2 Corinthians 11

Paul and His Opponents

11:1 I wish that you would be patient with me in a little foolishness, but indeed you are being patient with me!

Paul condemned boasting as foolishness in the last chapter, unless it was boasting in the Lord. Paul is going to claim to be foolish and boast in the Lord about his own apostolic credentials. However, the purpose of his boasting in the Lord was to silence his critics. 

11:2 For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy, because I promised you in marriage to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.

Paul was the father of the Corinthian church. Therefore, the Corinthians were the spiritual daughter of Paul. Paul was a jealous father, not wanting anyone to fornicate with his daughter. Paul planned on keeping his virgin daughter pure, so he could offer her to Christ in this pure manner.

11:3 But I am afraid that just as the serpent deceived Eve by his treachery, your minds may be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

The Judaizers were tricky like the serpent. The Corinthians were naive like Eve. The Corinthians had already tolerated the Judaizers, so they were in deep peril, much like Eve.

11:4 For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus different from the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit than the one you received, or a different gospel than the one you accepted, you put up with it well enough!

The Judaizers had proclaimed a different Jesus, and the Corinthians tolerated this false Jesus. The Mormons worship a different Jesus, a Jesus who is the brother of Satan. The Jehovah Witnesses worship a different Jesus, a Jesus who is only a created angel. The Muslims worship a different Jesus, a Jesus who is only a prophet. The Eastern religions worship a different Jesus, a Jesus who is only a guru. The liberals worship a different Jesus, a Jesus who is only a man. The Jews worship a different Jesus, a Jesus who is only a rabbi. The Catholics worship a different Jesus, a Jesus who is equal to the Pope and the Virgin Mary. Notice that all of the cults and isms worship a Jesus who is less than God in the flesh.

The different gospel of the Judaizers was that one must believe in Jesus, but still keep the Mosaic Law. This was works salvation. All of the cults and isms teach a similar salvation by a combination of faith plus works. This is a different gospel which will send one to the Lake of Fire. Faith plus nothing equals salvation. Anything else is a different gospel.

Paul chided the Corinthians for compromising with this false gospel.

11:5 For I consider myself not at all inferior to those “super-apostles.”

Paul was using sarcasm. Paul was more than just a tent-maker. The Judaizers were claiming that Paul was a fraud, because he was not one of the original 12 apostles. Paul did not demean the original 12 apostles, but he made it clear to the Corinthians that he was not inferior to any of them. Many consider Paul to be the greatest among the apostles. After all, he wrote half of the New Testament and founded churches all over the 1500 mile radius of the Roman Empire.

11:6 And even if I am unskilled in speaking, yet I am certainly not so in knowledge. Indeed, we have made this plain to you in everything in every way.

Paul did not use the rhetorical skills of the Greco-Roman world that were passed down from Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. He did not need these humanistic skills, because he taught the Word of God through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

As far as knowledge, Paul most likely not only had the highest I.Q. of any man who ever lived, but he also had more Biblical knowledge than any man who ever lived.

11:7 Or did I commit a sin by humbling myself so that you could be exalted, because I proclaimed the gospel of God to you free of charge?

The Greco-Roman culture paid their orators well. They were on the pay scale similar to that of the professional athletes and Hollywood movie stars of our day. Since Paul mostly supported himself, they claimed that Paul's lack of oratory income proved that he was not an apostle called by God. He was nothing but a poor tent-maker who had to pay his way so that he could speak.

11:8 I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so that I could serve you!

Paul never asked the Corinthian church to support him. He was supported by other churches who had less money than the Corinthians. Paul was having to rob churches who were in poverty so that the Corinthians could benefit from his ministry.

11:9 When I was with you and was in need, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia fully supplied my needs. I kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so.

The Macedonians were very generous givers. Their financial support allowed Paul to devote himself full time to preaching the gospel. It is important that modern congregations double-yoke their pastors so that they can spend more time studying and teaching the gospel. They do not need to be burdened down their pastor with the financial pressures of the world. They need worry-free time to study and teach.

11:10 As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be stopped in the regions of Achaia.

Corinth was the capital of the region of Achaia. Apparently, the teachings of the false apostles had affected the entire region. Therefore, Paul will have to boast all through the region of Achaia in order to quiet the false teaching.

11:11 Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do! 

Paul's motive for teaching the Corinthians was agape love, not money.

11:12 And what I am doing I will continue to do, so that I may eliminate any opportunity for those who want a chance to be regarded as our equals in the things they boast about.

Paul's enemies accused him of teaching for the lust of money. Therefore, Paul would not accept monetary gifts from the Corinthians, because he wanted to cut off the attacks of his enemies. This was an embarrassment to the false apostles, because they were greedy and always collected money. 

11:13 For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.

Paul was very blunt. He was not very seeker friendly. He pointed out that his enemies were false apostles, deceitful men working deception, and they were disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.

11:14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

The Greek word for "angel of light" is ἄγγελον φωτός (angelon photos), meaning a supernatural messenger from God who conveys divine illumination. The Greek word for "disguise" is μετασχηματίζω (metaskamatizo), meaning to change the outward appearance. Satan changes his outward appearance in order to look like a supernatural messenger from God who conveys direct revelation from God

Many people believe that Satan has a pitchfork and horns. This erroneous idea comes from Greek mythology. Pan was a Greek god who was half-human and half-goat. Satan wants you to think of him as a grotesque looking creature so that he can appear to you in a beautiful form that you would not expect or recognize.

Beware of horoscopes, crystal balls, palm readers, dreamers, Ouija Boards, fortune tellers, Tarot cards, charismatic prophets, healers, tongues speakers, seances, people who claim to have come back from the dead, etc. None of these messengers are from God. Satan simply allows his victims to pick their own poison. He will mix truth with error and use whatever instrument which one chooses to indulge.  If one wishes to believe in ghosts, then demons will appear as a ghost. If one wants to believe in UFO's, then demons will masquerade as a being from outer space. If one wants to listen to tongue speakers, then demons will speak through tongues. If one wants to believe in the messages of a Ouiji board, then demons will speak through them as well. Demons have spoken through the Oracles of Delphi, Hindu gurus, white witches, seances, crystal balls, modern-day prophets in charismatic churches, medicine men, modern-day faith healers, and various other forms. The ugliness of black magic exists so that many will be appalled and accept white magic instead. Charismatic leaders are into white magic, thinking that their work comes from the Holy Spirit. White and black magic both come from the same source. It takes strong Bible doctrine to discern the difference.

11:15 Therefore it is not surprising his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will correspond to their actions.

The Greek word for "servants" is διάκονος  (diakonos), meaning a servant who carries out the plan of his master. This is the same word as "deacon."  Satan has his own deacons who carry out his purpose.

Notice that Paul continued his non-seeker-friendly message. He bluntly told the Corinthians that these men were servants of Satan. If Paul gave this message to many of our seeker-friendly churches today, the congregation would accuse him of not having agape love. Others would claim that Paul was not ecumenical enough and would ask him to be more tolerant. Paul would not be invited to speak in many seeker-friendly churches today. 

Paul’s Sufferings for Christ

11:16 I say again, let no one think that I am a fool. But if you do, then at least accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little.

The Greek word for "fool" is ἄφρων (phonon), meaning a person who lacks spiritual discernment because of his Biblical ignorance. A person who is ignorant of the Bible will boast that he is spiritually enlightened. He is ignorant of his true spiritual condition. Just as a psychiatric patient does not know that he is insane, neither does a Biblically ignorant person know that he is Biblically insane. Paul is going to boast like a Biblically ignorant person who does not know his condition.

11:17 What I am saying with this boastful confidence I do not say the way the Lord would. Instead it is, as it were, foolishness.

Paul's forced boasting is found nowhere in the character of Christ. The desperate condition in Corinth is causing Paul to boast like a Biblically ignorant person. He argues on their spiritual level so that they can understand their condition. 

11:18 Since many are boasting according to human standards, I too will boast.

The Judaizers were winning converts by their outward boasting. They were boasting by human standards. Paul is going to stoop to this kind of boasting in order to show the Corinthians their ignorance.

11:19 For since you are so wise, you put up with fools gladly.

Since the Corinthians valued human wisdom over divine wisdom, they would gladly listen to and accept Paul's outward boasting, even though it was not the way of Christ.

11:20 For you put up with it if someone makes slaves of you, if someone exploits you, if someone takes advantage of you, if someone behaves arrogantly toward you, if someone strikes you in the face.

Paul made five very strong points.

The Corinthians were so ignorant of Biblical knowledge that they were allowing the Judaizers to make them slaves of a Mosaic Law that they could not keep. The false apostles had robbed the Corinthians of their freedom in Christ.

The Greek word for "exploit" is κατεσθίω (katasthio), meaning to intensely devour until there is nothing left. The Corinthians were so ignorant of Biblical doctrine, that they were allowing the Judaizers to intensely devour them until there was nothing left of them. The Judaizers were scamming them with false doctrine for the sake of money, just as Jesus condemned the Pharisees of devouring widows.

The Greek word for "take advantage" is λαμβάνω  (lambano), meaning to take by force or cunning, just as a fisherman captures a fish in a net. The Corinthians were so void of Biblical understanding that they allowed the Judaizers to capture them in a fish net so that they could devour them.

The Greek word for "behave arrogantly" is ἐπαίρω (epairo), meaning to raise oneself up above another. The Corinthians were so ignorant of divine view point, that they allowed the Judaizers to lord over and rule them.

The Greek word for "Strike" is δέρω (dero), meaning to strike one in the face with a whip in order to humiliate. The Corinthians were so devoid of divine principles, that they allowed the Corinthians to humiliate them publicly by strike flogging them in the face.

In conclusion, the Judaizers claimed that Paul was dangerous and attempting to rule over them, but it was actually the opposite. However, the Corinthians did not have enough divine viewpoint to recognize their predicament. 

11:21 (To my disgrace I must say that we were too weak for that!) But whatever anyone else dares to boast about (I am speaking foolishly), I also dare to boast about the same thing.

 

Paul had such strong divine viewpoint that it was difficult for him to continue in boasting about himself. 

11:22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.

The Judaizers had claimed that they were Hebrew, Israelites, and descendants of Abraham. Paul claimed that he could make these same boasts.

11:23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am talking like I am out of my mind!) I am even more so: with much greater labors, with far more imprisonments, with more severe beatings, facing death many times.

Paul carried scars on his body and a prison record to prove that he was a servant of Christ.

11:24 Five times I received from the Jews forty lashes less one.

It was illegal to flog Roman citizens, such as Paul. Deuteronomy 25:1-3 prescribed 40 lashes, but only 39 were given in order to be certain of not exceeding the limit.  The beatings consisted of 39 strikes by the whip of a trained Jewish synagogue leader. According to the Mishnah, a person inflicting the punishment was declared innocent if he killed the victim within the 39 blows. Therefore, the inflictor possessed the motive to kill Paul by 39 lashes if he could do so. Luke only mentioned one beating. This verse shows that Luke only gave a fragment of Paul's missionary exploits.

11:25 Three times I was beaten with a rod. Once I received a stoning. Three times I suffered shipwreck. A night and a day I spent adrift in the open sea.

Luke only mentioned one beating, one imprisonment, and one brush with death. Again, Luke could not list all of the details of Paul's ministry.  It was unlawful for a Roman citizen to be stoned. 

11:26 I have been on journeys many times, in dangers from rivers, in dangers from robbers, in dangers from my own countrymen, in dangers from Gentiles, in dangers in the city, in dangers in the wilderness, in dangers at sea, in dangers from false brothers,

There were professional robbers on the roads who would attempt to kill and plunder travelers. Sea travel was very risky and dangerous. Jews and Gentile had taken vows to seek after and murder Paul. Judaizers in many cities attacked Paul through unruly mobs. 

11:27 in hard work and toil, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, many times without food, in cold and without enough clothing.

The Judaziers were being well-paid and stayed in the best hotels. Paul had to work as a tent-maker to support his ministry. Paul was kept awake many nights because of his testimony. He hungered and he thirsted. He was often cold at night, not having the luxuries of the travel of the Judaizers.

11:28 Apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxious concern for all the churches.

Paul's painful experiences were tolerated because of his love for the Corinthian believers. 

11:29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not burn with indignation?

Like Christ, Paul was a suffering servant. 

11:30 If I must boast, I will boast about the things that show my weakness.

 

Paul boasted of his weaknesses, not his strengths.

11:31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is blessed forever, knows I am not lying.

The Corinthians who do not have strong Bible doctrine may believe that Paul is lying, but God knows the truth. 

11:32 In Damascus, the governor under King Aretas was guarding the city of Damascus in order to arrest me,

In Damascus, Paul was hated so much that he had to escape town by being lowered in a basket.  

11:33 but I was let down in a rope-basket through a window in the city wall, and escaped his hands.

When one teaches the gospel like Paul, he will not receive prosperity and material blessings. Instead, he will receive suffering, persecution, and threats on their lives.