Paul's ministry was characterised by being Christ-centred, not Paul-centred (Galatians 2:20). He knew that only Jesus Christ can save and that only He has God's authority to command people to trust and follow Him (John 10:27). However, the slander of the false teachers who claimed to be 'super apostles', needed to be confronted (2 Corinthians 11:13). Not because Paul's ego was injured, but because it was essential that his gospel was upheld as the only genuine gospel according to Jesus (Romans 16:25-27).

Paul felt rather foolish defending himself, it was so far from his purpose in ministry, but he jealously guarded the flock who had come to Christ under his ministry (2 Corinthians 11:1-6) even though he described himself as being nothing. He was willing to give his life in the cause of the gospel (Acts 21:13). In his various trials, Paul gave clear witness statements of how the Lord Jesus called him out of his religious obsession into faith and service; but he did not need to justify the authenticity of his gospel. But before the 'court' of Christians in Corinth if he did not challenge the false teachers, the future of the gospel was at risk.

The worldly church was gripped by the need to be superior. They were emboldened by teachers who supported their egotistical ideas; and they wanted to abandon their founding apostle and gospel in order to be a superior church. But they had become a true church because they believed the gospel and saw the validating signs of Paul's ministry: they were not in the least inferior (1 Corinthians 15:1). They should have contradicted the false teachers but they accepted lies instead. So, Paul had to give them a tutorial in truth-telling.

Slander and misunderstanding are common weapons against believers and their pastors (1 Corinthians 4:13). Often, we should let them go; they have no ultimate power against the Lord or His people. But when the character of Christ is slandered, or the essence of His gospel is misunderstood, we must respond. To do so may seem foolish, but for those who will accept the truth it will be eternally life-saving. Jesus said, "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven." (Matthew 10:32-33). That includes honouring the founding apostles who Jesus appointed, including Paul (2 Corinthians 1:1). In some churches and media it is fashionable to accept some of what Jesus said, but to deny the validity of what the apostles wrote under the guidance of the Holy Spirit: that is not authentic Christianity.