Authority

 For even if I boast a little too much of our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be ashamed.
2 Corinthians 10:8 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/2co.10.8.ESV

Paul wasn't authoritarian. He didn't lord it over the Corinthian church. Yet he did have to assert his God given authority over them.

The Corinthian church wasn't necessarily very impressed by Paul. They admitted his letters were weighty. Yet it seems he wasn't a particularly impressive public speaker.

Paul's authority wasn't based upon the 'gift of the gab'. Paul's authority was based on the calling of Almighty God. He was given it to build up the Corinthian church, not to knock them down a peg or two as one might expect!

Nowadays, deconstructionism is trendy. This is basically the idea of tearing things down. Biblically, constructionism is far more... constructive... and commendable!

'Almighty Lord, thank You for the authority You gave Paul to write what has helped Your church ever since. May we too seek to build others up rather than to tear them down. In Christ's name, amen'

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