13 For what is it in which you were inferior to other churches, except that I myself was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong!
13 For what is it in which you were inferior to other churches,
Paul did not treat the Corinthian church with less attention than other churches.
except that I myself [emphatic] was not burdensome to you?
The apostle received no financial support from the Corinthians. He did not want to confuse financial aid with the integrity of the gospel.
Forgive me this wrong!
This is a reference to asking forgiveness for not taking money from the Corinthians. This was the one area where he was inferior to the super-apostles. It is essential to decide between an apostolic mark and an apostolic right. Paul had the right to receive support from the Corinthians, but he chose not to accept it.
PRINCIPLE:
The apostles of Christ ceased to exist with the closing of the canon of Scripture.
APPLICATION:
The apostles of Christ were unique; they ceased with the closing of the canon of the Bible. Some today claim to be apostles in the same sense as the original apostles. This is apostasy (Re 2:2). There is such a thing as false apostles (2 Cor 11:13). Apostleship was not transferable because it was a role that had to be appointed personally by the resurrected Christ. An apostle was a passing role by the writing of Hebrews (He 2:3-4). Once they launched the church and wrote Scripture, they passed from the scene.
