We see in Paul that sharing the Gospel does not require exceptional talent but obedient servants of the Lord who are always ready to share the reason for the hope that they have.