For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 2 Corinthians 5:13
Sorry for the outdated title, when I read this verse this song came into my head! If you need a newer version then try Lana Del Rey!
It’s a difficult, painful and disheartening emotion being misunderstood.
What on earth would have been going though the mind and heart of Jesus when the religious leaders of the day twisted his words, misinterpreted his motives and called into question his character? I know a little of that. I have heard so many times, “what he really means is this.” I have had people speak on my behalf wrongly and interpret my words through their own filters. It is frustrating and does lead to people mistrusting you.
Paul experienced being misunderstood. His actions, often counter cultural to the the norms of the day, caused him to explain and re-explain himself (see I Corinthians 9:3-18).
He explains here in the passage very explicitly to having been a victim of misinterpretation. He is ‘pulling his hair out’ (I think that can’t be true, rumour has it that Paul was bald) that false teachers in Corinth, those who project an outward appearance (vs 12) we’re not like him or had the same ministry. This led to false accusations against him and the depth of that is described here, “he is out of his mind.”
How many times have I heard that one, “he’s under pressure,” “he’s not well.” Paul’s point is that self-interest simply doesn’t factor into his decisions or behaviour. Usually, but not necessarily every time, it can be about what others want to get out of a situation, what they want to happen so they question a person’s decision making processes and In Paul’s case his sanity was questioned !
It’s a short verse but very interesting. The word translated “ beside ourselves” is only used twice in scripture to describe ‘out of ones mind’ in this way, once to describe Paul and secondly it is used in reference to Jesus in Marks gospel.
And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.” Mark 3:21
However, it is used elsewhere to express amazement (Matthew 12:23, Mark 2:12, Luke 8:56 and several times in Acts)
Paul’s statement has thus been interpreted in a number of ways.
Some argue that he had religious mania, that he had lost his senses, a criticism that may have been due to certain doctrines he proposed. At his trial before Agrippa, Festus shouted at Paul that he was out of his mind and it was because of his great learning. Paul’s response was that he was not out of his mind but was speaking truth and being rational (Acts 26).
Some ague that he may have been over zealous, and therefore overtired, that his passion for Jesus and the extreme physical and emotional abuse to which he willingly exposed himself for the sake of the gospel had seriously affected him (2 Corinthians 4 and 6).
Some thought he was just odd, eccentric, lacked social graces, wasn’t conforming to the idea of a real apostle ‘he is not like us.’ This idea mainly came from those trying to assert themselves as apostles in Corinth.
Some were just wary of him because of his so called spiritual experiences. His dramatic salvation, recovery from blindness, he was known for speaking in tongues, he prophesied, had dreams and visions, saw a third heaven. (I Corinthians 14, Acts 16,18, 22, 2 Corinthians 2).
What we fear can cause us to project out own insecurities by throwing out destabilising comments.
In does not matter what view we take what matters here is the context.
Paul distanced himself from those who were obsessed with “outward appearance,” which is to say, they took pride in their credentials and wanted to be perceived as “having it all together.”
For Paul, on the other hand, it was solely a matter of “the heart” (vs 12), of inward integrity and sincerity in conduct. That his behaviour may well have appeared bizarre, extreme, and outlandish by the standards of most was of no concern to him. If his conduct evoked charges of being mad , he was willing to live with it, so long as God was honoured. So are you? Will you?
His point is that all he does is either for the glory of God or for the spiritual welfare of other believers. He simply does not take himself into consideration. No matter what his state of mind may have been self promotion did not factor into his aims or activities.
If he had spiritual experiences, on which his opponents prided themselves, they were moments of intimacy between God and himself, and not to be paraded as flamboyant claims to authenticate his ministry. If, on the other hand, he appears right-minded and rational, that is for the sake of the Corinthians themselves and their spiritual edification. But nothing is done with himself in view, even though he may be the victim of unjustified caricature. A ‘spitting image’ of the real Paul. We create the person we want to see or what we want people to see!
The lesson: If God is being honoured and exalted, what difference does it make what others may think? Our value as individuals does not rest on the approval of people. Paul had two primary concerns, neither of which was his own reputation. He cared only that God be honoured in his life and that other Christians be edified by his ministry.
So, how do you respond to unwarranted criticism? What reaction is evoked when your motives are misinterpreted? Is either your life or ministry dependent on the approval of men or do you seek God’s favour alone? Whether we are maligned as madmen or acknowledged for our eloquence, our aim should be the glory of God and the good of his people. Nothing else matters.
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