Daniel 7:1-14 consists of the infamous dream of Daniel. In the chronology of the the life of Daniel this moment in time would be during the reign of King Belshazzar (vs. 1). The basic point of the dream is that four powerful empires would rise up and then would come the Son of Man, the Lord Jesus, who would reign forever. His Kingdom would be superior to all of the other kingdoms mentioned plus any kingdom that would come after the Son of Man. Peoples from all the earth would worship Him and His Kingdom would have no end. Here’s the text if verse 14 describing the reign of the Son of Man:
And to Him was given dominion,
Honor, and a kingdom,
So that all the peoples, nations, and populations of all languages
Might serve Him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
Which will not pass away;
And His kingdom is one
Which will not be destroyed.
Part of the message to Daniel and all of us is that large, powerful earthly Kingdoms did and will rise up but the Kingdom of the Son of Man will always be superior and exist past the end of the large earthly kingdom(s).
The Apostle Paul testifying to the Corinthians of the Lord’s approval of his ministry says:
3For though we walk in the flesh, we do not wage battle according to the flesh, 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but [divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 5 We are destroying arguments and all arrogance raised against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, 6 and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.
Apparently there were other ministers calling themselves apostles and challenging the Apostle Paul’s authority. So Paul is refuting their accusations. He also states the purpose of his Divine authority in verse 8:
“8For if I boast somewhat more about our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be put to shame,”
There also appears to be a challenge to Paul’s ability and maybe even character as he makes this statement in verses 10-11: 10 For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his personal presence is unimpressive and his speech contemptible.” 11 Have such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when absent, such persons we are also in deed when present.”
The other apostles appear to boast in themselves but Paul says in versers 17-18:
“17 But the one who boasts is to boast in the Lord. 18 For it is not the one who commends himself that is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.”
The summary is that Paul is called by the Lord to be an Apostle, the Lord gave Paul powers (vs 4-6) to preach, call sinners to repentance, to build them up and then move on to new regions (vs 16). Paul’s boasting is in the Lord who called him and he does not need to commend himself or have other men commend him (vs 18).
Views from an Evangelist 