If you were applying for a job pastoring a church, what would you put on your resume? Your preaching skills? Your Biblical knowledge? Your counseling experience? Your history of involvement in projects like soup kitchens or Habitat for Humanity? Paul doesn’t mention any of these things.

He doesn’t even boast in his impeccable Jewish pedigree (he was from the tribe of Benjamin, a fact that he mentions in Philippians 3:5), or the fact that he had studied with the famous rabbi Gamaliel (he drops this name in Acts 22:3). These were the sorts of details that Christians of Jewish descent would find most impressive, but Paul refuses to brag about them here.

In fact, Paul doesn’t want to boast about his pastoral credentials at all – in 11:21 he indicates that such boasting is foolishness. In 11:23, he goes so far as to say it’s actually insane to compare himself to some other people who had come to Corinth, calling themselves apostles. In fact, the only reason Paul is willing to talk about himself is in order to help the Corinthians understand the true qualifications of an apostle, one who has been sent to bear witness to Christ and to His gospel.

So, what does Paul think is the most important attribute for such a witness to Christ? Sharing in the sufferings of Christ. But why would that matter so much?

In the first place, Paul’s willingness to be beaten and stoned rather than deny the truth of Christ’s death and resurrection was a sure-fire measure of his sincerity. No one would endure such abuse for something he knew to be a lie. Paul’s scars thus proved that he was no snake-oil salesman – what he preached is what he believed.

But his sufferings also went a long way to prove how much he cared about the Corinthians, and indeed about the other people to whom he carried the gospel. Why would Paul put himself through such labor and hardship, why would he be so concerned about the problems and sins of his people unless he truly loved them?

But the last reason may be the most important – Paul valued his sufferings precisely because they indicated his weakness so clearly. He was no superman, no hero – but he did preach about One Who is. Paul was thus happy to appear weak so that the strength of Christ could be seen more clearly. He wanted the people who listen to his preaching not to be impressed with him, but to be impressed with Christ.

So, what kind of pastor should we all want? And what kind of witness to Christ should we all seek to be? One who believes the truth with all his heart, one who loves other Christians with all his heart, and one who is willing to risk it all so that Christ might receive all the glory for everything he does. What better credentials could any of us desire?

II Corinthians 11:21-30 (NASB)

21 To my shame I must say that we have been weak by comparison. But in whatever respect anyone else is bold (I speak in foolishness), I am just as bold myself.
22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.
23 Are they servants of Christ? (I speak as if insane) I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death.
24 Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes.
25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep.
26 I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren;
27 I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.
28 Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure upon me of concern for all the churches.
29 Who is weak without my being weak? Who is led into sin without my intense concern?
30 If I have to boast, I will boast of what pertains to my weakness.