2 Corinthians 4:1-6 — Why did Paul feel the need to defend his calling as an apostle? This is the question that arises when we read 2 Corinthians 4:1-6, and we see that he is concerned to defend both his ministry and his calling as an apostle of Jesus Christ. There were those in the Church at Corinth that opposed Paul and thought he had a weak presence. According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, the reason it is important that Paul defends his apostleship is seen when we understand that it is the apostles that God used to give us the Scriptures, and it is the apostles that were foundational to the early church. As Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains, Paul is not only defending his ministry, but he is also fighting for the validity of the Gospel message that confronts the world. When Paul does defend his ministry, he appeals to the calling that he received from the risen Lord. Paul makes it clear that his authority does not come from men, but from God. Therefore his message is also from God. The Church would do well to look to the example of Paul who defends his message not by boasting in himself, but by boasting in Christ Jesus.