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Paul called Jesus a “minister for the truth of God.”
Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God … (Romans 15:8)
The Word became flesh to bear witness to the truth of God.
Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. (John 18:37)
Different external factors caused Jesus to be a “stone of stumbling” and a “rock of offense.” Those who were caught up in outward appearances dismissed Jesus. But because He spoke God’s words and not His own, Jesus recognized that men would be judged according to their response to the words He spoke.
Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak. (John 12:44-50)
John the Baptist bore witness to the truth of who Jesus was, even though He was his cousin and was submitting to his baptism.
Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth. (John 5:33)
Jesus pointed to John as a prophet, who heard from and spoke for God, despite having no outward trappings of glory or beauty.
But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings’ courts. But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet. This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. (Luke 7:25-27)
The message God gave to John the Baptist exalted the enduring quality of the Word of God and decried the fleeting value of human glory and beauty.
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever. (Isaiah 40:3-8)
Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. (Luke 21:33)
For many it is not the truth that matters; it is the packaging that impresses them. In various ways, Paul didn’t make the grade in the eyes of some at Corinth.
Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ’s, even so are we Christ’s. For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed: That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters. For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible. (2 Corinthians 10:7-10)
Paul could have taken exception to this critique, and defended himself as one who some wanted to worship as Mercury, the messenger of the gods.
And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker. (Acts 14:11,12)
Instead of fighting for his own reputation, Paul had a holy apathy toward the criticism, and switched the focus back to what should be more important.
But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things. (2 Cor. 11:6)
rude > Greek – idiotes
Paul made it clear that he chose style over substance, manifesting who he was by simply speaking the truth to them.
Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. (2 Corinthians 4:1,2)
Paul knew that two camps had been revealed in Corinth: a carnal group that gloried in men and outward appearances, and a spiritual group that gloried only in God and what is happening beneath the surface.
Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart. (2 Corinthians 5:11,12)
Our concern should never be how we might polish our image to appeal more to men’s carnal tastes. God purposely chooses and uses those who are devalued and despised in the eyes of the world.
For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:26 – 2:5)
Style has a way of dazzling and attracting men’s gaze. God places His treasure in simple “earthen vessels” that don’t obscure His glory and distract from His truth.
For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. (2 Corinthians 4:5-7)
Paul was received at first by the Galatians, who did not let a glaring physical infirmity distract them from the truth he brought.
Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first. And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me. Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth? (Galatians 4:13-16)
Paul rejoiced when the gospel was preached, even by those who sought to “add affliction” to his bonds.
What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. (Philippians 1:18)