2 Corinthians
11:1
In the last
scripture of chapter 10, Paul had just pointed out the folly of self
commendation, but he certainly did not want to engage in it. But the
Corinthians’ acceptance of the false apostles’ claims forced Paul
to set forth his own apostolic credentials as that was the only way
he could get them to see the truth.
Unlike the false
apostles, Paul’s boasting was in the Lord and motivated by concern
for the Corinthians’ well being under the threat of false teaching.
In the latter part
of chapter 10, we saw Paul saying, if anyone had anything to boast
of, it would be him. Now he is calling that folly. Whatever it takes
for Paul to make them realize he has authority from God to teach
them, is the argument Paul will give. Look over my boasting and
understand what I am trying to tell you, would be another way of
putting it.
2 Corinthians
11:2
Paul’s folly was
caused by his deep concern for the Corinthians to the point of
jealously, not for his own reputation, but zeal for their spiritual
purity. Jealously that was inspired by his zeal for God’s causes,
and thus similar to God’s own jealousy for His holy name and His
people’s loyalty.
This jealousy is not
in the physical sense. Paul is saying, I have claimed you for the
Lord Jesus Christ. Paul wants these Corinthians, who started out with
him, to stay loyal to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Being a "chaste
virgin" is saying not to stray away from pure Christianity. This
has to do with the spiritual. God will not take second place to
anything. In fact, He will not share you with any other God, or any
other teaching.
Paul portrayed the
Corinthians like a daughter, whom he betrothed to Jesus Christ at
their conversion. The Old Testament pictures Israel as the wife of
the Lord while the New Testament pictures the church as the bride of
Christ.
Paul loves them as
dear children. He tries to keep them with the simple message of the
gospel they had received through him. We must walk in our salvation,
after we have received it.
2 Corinthians
11:3
Paul does not want
them to receive any other message than the simple message of the
cross. He compared the danger facing the Corinthian church to Eve’s
deception by Satan. He feared the Corinthians, like Eve, would fall
prey to satanic lies and have their minds corrupted. The tragic
result would be the abandonment of their simple devotion to Christ in
favor of the sophisticated error of the false apostle.
Galatians 1:8-9
"But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel
unto you than that, which we have preached unto you, let him be
accursed." "As we said before, so say I now again, if any
[man] preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received,
let him be accursed."
The mind is at
enmity with God. The mind will lead you astray. Christianity is of
the heart. Even today, some of the doctrines {that claim to be of
Christ} are not telling the truth. Many people, looking for something
new, find something very old, a false doctrine. Christianity is
simple. It is not complicated.
Romans 1:16
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the
power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew
first, and also to the Greek."
2 Corinthians
11:4
The false apostle(s)
came into the church from the outside just as Satan did into the
Garden. They were like the Judaizers, seeking to impose Jewish
customs on the Corinthians.
Their fascination
with rhetoric and oratory suggest they had been influenced by Greek
culture and philosophy.
Despite their
vicious attacks on him, Paul’s quarrel with the false apostles was
not personal, but doctrinal.
Paul is explaining
to them that he had already brought them the gospel, and had even
taught them of the Spirit. If this person or persons is teaching them
a message better than the one Paul gave and one they had rather
believe, then stay with them. If they are not, why break away?
Why are they seeking
for something else, when they already have Jesus as Savior and Lord?
They, also, have been introduced to the Holy Spirit. There is no need
to seek another.
Though the precise
details of what the false apostle(s) taught are unknown and don’t
matter, they preached “another Jesus” and “a different spirit”,
which added up to “a different gospel”.
2 Corinthians
11:5
It seems that the
Corinthian, (led by this new teacher) have begun to compare Paul with
the other apostles. Possibly, because he was not of the original 12,
they have questioned whether he is an apostle at all, or not.
Here, Paul is more
likely making a sarcastic reference to the false apostles, based on
their exalted view of themselves.
2 Corinthians
11:6
Paul, after he had
seen the Light, went into the desert.
Galatians 1:15-18
"But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's
womb, and called [me] by his grace," "To reveal his Son in
me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I
conferred not with flesh and blood:" "Neither went I up to
Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into
Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus." "Then after
three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him
fifteen days."
Whatever
deficiencies Paul may have had as an orator, he had none in terms of
knowledge.
It seems from this,
that Paul was taught of the Spirit for three years. Paul was not
necessarily a great orator, but was a minister of truth which he had
received directly from God. Paul's ministry was verified over and
over by the signs and wonders that followed him.
Paul was an educated
man in the ways of the temple, but had no formal training to be a
Christian minister. None of the apostles were formally trained. Their
training was by the Holy Spirit.
2 Corinthians
11:7
Greek culture
measured the importance of a teacher by the fee he could command.
When Paul opened the church at Corinth, he asked nothing for himself.
He preached the good news of Jesus Christ to them, free of charge.
Because he did not charge them to preach, does that make him less a
preacher? Being a tent maker was not thought of as a prominent job.
This is, possibly,
what he is saying being "abased". The message of good news
from God that Paul brought them free of charge is the most precious
possession of any of us.
Paul asked his
accusers how foregoing his right to support could possibly be a sin.
In fact, by refusing support he had humbled himself so they could be
exalted; that is, lifted out of their sin and idolatry.
2 Corinthians
11:8
Paul is probably
speaking of the church at Philippi. This is the only church there is
anything recorded of that helped Paul with his expenses. The workman
is worthy of his hire {whether secular work, or church work}.
God established the
high priest and his family to live of the things of the offerings.
Everything Paul had ever done for Corinth had been at no charge.
Why Paul refused to
accept the support he was entitled to from the Corinthians is not
clear; perhaps some of them were suspicious of his motives in
promoting the offering for the Jerusalem church.
2 Corinthians
11:9
Paul took great
pride in the fact that he did not minister for the money they would
pay him. Mostly he worked as a tent maker to feed and clothe himself.
The church that is mentioned that helped Paul with funds was the
church at Philippi in Macedonia.
Silas and Timothy
were the brethren who came from Macedonia, bringing money from
Philippi and possibly Thessalonica. The Macedonians; generous
financial support allowed Paul to devote himself full time to
preaching the gospel.
2 Corinthians
11:10
He is just saying
that he would not take their funds, even if they offered, because he
wanted to prove to them that his gospel message was with no strings
attached. Paul would give them no room for suspicion of his motives.
“The regions of
Achaia”: The Roman province of which Corinth was the capital and
leading city. The false apostles apparently were affecting more than
just the city of Corinth.
2 Corinthians
11:11
They were of a
suspicious nature, and it seemed right to Paul to not help that
suspicion along. He says, God knows that I love you as a parent
would.
2 Corinthians
11:12
Paul’s refusal to
accept financial support from the Corinthians was a source of
embarrassment to the false apostles who eagerly sought money for
their services. Paul intended to keep his ministry free of charge and
thereby undermine the false apostles’ claims that they operated on
the same basis as he did.
We see, in this,
that the new teachers who have been opposed to Paul are saying, they
are not interested in being paid for their services. At the same
time, they are secretly receiving from the church at Corinth
themselves. Paul is saying that all who minister in the church have
needs for their own personal care.
2 Corinthians
11:13
Paul was no longer
speaking with veiled irony or defending himself, but bluntly and
directly exposed the false apostles for what they were, emissaries of
Satan.
Not only was their
claim to apostleship false, so also was their doctrine. As satanic
purveyors of false teaching, they were under the curse of Gal. 1:8-9.
Galatians 1:8-9
"But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel
unto you than that, which we have preached unto you, let him be
accursed." "As we said before, so say I now again, if any
[man] preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received,
let him be accursed."
Paul says that these
new teachers that have come into the church are not truly apostles of
Christ. These are people who have chosen to minister as a way of
making a living. Paul believes they are not really called of God.
They are pulling Paul down to pull themselves up.
Paul’s forceful
language may seem harsh, but it expressed the godly jealously he felt
for the Corinthians. Paul was unwilling to sacrifice truth for the
sake of unity.
2 Corinthians
11:14
Not everyone in the
church proclaiming Christianity is truly of God. Satan, himself,
tries to mimic all the things the Lord does. He even many times
pretends to be of the Light, when he is really darkness to the
utmost. We are told to try the spirits, and see whether they are of
God, or not.
Since the Prince of
Darkness masquerades as an angel of light, that is, deceptively,
disguised as a messenger of truth – it is not surprising that his
emissaries do as well.
The truth is that
Satan is a counterfeit. He may appear, at a glance to be of God, but
a closer examination will reveal who he is. He counterfeits the gifts
of the Spirit many times.
2 Corinthians
11:15
The really sad thing
about false doctrines is that at a glance they appear to be real. A
person, who is not well versed in the Scriptures, would quickly
accept the teaching, because it is close to truth. One quick giveaway
is that anything that elevates man up to the level of God is false.
Also, any doctrine that denies that Jesus was Emmanuel {God with us}
is false.
Satan deceived Eve
and holds unbelievers captive. His emissaries were attempting to
deceive and enslave the Corinthians. The terrifying “end” these
self styled “ministers of righteousness” will face is God’s
judgment, the fate of all false teachers.
Jesus is God the
Word who took on the form of flesh and dwelt among us, and anything
less than that is a false doctrine. Anything, or anyone, who denies
the power of the shed blood of Jesus is, also, false. The reason so
many people, then and now, fall for this false teaching, is that it
usually elevates man and brings God down to the level of man.
Lucifer's sin was in
wanting to be God. Jesus said that there would be false teachers,
and many would follow them. Study your Bible carefully, and do not be
deceived. Test every spirit by the Word of God.
1 John 4:1
"Beloved, believes not every spirit, but tries the spirits
whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out
into the world."
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