2 Corinthians 11

Paul and the False Apostles

11 1 [hope you will put up with alittle more of my foolishness. Please bear with me. 2For I 12 49 am jealous for you with the jealousy of God himself. I promised you as a pure bride* Eph 5-26-27 to one husband—Christ. 3But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to 11:3 Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent. 4You Gen oes happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the 1 Tim 2:14 one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of 1:4 I . Rom 8:15 gospel than the one you believed. Gal 1:6-8 5But I don’t consider myself inferior in any way to these “super apostles” who teach such 11:5 things. 61 may be unskilled as a speaker, but I’m not lacking in knowledge. We have made Gal 2:6 this clear to you in every possible way. Vee t:17 7Was I wrong when I humbled myself and honored you by preaching God’s Good News Eph 3:4 to you without expecting anything in return? ®1 “robbed” other churches by accepting their 1127 9.45 19 contributions so I could serve you at no cost.

9And when I was with you and didn't have 2 Cor 12:13enough to live on, I did not become a financial burden to anyone. For the brothers whocame 1 13 421310:17 Jer 9:24. 11:2 Greek a virgin.ateach anything different from what God's infallible Word saysare both mistaken and misleading.41:5 Paul was saying that these marvelous teachers (“superapostles”) were no better than he was. They may have been moreeloquent speakers, but they spoke lies and were servants of Satan.41:6 Paul, a brilliant thinker, was not a trained, eloquent speaker.Although his ministry was effective (see Acts 17), he had not beentrained in the Greek schools of oratory and speechmaking, as manyof the false teachers probably had been. Paul believed in a simplepresentation of the Good News (see 1 Corinthians 1:17), and somepeople thought this showed simple-mindedness. Thus, Paul'sspeaking performance was often used against him by false teachers.Content is far more important than the presentation. A simple,clear presentation that helps listeners understand will be of greatvalue. God’s Word stands on its own merit and is not dependenton imperfect human beings to create its own hearing. Many peoplefeel that if they can't sing, speak, teach, or preach as well as theiridolized heroes, they are insecure about saying or doing anything.Don’t apologize for your inadequacies. Accept your limitations withthe same humility that you accept the strengths God has given you.11:7. The Corinthians may have thought that preachers couldbe judged by how much money they demanded. A good speakerwould charge a large sum, a fair speaker would be a little cheaper,and a poor speaker would speak for free. The false teachers mayhave argued that because Paul asked no fee for his preaching, hemust have been an amateur, with little authority or competence.Believers today must be careful not to assume that every preacheror evangelist who is well known or who demands a large honor-arium necessarily teaches the truth.11:7-12 Paul could have asked the Corinthian church for financialsupport. Jesus himself taught that those who minister for Godshould be supported by the people to whom they minister (Matthew40:10). But Paul thought that asking for support in Corinth might

from Macedonia brought me all that I needed. I have never been a burden to you, and I never will be. 10As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, no one in all of Greece* will ever stop me from boasting about this. Why? Because I don't love you? God knows that I do. 12But I will continue doing what I have always done. This will undercut those who are looking for an opportunity to boast that their work is just like ours. ‘These people are false apostles. They are deceitful workers who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ. 4But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 13Soit is no wonder that his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. In the end they will get the punishment their wicked deeds deserve.

Paul’s Many Trials

1616Again I say, don’t think that I am a fool to talk like this. But even if you do, listen to me, as you would toa foolish person, while I also boastalittle. 17Such boasting is not from the LORD, but I am acting like a fool. 18And since others boast about their human achievements, I will, too. 19After all, you think you are so wise, but you enjoy putting up with fools! °You put up with it when someone enslaves you, takes everything you have, takes advantage of you, takes control of everything, and slaps you in the face. 2"I'm ashamed to say that we've been too “weak” to do that! But whatever they dare to boast about—I’m talking like a fool again—I dare to boast about it, too. 22Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. 23Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like amadman, but I have served him far more! 1 have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. 24Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. 25Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. 261 have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not.* 271 have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. [have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm. 28Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches. 29wWho is weak without my feeling that weakness? Who is led astray, and I do not burn with anger? 30]f I must boast, I would rather boast about the things that show how weak I am. 31God, the Father of our LORD Jesus, who is worthy of eternal praise, knows I am not lying. 9 When I was in Damascus, the governor under King Aretas kept guards at the city gates to catch me. 33I had to be lowered ina basket through a window in the city wall to escape from him.