Paul, a boastful ?

"That's why I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you, the nations ... - if you've heard of the administration of God's grace given to you, how, by revelation, the knowledge of the mystery was given to me, as I have already briefly written. From this you can read, understand my understanding in the mystery of Christ." Ephesians 3: 1-4

Paul writes to his friends in Ephesus a beautiful letter. He reveals the extent of God's plan, conceived from eternity ; this plan aims to associate as closely as possible with Christ men and women of all origins, Jews and pagans, united in one church.

Then Paul interrupts himself in his development to remind him that he is a prisoner in Rome because he has announced the Gospel to the nations. Indeed, the Jews, jealous of their privileges that they thought exclusive, had delivered Paul to the Romans. Paul continues detailing the revelations he has received and concludes by taking his audience as witnesses of his "intelligence in the mystery of Christ". Curious way of expressing oneself, is not it, far removed from the humility one hopes to encounter in a great man of God ?

A key to reading, implicit in our text, is found in the criticisms of which Paul was the object. Too often, he seems to have had to justify the reality of his calling and ministry to other teachers of Jewish origin who criticized his presentation of the gospel. Now here is Paul prisoner. Great opportunity for his opponents to push the point : "You see that Paul can not be what he claims ! If he really were a servant of God, God would not allow him to be a prisoner." And yet, Paul can be both prisoner and remarkably blessed by God on the spiritual plane.

The same kind of reasoning can touch us - or worse. A brother goes through a hard test, and we quickly feel that there must be something in his life to judge or that he is spiritually a little defective. We are all friends of Job in power, although we defended ourselves. The trial of a servant must not disqualify him from our eyes. On the contrary, it is often used to reveal the depth of his faith, so that we may then imitate him (Heb. 13. 7).

Source (Pleasing the Lord)