Jesus' and Paul's Self-Esteem

Examples of Jesus’ Self-Image

Luke 11:31 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, and now one greater than Solomon is here.

John 13:13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am.

John 15:20 Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’

Mark 14:61-62  . . . Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

John 6:35  . . . I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.

John 10:14 I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.

Examples of Paul’s Self-Image

Galatians 2:11 When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong.

Philippians 4:13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

1 Corinthians 9:15 But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me. I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of this boast.

2 Corinthians 1:12 Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God. We have done so not according to worldly wisdom but according to God’s grace.

2 Corinthians 10:8 For even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than pulling you down, I will not be ashamed of it.

2 Corinthians 11:9-12,22-23 And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone . . . As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, nobody in the regions of Achaia will stop this boasting of mine. Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do! . . . And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I. Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. . . .

2 Corinthians 13:2-3 I already gave you a warning when I was with you the second time. I now repeat it while absent: On my return I will not spare those who sinned earlier or any of the others, since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. . . .

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