2 Corinthians 11

**Butler’s Commentary

Chapter Eleven**

THE PROBLEM OF SLANDER

(2 Corinthians 11:1-33)

IDEAS TO INVESTIGATE:

What is slander? Why are preachers slandered?

Why would a man like Paul be slandered as unskilled in speaking?

How did Paul rob the Corinthian church?

What disguise did the false apostles use?

Why did Paul boast if doing so was repugnant to him?

APPREHENSION:

Did Paul really intend to act like a fool? How is he using the word foolishness?

What does the word betrothed mean as Paul used it about his relationship to the Corinthian church?

Where did the devil (serpent) direct his attack upon Eve?

How could someone preach another Jesus?

What was the different spirit some were receiving?

Was Paul unskilled in speaking? What did he say about that in I Corinthians?

Why did Paul preach the gospel to the Corinthians without cost?

How did Paul support himself while he preached at Corinth?

How did his preaching free of charge undermine the false teachers in Corinth?

Where does the word disguise come from in this text?

How does a servant of Satan disguise himself?

Why did the Corinthians bear with those who enslaved them?

What do you know about Paul’s Jewish lineage? Why did he recite it here?

How many times did Paul suffer beatings? What kind of beatings were they?

How many times did he experience being shipwrecked?

Name 7 perils-’ Paul faced.

In addition to all these, what psychological burdens did he bear? How often?

Why does he relate the story about his sneaking out of Damascus in a basket?

APPLICATION:

Why is it foolishness to compare one’s accomplishments in the ministry? Is it ever not foolish? How can you be sure about practicing it?

When you win someone to Christ do you feel like you have played the part of the Bridegroom’s friend in betrothing them to Christ? Have you ever been instrumental in betrothing anyone to Christ?

What is significant about Paul’s information that the devil (serpent) attacked Eve’s thoughts? Do you now see how important it is to bring every thought captive to obedience to Christ? (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). What is your congregation doing to bring people’s thoughts captive to Christ?

If people (like the Corinthians) receive the spirit of false teachers, whose spirit are they receiving? Can the evil spirit of Satan inhabit people without the phenomenon of demon possession? Isn-’t that Satan’s most important method? Why? Do you know any Satan-spirited possessed people now?

Are you unskilled in speaking? Should that hinder you from speaking the gospel to others? What do you need to say to speak the gospel? How do you need to say it? Why can-’t you?

What are the advantages of self-supporting preachers? Disadvantages? Which do you think would make the kingdom of Christ grow most? Why?

Are there religious leaders in the world today claiming to be apostles of Christ? Who? Are they? Why? What should be done about their claims?

Have you discovered any messengers of Satan in disguise recently? Who? What did you do about it? Are you obligated to warn others about it?

Is it alright to use sarcasm? When?

What do you think of all the perils and difficulties Paul went through to preach the gospel? What do you think of Paul?

How would you compare in self-sacrifice with Paul? Does his example make you want to do more for Jesus? Will you?

Is it alright to be pressured and anxious about the church? Are you?

Why has Paul made such a point to list all his weaknesses and troubles?

Do you really believe the man of God’s credentials are his weaknesses?

What would you do if a man like the apostle Paul became the preacher at your church? Would you run him down, slander his credentials and methods? Would you admire him and work with him?

Special Study A WATCHMAN FOR GOD

And at the end of seven days, the word of the Lord came to me: -Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me.-’ Ezekiel 3:16-17

Introduction

Some two thousand, five hundred years ago, a young Hebrew priest was taken as a Prisoner of War (POW) to a city and land far away from his homeland. Thousands of his countrymen were taken there with him. Some had already preceded them there. They were not tortured or starved to death by their conquerors. Some of them had risen to places of great prominence in the government of their conquerors. But they were thrust into a culture and circumstances that reeked of idolatry and lasciviousness. The Hebrew people had been enamored of idolatry and wickedness and playing with it for 400 years, ever since the divided kingdom. Now God has shaken them among the nations (Goyim) like one shakes a sieve. If they think idolatry and worldliness is the reason for man’s existence, God will give them a full blast of it. He will let them see it up close and personal! God is risking his reputation on this experiment. Many, in fact all, will have the choice of either embracing the idolatry which surrounds them and beckons so alluringly, or they may reject it. But what is the other choice? That is what the watchman was called to doproclaim the other choice. The other choice is redemption thru faith and obedience to God. You see, God, ever since the tragedy of Eden, had been promising to redeem man from his self-made destructionand God had promised to do it by A Man! First, he started the human race over through one man and his family; out of that man’s seed, and through that nation, God intended to produce the perfect man. He would redeem the world.

And for the moment, some 2500 years ago, the whole redemptive process falls upon the shoulders of a few, faithful, courageous watchmen like this priest-prophet. If a remnant of faithful people are to be saved from this wicked, blasphemous world, it will be through these few watchmen. Their’s is an almost overwhelming responsibility. It will take total trust in the word of God and total commitment to the call of God. Whom shall God send, who will go for him, and be a watchman? BY NOW YOU KNOW I-‘M TALKING ABOUT EZEKIEL, THE PRIEST, THE PROPHET, THE WATCHMAN

I.

SEE THE GLORY OF GOD, Ezek. ch. 1 (also Ezekiel 3:22-23, and Ezekiel 10:1-18)

A.

See God’s Control

Ezekiel was given a great mental vision of the Almighty God enthroned above all his creation. It showed God in control of all animate and inanimate creation (the creatures and the wheels).

At great crises in the history of redemption, God called certain men aside and gave them such visions of his majestic glory (Moses, Isaiah, Daniel, John the apostle in the Revelation, Zechariah)

At a critical point in the calling of the apostles the Lord Jesus took three of them aside, up to the mountain top, and there he let them see himself transfigured in all his divine glory.

IF EVER GOD SHALL HAVE A MAN TO BE A WATCHMAN, HE MUST BE A MAN WHO HAS SEEN THE MAJESTIC GLORY OF GOD IN CONTROL OF ALL CREATION, IN CONTROL OF ALL CIRCUMSTANCES AND ALL OF IT WORKING TO GOD’S GLORY! THAT IS WHAT EZEKIEL SAW OF HIS PEOPLE’S CIRCUMSTANCES. GOD IN CONTROL. GOD WORKING THEM TO SERVE HIS PURPOSES! THEN HE WAS SENT TO TELL THE PEOPLE WHAT HE HAD SEEN OF THE GLORY OF GOD! One of the reasons there aren-’t more watchmen for God today is God’s people have not seen the glory of God! J.B. Phillips says in his little book, Your God Is Too Small: The trouble with many people today is that they have not found a God big enough for modern needs. While their experience of life has grown in a score of directions, and their mental horizons have been expanded to the point of bewilderment by world events and by scientific discoveries, their idea of God have remained largely static. It is obviously impossible for an adult to worship the conception of God that exists in the mind of a child of Sunday-school age, unless he is prepared to deny his own experience of life. he worships or serves a God who is really too small to command his adult loyalty and cooperation.

If it is true that there is Someone in charge of the whole mystery of life and death, we can hardly expect to escape a sense of futility and frustration until we begin to see what He is like and what His purposes are.

B.

See God’s Character

One of the things Ezekiel saw in this great vision was the rainbow surrounding the throne of the Almighty God. John the Apostle saw the same rainbow (Revelation 4:3). THE RAINBOW IS, OF COURSE, SYMBOLIC OF GOD’S GREATEST CHARACTERISTIC. HIS FAITHFULNESS!

Ezekiel saw that God was being faithful to his promises even in the circumstances surrounding him. Faithfulness is the foundation of all goodness. Without faithfulness, words are false and not to be trusteddeeds are exploitative and unloving. Faithfulness is love in action.

This is what God kept telling his people century after century through the patriarchs and the prophets. I WILL KEEP MY WORD. I AM FAITHFUL. I DO LOVE YOU. I AM REDEEMING YOU.

C.

See God’s Son

People today clamor for what they think would turn them to God. a vision of God’s glory like Ezekiel, or Isaiah, or Zechariah or John the apostle. THEY WANT A MIRACLE TO HAPPEN OR THEY DO NOT THINK THEY CAN SEE THE GLORY OF GOD.

Yet the N.T. tells us clearly that we may see the glory of God in Jesus, through the word of the apostles. Peter: For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, -This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,-’ we heard this voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain.

AND PETER CONTINUES TO INSIST IN THE WORDS FOLLOWING THESE THAT CHRISTIANS ARE TO SEE THE GLORY OF GOD IN THE INSPIRED WORDS OF THE SCRIPTURES (2 Peter 1:16-21).

John: That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and touched with our hands, concerning the word of lifethe life was made manifest, and we saw it, and testify to it, and proclaim to you the eternal life which was with the Father and was made manifest to usthat which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you may have fellowship with us; and our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:1-4.

Paul: Talking about the New Covenant Word which he had planted in the hearts of the Corinthians said: And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit 2 Corinthians 3:17-18.

SEEING THE GLORY OF GOD IN HIS SON, THROUGH THE WORD OF THE APOSTLES IS BETTER THAN SEEING IT IN A VISION. JESUS SAID TO THOMAS, HAVE YOU BELIEVED BECAUSE YOU HAVE SEEN ME. BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HAVE NOT SEEN AND YET BELIEVE. THAT IS WHAT OZARK CHRISTIAN COLLEGE EXISTS FOR. TO MAKE WATCHMEN. TO COMMUNICATE FROM THE WORD, THE GLORY OF GOD. THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE HERE FOR. TO SEE THAT GLORY! REMEMBER WHAT REUBEL SHELLY SAID NOT TOO LONG AGO IN THIS VERY CHAPEL ABOUT MORE STUDY OF THE GOSPELS. MORE PREACHING FROM THE GOSPELS! The man who fanned into flame the great revival of the 18th century in America. called the Great Awakening. a contemporary of the American Revolution. Jonathan Edwards was suddenly converted, in the moment of reading a single verse of the N.T. He was at home in his father’s house; some hindrances kept him from going to church one Sunday with the family. A couple of hours with nothing to do sent him listlessly into the library; the sight of a dull volume with no title on the leather back of it evoked curiosity as to what it could be; he opened it at random and found it to be a Bible; and then his eye caught this verse: Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen! He tells us in his journal that the immediate effect of it was awakening and alarming to his soul: for it brought him a most novel and most extensive thought of the vastness and majesty of the true Sovereign of the universe. Out of this grew the pain of guilt for having resisted such a Monarch so long, and for having served Him so poorly. GOD MUST HAVE WATCHMEN. BUT FIRST THEY MUST SEE HIS GLORY. HIS GLORY IS ALL AROUND MANKIND. IT IS IN THE STARS, IN THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE. BUT THE GLORY THAT MAKES MEN INTO WATCHMEN IS SEEN IN HIS SON, THROUGH THE WORD WHERE HE IS BEHELD WITH THE EYE OF FAITH, NOT OF FLESH! II.

SPEAK THE WORD OF GOD, Ezek. ch. 2 & 3

A.

No Matter What It Says

Ezekiel was given a scroll to eat and told to eat what was offered AND THEN TO GO SPEAK TO THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL! SPEAK GOD’S WORDS! The scroll represents all God has to say to his people. It is a symbol used often in the scriptures. John the apostle saw a scroll in the right hand of him who sat upon the throne of heaven, sealed with seven seals, and when each seal was opened, some frightful things issued forth from that scroll. Again, John is given a scroll to eat, in Revelation 10:1-11, it contained things both bitter and sweet. BUT JOHN WAS TOLD HE MUST PREACH WHAT WAS ON THAT SCROLL.

The watchman of God must tell the whole story. He cannot deal with the truth in an underhanded way. as a peddler of God’s word (a huckster).

He must not practice cunning or tamper with God’s word (2 Corinthians 2:1-17; 2 Corinthians 4:1-18). He must not market God’s people by being false with the word (2 Peter 2:3 where the word for emporium is translated exploit) and the Gr. word translated false is plastois (Eng. plastic).

Jeremiah nearly lost his life, a number of times, for telling it like God said. So did Daniel, Shadrach, Meshech and Abed-nego. So did the Apostles.

THEY DID LOSE THEIR REPUTATION WITH THE WORLD, THEY LOST THEIR WORLDLY FRIENDS, MOST OF THEIR WORLDLY POSSESSIONS.

MANY CHRISTIANS HAD (Hebrews 10:32-39) THEIR PROPERTY, JOYFULLY

Paul, often, suffered the loneliness of being alienated even from his Christian brethren (read I and II Corinthians) because he dared declare the whole counsel of God, just as he did to those at Ephesus, house to house, with tears, night and day.

IF YOU WILL BE A WATCHMAN OF GOD YOU MUST PREACH THE WHOLE WORD OF GOD. AND OF COURSE TO PREACH IT YOU MUST KNOW IT, HEREMENEUTICALLY, HISTORICALLY, GRAMATICALLY, AND SPIRITUALLY. WITH THE HEART!

B.

No Matter Whether They Hear or Not!

Ezekiel had quite a constituency to which to preach! Hard-headed, rebellious, stubborn, impudent, wicked, unlistening. A CONGREGATION OF TELEPHONE POLES WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER. AT LEAST THEY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN IMPUDENT!

You can read about the attitudes of Ezekiel’s congregation in Jeremiah’s book, too!

But Ezekiel preached the Word of God to them.

He told them they were Ichabods. The Glory has Departed. He told them they were whores unfaithful to God. He told them their false prophets were liars, soul-hunters. He told them they were a useless vine, only good for burning. He told them they were deceiving themselves with their false parable, The fathers have eaten sour grapes and the children’s teeth are set on edge! IRRESPONSIBLE, GUTLESS NATION BLAMING THEIR ANCESTORS FOR THEIR OWN SINS.

of the nations No hiding place there he said. He preached the glorious, great, demonstrable, worldwide victory of God over the worst the world could do to stop his redemptive plan. Gog and Magog (which I believe is fulfilled in Christ and the Church, now, not the millennium). He preached the future glorious city, and sanctuary. his great temple, which if literally built would have engulfed the whole city of Jerusalem of Hezekiah. (which is also the Church of the Christian dispensation.)

BUT THEY DIDN-‘T LISTEN. FOR THE MOST PART ONLY A FEW BELIEVED HIM!

God told Ezekiel his success was not to be measured in whether anyone listened or not. only in whether he spoke or not. As God’s watchman, if he warned, if he spoke all the counsel of God, he would be free of the blood of all men. Jesus told his apostles they would be sent to sow where others would reap, and reap where others had sown. The important matter is in the speaking. not the response. WATCHMEN ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RESPONSE. ONLY FOR THE PROCLAMATION!

Paul did not care what people thought of his eloquence or how they compared his message with that of the Greek philosophers. he only cared that they hear from him the word of God, clearly, correctly, and faithfully. Paul’s instructions to his students and co-workers in the Lord, Timothy and Titus was, Preach the word.. Listen to these words from one of the greatest preachers of the Word this country has ever know: In his 71st year, reviewing some of the highlights of his long and active life in the ministry, R.A. Torrey said: If I had my life to live all over again, I would spend less time in praying and more time feeding on the Word of God. This is the man who preached all over the world had 70,000 responses to his preaching in Great Britain alone; was most responsible for Moody Bible Institute’s greatness; began the Bible Institute of Los Angeles, BIOLA; wrote The Fundamentals and many works on Apologetics. Moody himself said: In prayer we talk to God, and in the study of the Bible God talks to usand you had better let God do most of the talking! R.A. Torrey was famous for his sermons being logical, unemotional, to the point, hermeneutically correct, and full of Bible. For some of his campaigns he engaged as a songleader a man named Homer Hammontree. Hammontree was struck by the manner of the evangelist’s invitations. There was little emotion or entreatyalmost a take it or leave it. In some of his first services with Torrey no one came forward. After several such nights he asked him, Dr. Torrey doesn-’t it bother you when they don-’t come?

Bother me, Hammie?. Hammie, that’s none of my business. It’s my business to preach the Gospel. it’s His business to bring results. In a later service Hammie saw over one hundred people stand up and come forward at the invitation. His favorite sermon was 10 Reasons Why I Believe the Bible is the Word of God PREACH THE WORD. THE WORD HAS AUTOMATIC LIFE IN ITSELF (Mark 4:28. the Greek word there is actually, automate from which we get automatic). Produces of itself

III.

SERVE THE PEOPLE OF GOD, Ezekiel, ch. 2-12

A.

In the difficult places

Ezekiel was not sent to a people who would be responsive. He was sent to his own people who had heard the message over and over and over and over.

God told him he was not sending him to a people of foreign speech and a hard language. who would surely listen to him. but he was sent to the house of Israel who would not listen to him because they would not listen to God

Sometimes the foreign mission field is considered an easy place to serve. Many a missionary has returned to the good old USA and said I-’m glad I don-’t serve here! Some of our own kids who went behind the Iron Curtain a few years ago with TCM heard communist-controlled people say, I-’m glad I don-’t have to live in the US and try to be a Christian.

Actually, there aren-’t any easy places to serve. Service takes humility and work, wherever you are, and none of that is easy! Read II Corinthians some time when you get discouraged with your lot! Read Jeremiah, read I Peter. Read the Gospels. Read Church History.

B.

Doing Things You Don-’t Like To Do

Ezekiel was called upon to do many things down in an unclean world that traumatized every fiber of his Jewish upbringing. just like Daniel.

First there was his audience.

Second there were the inconveniences and seemingly silly things God asked him to do to communicate his message, like drawing pictures (on an overhead projector) clay tablet; like cooking his meals on unclean fuel; like lying bound hand and foot for long hours every day for months; like cutting his hair and shaving his beard and going through the streets throwing little portions of it around while he preached; like digging holes in the wall and carrying baggage back and forth through them.

I read one time of missionaries in New Guinea, in the jungles, among head-hunters. They were invited to a feast in the village of a tribe they desperately wanted to reach with the Gospel. The main course was monkey meat. Near the end of the meal, the old tribal chief took one of the roasted bones with a little meat left on it and began to scrape it off under his fingernail. Earlier he had been scratching his naked body all over and rubbing his fingers between his toes, scratching his matted hair. He began to roll this meat into a little ball. then he motioned for one of the white ladies to open her mouth. as she did he popped this ball of monkey meat into her mouth. She knew if she spat it out the chief would be deeply offended and they probably would never get to speak to the tribe of the gospel. So she swallowed it! Along with pride and revulsion and maybe even good sense. she swallowed it!

HOW MUCH ARE YOU WILLING TO SWALLOW FOR THE SAKE OF THE GOSPEL. HOW MUCH CAN YOU TAKE FOR GOD IN ORDER TO BE A WATCHMAN. Are you willing to have no place to lay your head. willing to eat with sinners and publicans. willing to eat with and talk to hypocrites. willing to become all things to all men in order to win some?

C.

Even when It Overwhelms You

Ezekiel went, in the heat of his spirit, the hand of the Lord being strong upon him. and sat among his people overwhelmed among them seven days. 2 Corinthians 3:14

HE WASN-‘T BITTER TOWARD THE LORD. HE WAS SUFFERING THE BITTERNESS OF THE TASK BEFORE HIM! IT SEEMED OVERWHELMING. HE WAS LIKE MOSES. THE JOB SEEMED IMPOSSIBLE! But when God makes you a watchman, he does not hold you responsible for resultsrememberonly for proclaiming and serving. Saving the whole world will always seem to us to be overwhelming. BUT SAVING THE WORLD IS NOT OUR RESPONSIBILITY. PREACHING IS!

In one of Paul Harvey’s books, Destiny (from a series of Now You Know The Rest of The Story) comes the story entitled, Anatomy of a Hypochrondiac:

37 years youngtoo young to be dyingand yet the symptoms of terminal heart disease were unmistakable. She told friends that her life now hung by a thread, which might snap at any moment. And she went to bed. And waited to die. And did not. Instead she became an invalid, a fearful captive of the fatal symptoms that strangely refused to kill her. So many symptomswith but one source: psychoneurosis. It was all in her mind. This, then is the anatomy of a hypochondriac.

The peculiar illnesses began when she was about 17. Her wealthy, socially ambitious parents had plans for her; she had her own plans, which included independence from her parents. While I do not mean to suggest that the young lady was playing sick, it must be noted that virtually all her illnesses followed family argumentsas though sickness had become her subliminal defense against parental manipulation. Age 33 she finally left home, got her own place to live, got happy. Her family frustrations gone, so fled her psychosomatic swooning. This bliss lasted for three years. For three years she was an achiever, a woman of responsibility and boundless energy whose only aches and pains were legitimate ones. You, the investigator of her case history, must be alert at this point, must watch for that moment at which she lapsed into her former self. She was 36 when it happened. Palpitations, respiratory difficulty, sick at the sight of food. Within months she was bedridden, her pulse frighteningly rapid. There she stayed. On occasion her condition grew suddenly worse, and the occasions were almost always predictable. Unwelcome visitors routinely inspired headaches and chest pains and gasping for breath. By now, apparently her psychoneurosis had become a well-oiled problem solving machine. She may even have understood it at one level or another, although outwardly she believed herself to be constantly at the brink of death. 37 years old. Invalid. Anxiously awaiting the dread moment when her heart would drop out from under her. One day it did. She was 90! Her illness really was psychosomatic, you see. For 53 years, more than half a century, she lived in bedfor nothing. True, her confinement accomplished certain things. It brought the people she wanted to her side, as her sudden attacks drove the unwanted away. Her bed even proved a comfortable vantage point from which she could observe and administer the work of others. Yet the psychoneurosis which held her prisoner for most of her life had deeper roots still. Remember those 3 years during which she was not plagued by imaginary illnesses? Those years she had spent alleviating the suffering of others. Most of that time at the Crimean War front. For the passion her parents tried to suppress, a profession then regarded as unbecoming, was nursing. The young lady was happy only as an active nurse. Otherwise, she was a hopeless, helpless hypochondriac.

Yet so astonishing was her physical and emotional strength, her sheer endurance as a nurse during the Crimean War, that nursing became a respectable occupation through her example. The world forgot, or chose to ignore, that she spent the rest of her lifemore than half a centuryin bed, in fear, in vain. You know her as Florence Nightingale. Only now, you know THE REST OF THE STORY!

IF IT IS IN YOUR HEART TO BE GOD’S WATCHMAN, LET NO ONE DETER YOU! THE PERSON WITH A WATCHMAN’S HEART, MUST SERVE, MUST SPEAK, HE CANNOT BE HAPPY UNLESS HE IS. EVEN WHEN THE TASK SEEMS OVERWHELMING.

CONCLUSION

Twenty years ago, about this time of the year, Easter, I was holding a revival in Grenola, Kansas (the town made famous by the Wartick family). With me was a young OBC student and his girl friend. They were doing the special music, etc. And let me tell you that etc. was fun to watchthey were love sick. It was at that revival they announced their engagement to be married. The future bride’s mother was there for a night or two for the occasion. Twenty years later, that former OBC student and his wife and family are watchmen for God. Hear what he writes: We have been praying for the upbuilding of the Chinese Church in No. Thailand. In the last 5 years great strides have been made in this area. It is getting difficult to find Chinese communities where the gospel has not been preached and there are Christians. There are still a few. Within a year the church in Piang Luang has doubled and is growing in quality.. Just a few years ago there were no Christians among the Shan.. Twenty Shans have started Bible training in the last year in Burma. in order to preach among their own people.. This is an answer to prayer. And much more will be accomplished if you and I continue to pray. I should say, Start to pray. Let’s stop praying, Protect and bless the missionaries but pray clothe them with your whole armor and put them in the battle. Let your kingdom come to earth as it is in heaven whether by our life or death. May every Power in the heaven lies be brought under your subjection as the gospel is preached. That’s my dear brother, former student, and a little Okie from Muskogee Alan Bemo and his wife, the former Janet Dittemore. YOU CAN BE A WATCHMAN FOR GOD. YOU ARE A WATCHMAN FROM GOD. THE TRUMPET OF GOD IS BEING PASSED INTO YOUR HAND THIS VERY HOUR, THIS VERY SEMESTER!

Applebury’s Comments CHAPTER ELEVEN

Analysis

A.

Paul appealed to the Corinthians to understand his position in respect to their relation to Christ (2 Corinthians 11:1-5).

He began with an ironical appeal for them to bear with a little foolishness (2 Corinthians 11:1-6).

a)

He made the appeal even though he aware that they were bearing with him (2 Corinthians 11:1).

b)

He stated his position in respect to their relation to Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2-3).

(1)

He was the one who had betrothed them to Christ.

(a)

As such, he was jealous of others who might usurp his position.

(b)

He wanted them to remain as a pure virgin betrothed to Christ.

(c)

He reminded them that Christ was to be their one husband.

(2)

He expressed his fear that they might be led away from this pure relationship to Christ.

(a)

Just as the serpent deceived Eve, they were being deceived by false teachers.

(b)

They were actually in danger of being led away from sincere devotion to Christ.

c)

He pointed out the conditions under which they were ready to listen to other teachers (2 Corinthians 11:4).

(1)

They would listen if some came preaching another Jesus.

(2)

They would listen if they received a different spirit than that which they had received when they accepted the gospel that Paul preachedthis is a part of the foolishness about which he wrote.

(3)

They would even listen to a different gospel which was not the one they accepted when he led them to Christ.

d)

He defended his apostleship against these deceivers (2 Corinthians 11:5-6).

(1)

He was in no way inferior to these super-apostles.

(2)

He admitted that he was no professional orator, but defended his knowledge which he had in every way shown to be from God. They had seen the evidence that this was true.

He contrasted his ministry at Corinth with that of the false teachers (2 Corinthians 11:7-15).

a)

He asked, Did I sin in lowering myself that you might be exalted? (2 Corinthians 11:7-11)

(1)

This issue was based on the fact that he had preached the gospel to them without charge (2 Corinthians 11:7).

(2)

Ironically, he stated that he had robbed other churcheshe had accepted support from themin order to preach the gospel without charge to the Corinthians. (2 Corinthians 11:8)

(3)

The brethren of Macedonia had supplied his needs when he was at Corinth and in want. (2 Corinthians 11:9 a).

(4)

He determined not to be a burden to them and that no one would stop him from boasting about this in Achaia (2 Corinthians 11:9 b - 2 Corinthians 11:10).

(5)

Why was this? It was to show his love for them, for God knew that he did love them (2 Corinthians 11:11).

b)

He explained his reason for continuing this policy in Achaia (2 Corinthians 11:12-15).

(1)

It was to prevent others from making the claim that they were on the same footing as Paul in relation to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 11:12).

(2)

It was to show the real motive of others (2 Corinthians 11:13).

(a)

He revealed what they really were:

i)

False apostles.

ii)

Deceitful workers.

iii)

False apostles of Christ.

(b)

He revealed their relation to Satan (2 Corinthians 11:14-15).

i)

Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

ii)

His servants disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. See Romans 6:16 ff.

(c)

He revealed what their end will be: It will be according to their deeds.

B.

Paul ironically asked to be allowed to boast a little (2 Corinthians 11:16-33).

He asked that no one think him foolish; yet if they did, he wanted them to allow him to boast a little (2 Corinthians 11:16-21 a).

a)

He asked them to accept him even if he was boasting foolishly (2 Corinthians 11:16).

b)

This approach was not the manner in which the Lord had appealed to His hearers (2 Corinthians 11:17 a). See 2 Corinthians 10:1.

c)

He had confidence in his grounds for boasting about these things (2 Corinthians 11:17 b).

d)

Since others gloried in the fleshtheir human accomplishmentshe would also, for the Corinthians seemed to be willing to listen to this foolishness. They thought of themselves as being wise. (2 Corinthians 11:18-19).

d)

He described the type of man they were willing to put up with (2 Corinthians 11:20).

(1)

One who enslaved them.

(2)

One who devoured them.

(3)

One who took advantage of them.

(4)

One who exalted himself.

(5)

One who struck them in the face.

f)

Judged by such standards Paul admitted that he was weak (2 Corinthians 11:21 a).

He compared his grounds for boastinghis labors and sufferingswith that of others (2 Corinthians 11:21 b - 2 Corinthians 11:29).

a)

In relation to the fathers, he was their equal (21 b - 2 Corinthians 11:22).

(1)

Are they Hebrews? So was he.

(2)

Are they Israelites? So was he.

(3)

Are they Abraham’s seed? So was he.

b)

In relation to Christ, he excelled them (2 Corinthians 11:23).

(1)

To call them ministers of Christ is to speak as one who is mad.

(2)

Paul excelled them in labors, imprisonments, beatings, and death for Christ.

c)

In relation to the things he suffered as a minister of Christ, he was far beyond them (2 Corinthians 11:24-29).

(1)

Beatings, stonings, shipwrecks (2 Corinthians 11:24-25).

(2)

Journeys and perils (2 Corinthians 11:26).

(3)

Labors, travail, watchings, hunger, thirst, fastings, cold and nakedness (2 Corinthians 11:27).

(4)

Anxiety for all the churches (2 Corinthians 11:28).

(5)

Identity with the weak and stumbling (2 Corinthians 11:29).

He presented an example of the solemn truth about his boasting in weakness (2 Corinthians 11:30-33).

a)

The truth of this account was known to the God and Father of the Lord Jesus. (2 Corinthians 11:30-31).

b)

As evidence of his weakness, he related the story of his escape from persecution at the hands of the governor under Aretas (2 Corinthians 11:32-33).

Questions

Why did Paul ask that they bear with him in a little foolishness?

Why did he say that they were bearing with him? What evidence did he have to prove this?

Why did Paul say, I am jealous over you?

To what kind of jealousy did he refer? How did he illustrate it?

What were the Corinthians doing to make him jealous?

What was Paul’s position in their relation to Christ?

How does marriage explain the relation of the believer to Christ?

What had Paul written to the Corinthians on the subject of marriage that would cause him to recall this point?

What had Paul written to the Ephesians illustrating the same point?

What is suggested in Revelation on the subject?

Why was it necessary for Paul to use the word pure in connection with the word virgin?

What was he implying by the use of these terms as to the conduct of the Corinthians?

How had Satan completely deceived Eve?

What grounds did Paul have for his fears that the Corinthians were being deceived?

What did John say about the old serpent?

How is the craftiness of Satan illustrated in his deception of Eve?

What is meant by the simplicity and purity that it showed toward Christ?

Explain how the word translated simplicity can also be translated liberality.

How can the Christian guard himself against the crafty deception of Satan?

What is the first business of the church?

What comparison can be made between Jesus whom Paul preached and the Jesus whom the false apostles were preaching?

What was the different spirit which they were receiving?

What did Paul mean when he asked the Galatians, Did ye receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by the hearing of faith?

What did he mean when he asked the disciples at Ephesus Did ye receive the Holy Spirit when ye believed?

What did the Christians at Rome receive that enabled them to call God Father?

What, then, was the different spirit which the Corinthians received when they listened to the super-apostles?

How did the gospel which Paul preached compare with the different gospel preached by the false apostles?

Why did he say that they did well to bear with such false teachers?

What did Paul say about himself in comparison to such teachers?

What is meant by the word that is translated rude in some of our Bibles?

What may be said of Paul’s style and manner of speech and writing?

What claim did Paul make as to his knowledge? Why?

Why did Paul ask, Did I commit a sin? by not taking wages from the Corinthians?

How had Paul demonstrated to the Corinthians that his message was from God?

How had he been supported when he was at Corinth?

How are we to understand his statement that he robbed other church?

What did Paul say to the Philippians about the support of his ministry?

Why did he say that no one could stop him from boasting about this policy in the regions of Achaia?

Why did he raise the question of his love for them in this connection?

In what terms did Paul describe these false teachers?

In what terms did he describe Satan’s activity?

In what terms did Jesus and Peter describe Satan?

How explain the irony in Paul’s reference to foolishness?

Why did he say, I speak not after the Lord?

What were the false teachers at Corinth boasting about?

Why did Paul feel a sense of shame in having to boast about the things he had suffered in his ministry for Christ?

How did Paul compare with the super-apostles in relation to the Israelites? the Hebrews? the ministry for Christ?

What is the meaning of Hebrews and Israelites?

Who are the seed of Abraham?

Into what categories did Paul put the things he had suffered as an apostle of Christ?

What did he mean by anxiety for all the churches?

What had been his attitude toward the weak?

Why did he insist that he would boast only in his weakness?

For Discussion

What are some of the crafty ways in which Satan is attempting to deceive the church today?

What can the church do to demonstrate its faithfulness to Christ?

2 Corinthians 11:1-6

**Butler’s Commentary

SECTION 1

Unarticulative **(2 Corinthians 11:1-6)

I wish you would bear with me in a little foolishness. Do bear with me! 2I feel a divine jealousy for you, for I betrothed you to Christ to present you as a pure bride to her one husband. 3But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4For if some one comes and preaches another Jesus than the one we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you submit to it readily enough. 5I think that I am not in the least inferior to these superlative apostles. 6Even if I am unskilled in speaking, I am not in knowledge; in every way we have made this plain to you in all things.

**2 Corinthians 11:1-4 Unsophisticated: **Although the word slander is not used in this chapter, that is the burden Paul addresses here. There is no lack of evidence that Paul was slandered throughout his life as a Christian (see Acts 22:30; Acts 23:28-29; Acts 24:2; Acts 24:8; Acts 24:13; Acts 25:5; Acts 25:11; Acts 25:16; Acts 25:18; Acts 26:2; Acts 26:7; Romans 3:8). The word slander, in Greek, is diabolos, or devil, (see 1 Timothy 3:11; 2 Timothy 3:3; Titus 2:3). The Greek noun is from the verb diaballo, to throw through, to thrust through, to accuse, slander, defame. There were false apostles at Corinth who had slandered Paul to the congregation there. These slanderers were probably Judaizers, who came from Jerusalem, claiming authority because of their origins. At the same time they were trying to deceive the Corinthians, by their cunning that Paul had not shown the proper credentials to be trusted as a true apostle. Their first slanderous innuendo seems to be that Paul’s approach and his message was too simple (sincere 2 Corinthians 11:3). Their accusation seems to be that Paul was unsophisticated and unarticulate. And how does Paul answer this slander? By a little foolishness!

In Paul’s mind, he was acting foolishly when he had to boast about his accomplishments in the ministry. The Greek word translated fool or foolish or madman (2 Corinthians 11:1; 2 Corinthians 11:16-17; 2 Corinthians 11:19; 2 Corinthians 11:21; 2 Corinthians 11:23) is aphrona which literally means, out of one’s mind or brainless. Throughout these last four Chapter s Paul says he is doing what he despises. He apologizes every time he has to do so.

The only reason he now boasts of anything (he actually takes pride only in weaknesses) is that he knows the important point is not his own dignity, but the dignity and honor of Christ and his Church which is at stake. He is therefore willing to lower himself in his own eyes and do what was very distasteful for him in order to rescue these Christians from seduction by false teachers.

Satirically, he reminds the Corinthians they gladly bear with fools. even if a man make slaves of you, or preys upon you, or takes advantage of you, or puts on airs, or strikes you in the face. (2 Corinthians 11:19-20). He begs them to grant him the same indulgence. He wants to spread only a little (Gr. mikron, microscopic, tiny) foolishness. While some people think of the humble, self-sacrificing and spiritually-minded preacher or missionary as a fool for giving up so much and being so holy, the same people bear with actual fools (false teachers) who tell them what they want to hear. Paul wrote to Timothy and explained why people are so silly as to willingly enslave themselves to exploiters, who seduce them with sophistry and insult (slap in the face) (see 2 Timothy 3:1-9) them. It is incredible, but there are people eager to be fooled or follow fools (see Isaiah 30:9-11; Micah 2:6; Micah 2:11; Micah 3:5; 1 Timothy 4:1-5; 2 Timothy 4:3-5; 2 Peter 2:1 ff).

Paul was willing to stoop to the game of fools because he had a divine (Gr. theou, godly) jealousy for the Corinthians. He had betrothed (Gr. hermosamen, the word from which we get the English word harmony, harmonized, it means, join, unite, fit together, marry) them to Christ as a pure bride (Gr. hagnen parthenon, holy virgin). Paul had not merely engaged them to Christ, he married them. He had united them in the ultimate relationshiphumanity to deity, deity to humanity. There could be no better relationship to Christ. Certainly, the law of Moses could only enslave themnot marry them. If being foolish joining in the foolish game of comparing credentials and affectionate love would save the Corinthians from seduction, hesitant as he was, Paul would do so.

The spirit of the devil was at work in Corinth. That is the way Paul evaluated the situation. He knew the work of these super pseudo-apostles was like that of the old Snake (Satan) when he deceived (Gr. exepatesen, tricked, cheated, seduced) Eve in the Garden of Eden. The devil is cunning (Gr. panourgia, lit. all-working, adroit, dexterous, expert, artful, cagey). And notice where he attacks! He attacked Eve at the most crucial point of spiritualitythe mind, the thoughts. That is why Paul’s statement about the weapons of spiritual warfare (2 Corinthians 10:3-5) are so significant! They all deal with the mindoverthrowing arguments and proud obstacles to the knowledge of God and taking captive every thought to obey Christ. The devil led Eve’s thoughts astrayhe was about to lead the Corinthian’s thoughts astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. The devil would deceive the Corinthians through his servants who disguised themselves as messengers of light (2 Corinthians 11:12-15). John R. Stott says in his concise little book, The Mind Matters:

Faith is not optimism. Faith is a reasoning trust, a trust which reckons thoughtfully and confidently upon the trustworthiness of God. in Scripture, the deceit of the mind is commonly laid down as the principle of all sin.. Clear Biblical knowledge of God’s will is the first secret of a righteous life.. The battle is nearly always won in the mind. It is by the renewal of our mind that our character and behavior become transformed.. Self-control is primarily mind-control. What we sow in our minds we reap in our actions.. Men’s minds need to be fed just as much as their bodies.. And the kind of food our minds devour will determine the kind of persons we become.

The word sincere is from the Greek word haplotetos which means, simple, sincere, open, elementary, unsophisticated. The devil was about to lead astray (Gr. phthare, seduce, beguile) the thoughts of the Corinthians from the simplicity of the gospel. this is the way the devil works. He does not now attack bodies. He brings no irresistible force to bear upon people. He plants cleverly twisted thoughts in people’s minds by words. And he is expert at turning a word to deceive. He is adroit at using words to make falsehood appear to be truth. What the devil told Eve was clearly false. Eve was not defenseless. God’s true word had been spoken to her. But what the devil’s words promised was immediate and pleasurable stroking of the fleshly nature and Eve chose that. Satan deceived her into believing that what God had said to her was too simple! And any preacher today who proclaims God’s word as the answer to life’s ultimate and most perplexing problems will be accused of being too simplistic! People have been seduced by the master-liar (Satan) that life is too complex, too ambiguous, too paradoxical, too sophisticated to be lived in conformity to the Bible. And this would have been the argument of the Judaizers. Paul taught that living free, under the compulsion and constraint of infinite grace, was sufficient for joy and fulfillment. Peter said that through a knowledge of Christ and his promises God had provided all things that pertain to life and godliness and even provided the way for man to become a partaker of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:3-5). But the Judaizers said that was too simplisticthat Paul was teaching people to sin (Romans 3:8)that people need to be regimented under the laws of Moses to survive the complexities of life.

When the Corinthians were bearing with the super apostles, they were bearing with another Jesus (Gr. allon, another of the same kind). The Judaizers believed that Jesus was the Messiah, as Paul did. But they taught that Jesus came to establish Judaism, not to vicariously fulfill the law and abrogate it. The difference was not in the history of the person Jesus, but in the role he was to fulfill as Messiah. There are those today who do much the same thing with Jesus. While they admit his historical existence in the past, they reject his substitutionary death as atonement for man’s sinsthey present him as an example to follow in living a life of self-righteous goodness in order to be justified before God. That is another Jesus! It is cunningly and deceitfully constructed.

They were also bearing with those of a different (Gr. heteron, from hetero- another of a different kind) spirit and a different gospel. It is interesting that Paul uses the word spirit (Gr. pneuma) in connection to his opponents. In the context he is talking about those who are as the serpent (the devil) was with Eve. In other words, the Judaizers brought with them (or in them) the spirit of the devil when they came to Corinth. It is possible, then, for people to have the evil spirit of the devil without being possessed in a miraculous way such as were the demon possessed in the Gospels and Acts. Demon possession was unique to the public ministry of Christ and the twelve apostles, but does not seem to have been a phenomenon lasting beyond the apostolic first century (see our Special Study on demon possession in The Gospel of Luke, pp. 153-156, College Press). But the main thrust of the devil’s war against man has been to capture his mind (thoughts). If the devil can lead astray or seduce the mind of a person, he does not need to possess his body. The human body is doomed to return to dust. But the spirit (mind) is immortal and that is what Satan wants to bring down to hell with him. The devil can get into people without using demons!

There is no gospel of another kind in reality (see Galatians 1:6-9). Gospel means good news. What the Judaizers preached was a gospel of law. Law condemnsit does not show mercy and forgiveness. But the Judaizers claimed that what they preached was the gospel of God. They claimed it was the only true gospel. Paul called their gospel the dispensation of death (2 Corinthians 3:1-18)!

While they were slandering Paul as unsophisticatedtoo simplistic in messageand those who accepted him as an apostle as fools, Paul was implying that those who accepted the message of the Judaizers were being fooled. They submitted (Gr. anechesthe, put-up-with, endure) readily enough to the foolishness of the spirit of the devil, and the preaching of another Jesus and another gospel, so they might well put-up-with a tiny bit of foolishness from Paul!

2 Corinthians 11:5-6 Unskilled: Not only was Paul unarticulate because of the simplicity of his message, said the Judaizers, he was also unskilled in speech. The first thing Paul does to reply to this slander is state that he reckoned (Gr. logizomai, reason, think, reckon) he came behind in nothing (Gr. meden husterekenai, not inferior) compared to these superlative apostles (Gr. huperlian apostolon, from lian and huper, exceedingly-beyond, or super-duper). Either the Judaizers were representing themselves as super apostles because they were from Jerusalem and had some credentials they believed were lacking in Paul, or Paul was using sarcasm in calling them super. Perhaps it was both! Did they have credentials? Paul’s were in no way inferior to theirs (2 Corinthians 12:12). Did they say they cared about the church in Corinth? Paul had shown his care was undebatable (2 Corinthians 11:2; 2 Corinthians 11:7-9; 2 Corinthians 11:28; 2 Corinthians 12:13-15; 2 Corinthians 12:19, etc.).

Next, Paul admitted he might be unskilled in speaking compared to the world’s adoration of oratorical eloquence, but he was not unskilled in knowledge. The word unskilled in Greek is idiotes (from which we get the English word, idiot, idiotic). This word began by meaning a private individual who took no part in public life. It went on to mean someone with no technical training. True, Paul was not a graduate of the Greeks schools of oratory. He was not a glib-tongued rhetorician who could entertain, mesmerize, or seduce with words. He was not in that business! They accused him of being inadequate, unschooled, inferior and therefore, not to be listened to.

Paul never pretended or claimed oratorial skill (see 1 Corinthians 1:17-25; 1 Corinthians 2:1-16). The gospel is actually emptied of its power by oratorical ostentation and philosophical sophistication. The gospel is fact, not oratory or myth. It is historythe eyewitnessed evidence of the incarnation of God. It needs simply to be reported, transmitted, announcednot orated! Jesus thanked God that his word was hidden from the wise but revealed to babes Matthew 11:25-30. Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so! That is the simplicity of the good news.

He was not unskilled or without technical knowledge of the gospel of grace! Paul had made plain (Gr. phanerosantes, manifested, cleared) all things (Gr. pasin) in every way (Gr. en panti) to the Corinthians. His First Corinthian letter alone makes plain every doctrine or practice or principle necessary to the Christian life! We know he must have preached and taught many more words to the Corinthians besides those he wrote. They should never have been deceived by anyone who would accuse Paul of being unarticulate! He was able to communicate the facts of the Gospel well enough to convert thousands of people.

One does not need skill or eloquence to communicate the gospel. There is a difference between being skilled in oratory and being skilled in knowledge. Preachers do not need eloquence, but they do need knowledge. People who are asking questions of the soul and spirit do not want entertainment or oratorical showmanship, they want soberness, seriousness, facts, reasonableness, concern, love and kindness. One may have eloquence with deficiency in knowledge and be inadequate for God’s use. On the other hand, one may have knowledge and be deficient in eloquence and still be very useful in the Lord’s work. Paul converted many people, though unskilled in speaking, because he went where people were who had not heard the gospel, and taught it. He was not afraid to declare it wherever he was (to kings, philosophers, rabbis, to the hostile and the heedful), and to whomever he confronted. He was bold, blunt and believable. He was captivated by Christ and concerned for the growth of the kingdom of God. He was urgent and unashamed! What did Paul preach? Read the book of Acts. He preached Christ, him crucified, risen from the dead, judgment, repentance, grace, baptism into Christ. He had no time to waste on mythologies, politics, economics, the weather, entertainment, or fads and fancies. He traveled a lot! He wrote a lot! He studied a lot! He worked (making tents) a lot! And he preached and taught when there were opportunities and made opportunities where there were none! Knowing the terror of the Lord, he persuaded men (2 Corinthians 5:11).

Applebury’s Comments

An Ironical Appeal Scripture

2 Corinthians 11:1-6 Would that ye could bear with me in a little foolishness: but indeed ye do bear with me. 2 For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy: for I espoused you to one husband, that I might present you as a pure virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is toward Christ. 4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we did not preach or if ye receive a different spirit, which ye did not receive, or a different gospel, which ye did not accept, ye do well to bear with him. 5 For I reckon that I am not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles. 6 But though I be rude in speech, yet am I not in knowledge; nay, in every way have we made this manifest unto you in all things.

*Comments

in a little foolishness.*It was really unnecessary for Paul to defend his apostleship since it had been established by the signs which he had performed in their midst. More than that, the Corinthians were thoroughly aware of the fact that their relation to Christ depended on the message which Paul had preached to them and which they had accepted. See 1 Corinthians 9:1-2 and 2 Corinthians 3:1-3. Consequently, Paul could say, I wish that you would bear with me in a little foolishness. That is, let him go on defending his apostleship which had come under attack from false leaders who had come to Corinth after his departure.

*but indeed ye do bear with me.*Paul knew from the report of Titus that the Corinthians had responded to the directions he had given them in his first letter. That’s why he said, Of course, you do bear with me. But in this particular issue in which my apostleship is being attacked by the super-apostles, I want you to let me restate the facts in answer to the charges that are now being brought against me.

*For I am jealous over you.*Paul’s position in the Corinthians-’ relation to Christ was that of a father who had espoused his daughter to the bridegroom. Paul had espoused them to Christ. Just as a father would be jealous of anyone seeking to usurp his position in such a case, so Paul expressed his jealousy over the fact that some of the Corinthians were listening to the Satanic teachers who were interfering with the arrangements that he had made in committing the Corinthian Christians to Christ.

*a godly jealousy.*Paul’s attitude was like that of God toward those who would lead His people away from Him.

Jealousy can be, and often is, an evil thing. This is true when it becomes an expression of selfish envy. But no such element enters into the attitude of Paul in his relation to the church at Corinth. The Old Testament frequently represents God as the jealous husband of a faithless wife who has forsaken her husband for another man. Israel kept forsaking God for the gods of the pagans. She was like a faithless wife, and God is said to be jealous in such cases. Thou shalt have no other gods before me is the basic principle on which the Law of God for the Israelites rested. He would not tolerate Israel’s running after idols and getting involved in all the sinful practices associated with idolatry. The apostle of Christ with Godlike jealousy resented the defection of the Corinthian Christians to the false teachers whose true character Paul was about to point out as being Satanic.

*to one husband.*The marriage relationship presented a perfect illustration of the point Paul was making. From the beginning, the divine plan was that there should be one husband for one wife. See Studies in First Corinthians, chapter seven, for the instruction Paul had given the Corinthians on the divine standard of marriage. With that letter before them, they knew exactly the meaning of Paul’s words when he said that he had espoused them to one husband that is, to Christ. In the Ephesian letter, Paul referred to the relationship between the church and Christ and called upon wives to be faithful to their own husbands as unto the Lord. See Ephesians 5:22-23.

John wrote about the marriage supper of the Lamb as he anticipated the coming of Christ and the gathering of the saints unto Him. Let us rejoice and be exceeding glad, and let us give glory unto him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And it was given unto her that she should array herself in fine linen, bright and pure: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they that are bidden to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are true words of God (Revelation 19:7-9).

*a pure virgin to Christ.*Paul indicates that the purity of the bride who anticipates her wedding should symbolize the purity of the church as it anticipates the coming of Christ and the privilege of being with Him in the heavenly kingdom. Purity, of course, meant loyalty to Him and none other, abiding by the truth of His gospel, rejecting all falsehood, and keeping themselves unspotted from the sinful practices of the world. It meant faithfulness to Christ and His word in the Christian life which is the period of preparation for the marriage supper of the Lamb.

The term virgin in our language denotes -purity. Since it had other connotations in the language of the Greeks, it became necessary for Paul to define his meaning by saying pure virgin so that no member of the church could mistake his meaning. To further insure his readers against any possible misunderstanding, he illustrated exactly what he meant by calling their attention to Satan’s complete deception of Eve in the Garden.

*But I fear.*Paul had grounds for his fears, for the Corinthians were in real danger. They were gladly listening to the false teachers who were endeavoring to undermine the work of the apostle of Christ who had preached the gospel to them. And it was that gospel that had converted them to Christ.

*as the serpent beguiled Eve.*There isn-’t the slightest indication that the inspired apostle Paul believed that the account of Satan’s effort to deceive Eve was some mythological explanation of the presence of evil in the world. He presented it in exactly the same way that Moses did in the third chapter of Genesis, that is, as an historical fact. To complete his account, he identified Satan, the troublemaker at Corinth, with the serpent. John does the same thing when he refers to the old serpent as the one who is called the devil and Satan. See Revelation 12:9.

*his craftiness.*Paul had already warned the Corinthians against the schemes of the devil as he tried to take advantage of God’s people. His craftiness had succeeded in Eve’s case. Paul had his fears that Satan might also succeed in some instances at Corinth.

*corrupted from the simplicity and purity that is toward Christ.*In the epistle to the Romans Paul tells what happens to men who turn from the knowledge of God to the worship of idols and the sins that accompany such worship. When they did so, God gave them up to an unapproved mind. See Romans 1:18-32. But since God has provided the means by which sins are blotted out, Paul could exhort his readers to be not fashioned according to this present age, but to be transformed by the renewing of their minds, so that they might approve the will of God, the thing that is good, acceptable to God, and complete. See Romans 12:2. The plea of the message of the Bible is for men to straighten out their thinking in the light of the truth of God revealed Word.

Some of the Corinthians were in danger of having Satan corrupt their minds from the simplicity and purity of the truth by which their relationship to Christ was governed. The word simplicity suggests the single-minded devotion to the things God wants man to do. It is translated liberality in 2 Corinthians 8:2. This singleness of purpose had led the Macedonians to give generously for the relief of the saints in Judea. But in 2 Corinthians 11:3 it suggests the sincere dedication of mind and purpose to the service of Christ. It is coupled with purity of heart and mind in all this vital relationship.

Paul had good reason to fear that some of the Corinthians were being led astray from this devotion to Christ through the craftiness of Satan. Every Christian must be constantly on guard against this happening to him. Some things that help prevent it are: (1) A real knowledge of the Word of God. Jesus illustrated this when He said to Satan, Thus it is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. That individual who does not know what God has written may fall easy prey to the devices of Satan cleverly presented by false teachers. (2) Not only must one know the Word but he must also translate it into life. Anything short of active participation in the total program of Christ for His church places the Christian in jeopardy. Paul had written that it was necessary for him to buffet his body and bring it into bondage lest by any means after he had preached to others, he might be rejected. See 1 Corinthians 9:27. There is more to Christianity than being present in the assembly on the Lord’s Day, keeping the Lord’s supper, and hearing the Word taught. The first business of the church is to seek and save the lost. Every Christian should be busily engaged to the extent of his ability in this work of Christ. The untaught, idle church member needs to be brought to the realization of the peril which he faces, the very real danger of being lost.

*For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus.*Paul had been sent to Corinth to preach the Lord Jesus Christ. Lord indicated, in all probability, that Jesus was identified with the eternal living God. Jesus means Savior. Christ refers to the fact that He is prophet, priest, and king. Could the super-apostles who had come to Corinth preach another Jesus who was superior to Jesus whom Paul preached? It is true that they were preaching another Jesus but the Corinthians needed to learn that Jesus whom Paul preached was the only one in whom there is salvation, for there is no other name given among men in whom they must be saved. See Acts 4:12.

*if ye received a different spirit.*This is not a reference to the Holy Spirit. The Galatian churches had been corrupted by false teachers just as the Corinthians were being corrupted by the super-apostles. Paul asked them, Did you receive the Spirit that is, the Holy Spiritby the works of the law or by the hearing of faith (Galatians 3:2)? By receiving the Spirit in that context, Paul referred to the miraculous power which had been granted to those upon whom the apostles had laid their hands. This demonstration of power showed the Galatians that they should not follow the false teachers who wanted them to observe the works of the Law. Paul encountered a similar situation in the case of the disciples of John whom he found at Ephesus. They knew only what John had taught about Jesus. Paul asked them, Did ye receive the Holy Spirit when ye believed? They had heard nothing of the Holy Spirit, so Paul commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. After he had laid his hands on them the Holy Spirit came upon them in the manifestation of miraculous power that enabled them to speak in foreign languages and to prophesy. See Acts 19:1-7.

Since Paul was referring to a different spirit which the Corinthians received through the work of false teachers who in no way could impart the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit, it becomes necessary to determine the meaning of his question in the light of what he has taught in his epistles. Paul wrote to the Romans explaining that those who are led by the Spirit of God, that is, led through the things said by the inspired apostles, are sons of God. Then he added, For ye received not the spirit of bondage again unto fear: but ye received the spirit of adoptionthat is, sonshipwhereby we cry Abba, Father (Romans 8:14-15). The spirit that is received as a result of obeying the gospel is that frame of mind of the one who knows he is a child of God and can give expression to this knowledge by calling God Father. See also Galatians 4:4-7. It was this spirit which the Corinthians had received as a result of their obedience to the gospel which Paul preached.

What, then, was the different spirit which they received when they submitted to false teachers? It was a spirit of faction, jealousy, and deception that characterizes the children of the devil. See John 8:44. It is no wonder that Paul was afraid lest they be corrupted from the simplicity and purity that is toward Christ.

*a different gospel.*Paul marveled at the Galatians who so quickly after their conversion to Christ were transferring their allegiance to a different kind of gospel which was not another gospel of Christ. See Galatians 1:6. The super-apostles were preaching a different kind of gospel to the Corinthians. It was not the Word of the Cross that had saved them when they believed in Christ.

*ye do well to bear with him.*A fine touch of irony in the same vein as that regarding foolishness of his boasting.

*For I reckon.*As Paul considered the issues, he was convinced that in no way was he inferior to these super-apostles.

*But though I be rude in speech.*An unfortunate translation, misleading in every way. Paul was never rude in our understanding and use of the term. This does not mean that he did not denounce false teaching in the severest of terms. Jesus had done the same thing in the case of the hypocrites with whom He dealt, but He was never rude.

The word translated rude simply means one who does not belong to the class of professional people, in this case orators. It is to be doubted, however, that the professionals were ever able to match the eloquence of Paul as he preached the gospel. He openly set forth Jesus Christ crucified before the eyes of his listeners. See Galatians 3:1. Festus, listening to his defense of the gospel, cried out, Paul, you are mad. Your much learning has turned you mad. Even the king said, With but little persuasion thou wouldest fain make me a Christian. While there are differences of opinion as to the interpretation of Agrippa’s words, it is evident that the eloquent defense of the gospel which Paul made that day really stirred the minds of all who heard him. See Acts 26:24-29. Not infrequently in Paul’s writings do we find examples of his ability to express himself in excellent style. See Romans 11:33-36; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13; and 1 Corinthians 15:51-58. Examples are also to be found in Second Corinthians.

*not in knowledge.*His knowledge came through the ability given him as an apostle by the Holy Spirit to understand the deep things which he received by revelation from God. See 1 Corinthians 2:6-16. No super-apostle nor false teacher was superior to Paul in knowledge pertaining to the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ.

*we made this manifest to you in all things.*When he was present with the church at Corinth and through his letters, Paul had clearly demonstrated the fact that his wisdom and knowledge came from God. See 1 Corinthians 1:18-31; 1 Corinthians 2:1-5; 1 Corinthians 2:10; 1 Corinthians 2:16.

2 Corinthians 11:7-15

**Butler’s Commentary

SECTION 2

Unassertative **(2 Corinthians 11:7-15)

7 Did I commit a sin in abasing myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached God’s gospel without cost to you? 8I robbed other churches by accepting support from them in order to serve you. 9And when I was with you and was in want, I did not burden any one, for my needs were supplied by the brethren who came from Macedonia. So I refrained and will refrain from burdening you in any way. 10As the truth of Christ is in me, this boast of mine shall not be silenced in the regions of Achaia. And why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!

12 And what I do I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do. 13For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15So it is not strange if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.

2 Corinthians 11:7-11 Undignified: Paul expresses shock! He had done something that made his detractors in Corinth slander him as if he had committed a gross sin (Gr. harmartian, miss the mark). He had humbled (Gr. tapeinon, lowly mindedness) himself and preached the gospel of God without cost to them! That is, he did not take financial support from Corinth (see 2 Corinthians 12:13-18; 1 Corinthians 9:15-18). According to ancient Greek culture, it was beneath a freeman’s dignity to work with his hands. In that society teachers were supposed to make money out of teaching. Augustus Caesar is reported to have paid Verrius Flaccus, the rhetorician, an annual salary of approximately $500,000. Every town in the Roman empire was entitled to grant complete exemption from all civic burdens and taxes to a certain number of teachers of rhetoric and literature.

Paul figuratively robbed (Gr. esulesa, one who plunders openly and by violence) other churches (Macedonian brethren, see Philippians 4:15-18) by accepting support (Gr. opsonion, meat, bread, provisions for an army, or a soldier’s pay) from them. He undoubtedly worked at his own tent-making craft to support himself. This he did to better serve (Gr. diakonian, deacon, minister) the brethren at Corinth. While he was at Corinth, and needed anythingwhich he says he didhe did not burden (Gr. katenarkesa, the word from which we get the English word, narcotics, means to be numbed or torpid, to grow stiff, to be idle, to be in a stupor) the Corinthians. Paul was no dead-weight or dead-beat at Corinth. He did not flop there.

But for his independence and self-sustaining work, he was slandered as undignified and humiliating. A working-apostle was humiliating to the church in the sophisticated metropolis of Corinth. Some congregations in the twentieth century are humiliated when they have only a self-supporting preacher. Would they be humiliated if the apostle Paul were their preacher? Paul promises that he will continue to refrain from burdening the brethren in Corinth in any way. He will not let his favorite method of ministry (preaching free of charge) be silenced (Gr. phragesetai, stopped, quieted) in the regions of Achaia (Corinth). His reward for preaching was to preach it without charging for it (1 Corinthians 9:18). Someone at Corinth had insinuated that his refusal to take money from them for preaching indicated that he did not really care about them. He did take money from churches who offered it. He would not ask for it. He declared authoritatively the right of preachers to be supported (1 Corinthians 9:1-27). But for some reason, known to him and God, he would not take money from Corinth. His love for them, however, was undeniable!

There is a great deal to be said for the advantage in a self-sustaining ministry. Most importantly, the self-sustaining preacher is free from the temptation to flatter and preach what the itching-ears of those who support him want him to preach even if it disagrees with the Scriptures. Second, such a preacher is perhaps in better touch with the frustrations and expectations of the working-man segment of his congregation. His industriousness and fortitude would be a winsome example to all the unsaved community around him. But there is also a great deal to be said for the advantages of a congregationally-supported ministry. Obviously, a preacher who is paid by his congregation (get their living by the gospel 1 Corinthians 9:14) will have more prime time to give to the work of ministry (sermon preparation, pastoral counseling and visitation, evangelism, direction to corporate activities, etc.). Second, the fact of his physical dependence on the congregation gives the eldership and membership some spiritual control in his ministry should he go astray from sound doctrine. Third, it affords the membership of the congregation a keener awareness of individual participation in the work of the ministry. Individuals whose vocations and family responsibilities prohibit them from devoting as much time to gospel work as they would like may vicariously enter into this work by financial support of the paid minister. There are other advantages in both situations. Both methods (paid and free) are scripturally sanctioned. It is for preachers and congregations to decide for themselves. One thing is certain in the present financial status of American Christiansthey could support hundreds (even thousands) more preachers and missionaries than they are!

2 Corinthians 11:12-15 Unaffecting: The trouble-makers in Corinth were demanding financial support, bragging about their stature in the brotherhood, preaching another Jesus, putting on airs with grand affectation. Paul was humble, self-effacing, always talking of his weaknesses, uneloquent, unpretentious, working for a living, proclaiming a crucified, risen Christ who saves by grace, so his enemies called him a fool. They convinced some of the Christians at Corinth that Paul could not be an apostle because he was not like they were.

Paul replies, I will continue to be what I am and do what I do in order to undermine (Gr. ekkopso cut off) the claim of those.. Paul intends to expose and stop the pseudo-apostles. The only way to deal with deliberately disguised falsehood is exposure (see Ephesians 5:6-13) and excision! Ray Stedman writes:

This tactic of plain-spoken exposure is missing in the churches today; many are destroyed because no one will stand up and confront false teachers. We are caught up with the world’s philosophy and anything goes. We must be nice to everyone, always. But the apostles never did that, nor did Jesus. Look at the sharp language he employed on occasion with the Pharisees. Right to their faces he called them, snakes and vipers, and dead men’s tombs, full of rotting bones. filled with an awful stench. That is not the way to win friends and influence people! Jesus set that aside and told the truth.

There would be no affectation from Paul. He would not disguise reality. Those slandering him were in reality deacons of the devil.

These Judaizers boasted they were superior to Paul. They disguised themselves so they might appear that way and not be found out to be what they really werefalse. Paul intended to show that they were not superior but that they work on the same terms as we do. Certainly, Paul was not saying here that his opponents were on the same level as he was in Christ. In fact, he says they are servants of Satan! He evidently means to insist that the Corinthians are to judge his opponents on the same terms he is willing to have himself judgedto measure them all, not by one another, but by Christ and his word.

The Judaizers were false apostles (Gr. pseudoapostoloi, fake-apostles). They were deceitful workmen (Gr. ergatai dolioi, alluring, ensnaring, baiting, workmen). The Greek word dolioi is also used in 2 Corinthians 4:2 of those who ensnare people by distorting (huckstering) the truthmingling the truths of God’s word with false doctrines. This is precisely what the Judaizers did. This was their disguise. Paul uses the Greek word metaschematizomenoi to expose them as disguising ones. We get our English words scheme, and schematic from this Greek word. They were scheming (conspiring and deceiving) against Paul and against the Church at Corinth.

But Paul said he was not astonished (no wonder) at this scheming of the Judaizers because even Satan disguises himself (puts on a facade) as an angel (Gr. angelon, messenger) of light. Paul uses the same Greek word (metaschematizetai) to describe Satan’s scheming deceit. The KJV translation into the English word transform is not exact. Satan is not able to transform himself into an angel of light. He disguises himself. The only thing Satan can do is pretend or deceive. He is only a pseudo messenger of truth. There is no truth in him at all (John 8:44). He has no power to really rule, really create, or really perform miracles. He can seduce, beguile and disguise himself, but has no power whatsoever to transform his nature. Plummer says, Transform implies a greater change than is meant here, and -transfigure-’ should be kept for metamorphoomai. sunschematizomai (Romans 12:2; 1 Peter 1:14) means -acquire an outward form in accordance with.-’

God said of the serpent in Genesis 3:1 that he was more subtle than any other wild creature that the Lord God had made. The Hebrew word translated subtle is aroom and means crafty, cunningit is translated into the Greek word phronimotatos (mental alacrity) in the Septuagint. Satan does not confront people openly and honestly. He will not represent himself as he really isa liar, a cheat, a deceiver, and a destroyer. He confronts people disguised as one who wants to help, please, give, reward and make life exciting. He is named in the book of Revelation as the great dragon. that ancient serpent. the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world (Revelation 12:9). Revelation also informs us that he has transferred his deceitful powers to the beast (world rulers) who, in turn, transfers deceitful powers to the false prophet (religious false teachers) and to the harlot (materialistic, hedonistic, carnal society) (Revelation 13:1 to Revelation 18:24). The devil does not come to us in red leotards with horns, a tail, and a pitchfork. He comes disguised as invincible political power, as a religious lamb (which speaks like a dragon), and as an alluring, seductive, desirable companion (harlot) whose pleasures we may purchase and enjoy with no untoward consequences at the end of the relationship.

Paul actually calls those slandering him and teaching another Jesus and a different gospel, servants (Gr. diakonoi, deacons, ministers) of Satan. They had disguised themselves as ministers of righteousness. But their’s was a righteousness according to Judaismaccording to the law of Moses. They were ministering the dispensation of death! There is no righteousness for man in law-keeping (Galatians 2:16). Man’s only righteousness is in the grace of God through Christ, appropriated by faith. It is inevitable for the servants of Satan that their end will correspond to their worksthat is, they will fall victim to their own lies. They will lose their ability to tell truth from falsehood and they will victimize themselves! They will deceive themselves!

The devil and his servants are very subtle. They are cunning and crafty. They disguise themselves as messengers of light. But the Christian has at his disposal mighty weapons through God. He has the weaponry to overthrow all obstacles to the knowledge of Godeven the deceit and disguises of Satan! The Christian’s primary weapon is the Word of God (the sword of the Spirit). The veneer of disguised religiosity is stripped from false teachers by the simplicity of God’s word. Their real character and methods are exposed in such passages as 1 Peter 2:1-22;1 John 4:1-6; Matthew 7:15-23; Matthew 23:1-36; 1 Corinthians 15:1-58; 1 Timothy 4:1-5; 2 Timothy 3:1-9; Titus 1:10-16; Jude 1:3-23. There is hardly any excuse for a Christian being led astray by messengers of Satan. The Christian need only prove a teacher’s manner of life and his doctrine by the Bible and he will be able to see through any disguise of Satan or his ministers! It should not be strange (Gr. ou mega, no great thing) to the Christian that the devil has servants who disguise themselves. The Christian should not be surprised or overwhelmed by their machinations. God has supplied weapons by which the Christian may not only penetrate the disguises of evil, he has made it possible for Christians using these weapons to conquer and capture evil thoughts and bring them and the person who thinks them under obedience to Christ. But that means a Christian must know the word of God, think on these things (Philippians 4:8-9), believe them and practice them. If he does not he is ignorant and vulnerable to the designs (2 Corinthians 2:11) and the disguises of Satan and his servants. David, the Psalmist, said it succinctly a number of times: … the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes (Psalms 19:8); … I have laid up thy word in my heart, that I might not sin against thee. (Psalms 119:8-11). And even the Lord Jesus himself, the perfect man, God-Incarnate, depended upon the Scriptures to defend himself against the deceit and disguises of the inveterate Slanderer (see Matthew 4:1-11). The Scriptures expose the schemes of the devil and his servants. Depend on them!

Applebury’s Comments

Paul’s Defense Of His Ministry At Corinth Scripture

2 Corinthians 11:7-15. Or did I commit a sin in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I preached to you the gospel of God for nought? 8 I robbed other churches, taking wages of them that I might minister unto you; 9 and when I was present with you and was in want, I was not a burden on any man; for the brethren, when they came from Macedonia, supplied the measure of my want; and in everything I kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself. 10 As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this glorying in the regions of Achaia. 11 Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth. 12 But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them that desire an occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. 13 For such men are false apostles deceitful workers, fashioning themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for even Satan fashioneth himself into an angel of light. 15 It is no great thing therefore if his ministers also fashion themselves as ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

*Comments

did I commit a sin?*This is a continuation of the ironical appeal in defense of Paul’s ministry. The Corinthians knew that Paul had refused to accept support from them in order to avoid criticism from those who might say that he was preaching the gospel for material gain. See 1 Corinthians 9:12-18.

They were also aware of the fact that as a teacher Paul had a right to receive support from them. He did not hesitate to work with his hands at tent-making when he first came to Corinth while awaiting the help that later came from the churches of Macedonia. It was a custom that every Jewish boy be taught a trade and learn the dignity of work. Paul was no exception. The only reason that he said that he had humbled himself by working with his hands is that it was not in accord with the custom of that day to let teachers do so.

*I robbed other churches.*This is also said in irony, for it was actually a privilege for those who had received the gospel through the ministry of Paul to share with him as he went elsewhere preaching the Lord Jesus Christ. He had taken wages from them that he might preach to the Corinthians. His needs had been met by others, and he kept himself from being a burden to any man at Corinth.

*when they came from Macedonia.*The church at Philippi began supporting Paul when he was at Thessalonica. At that time they were the only ones helping him. More than once they responded to his needs. See Philippians 4:14-18. For some reason not stated by Paul, the line of supply was broken when Paul came to Corinth. This caused him to fall back on his trade to make a living. In the light of his own statement about the matter, we can be reasonably sure that Paul was entirely too busy spreading the gospel to continue working at a trade any longer than necessary for the support from Macedonia to reach him. But he had kept himself from being a burden to the churches of Achaia and he was determined to hold steadfastly to that policy. As the inspired apostle of Christ he spoke the truth when he preached, and what he was now saying was equally true. No one, not even the super-apostles who may have been pressing the issue, could stop him from boasting about this in the regions of Achaia.

*Wherefore?*Such a statement called for an explanation. The teachers who had come to Corinth after Paul left were evidently aware of the fact that he had received no support from the Corinthians. Apparently they were endeavoring in some manner to get him to do so, or to insinuate that he had done so, in order that they might have the opportunity to receive support or to justify the support they had already been accepting. Since they were false teachers, Paul absolutely refused to allow them any such opportunity to boast about their work.

*because I love you not?*Paul’s attitude toward the churches of Achaia in no way indicated that he loved the less than the churches of Macedonia from whom he had received support. God knew his love for them. Since Paul had demonstrated it to them time and again and had openly declared it in his letters, the Corinthians knew that he loved them.

*For such men are false apostles.*Paul boldly labeled those who had been attacking him and attempting to undermine his work at Corinth. They were not apostles of Christ; they were false apostles, deceitful workers who were attempting to appear as apostles of Christ. Where they came from or who had sent them is not known, but the Corinthians must have known about it.

*for even Satan.*Paul clearly implies that Satan was back of the work of those whom he called false apostles. Since Satan could fashion himself into an angel of light, his minsters had no difficulty in masquerading as ministers of righteousness. Their destructive work only served to indicate the ultimately destruction that would be visited upon them.

Satan had appeared in an attractive form when he completely deceived Eve. His true character is indicated by such figures as those used by Peter and others. Peter refers to him as a roaring lion seeking to devour his victims. See 1 Peter 5:8. John refers to him as a great dragon and calls him the old serpent and deceiver of the whole world. See Revelation 12:9. Jesus said he is a murderer and the father of the lie. See John 8:44. Being warned by such clear description the enemy of all righteousness, the people of God ought not to listen to his ministers.

Boasting A Little As One Counted Foolish

2 Corinthians 11:16-21

Applebury’s Comments

Scripture

2 Corinthians 11:16-21 a. I say again, Let no man think me foolish; but if ye do, yet as foolish receive me, that I also may glory a little. 17 That which I speak, I speak not after the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of glorying. 18 Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also. 19 For ye bear with the foolish gladly, being wise yourselves. 20 For ye bear with a man, if he bringeth you into bondage, if he devoureth you, if he taketh you captive, if he exalteth himself, if he smiteth you on the face. 21 I speak by way of disparagement, as though we had been weak.

*Comments

Let no man think me foolish.*Paul had begun this ironical appeal as if speaking in foolishness. The evidence he gave in his defense was based upon truth; the element of foolishness lies in the fact that the Corinthians knew that he was an apostle of Christ for he had performed the signs of an apostle in their midst and God knew that he loved the brethren in Christ. It should not have been necessary, therefore, to defend his apostleship against the charges of the ministers of Satan. But since it had apparently become necessary, he continued the defense of his apostleship.

*I speak not after the Lord.*This does not indicate that Paul was setting aside his power to speak under the direction of the Holy Spirit. He had begun his appeal by speaking in the meekness and gentleness of Christ. But there is no example in Our Lord’s ministry of the type of defense which Paul was now forced to make because of conditions in Corinth resulting from charges and false claims of the super-apostles. They were boasting from a purely human point of view. They were boasting of their professional status. They were boasting of their wisdom which, of course, was the wisdom of the world. It would be foolish for the apostle to come to that basis in order to offset their claims. But he was more than a match form them even on their own grounds.

*Seeing that many glory after the flesh.*Since others were boasting about their human achievements, Paul would do so also. The Corinthians considered themselves wise and gladly listened to this type of boasting. They did so even though they were being enslaved by it, even though such persons were taking unfair advantage of them, even though the false teachers were exalting themselves while striking them in the face.

*I speak by way of disparagement.*It was a shame for the apostle to be forced to follow this line of reasoning; but since he was compelled to do so, he spoke of his weakness as demonstrated by all the things which he suffered in his service for Christ.

2 Corinthians 11:16-33

**Butler’s Comments

SECTION 3

Unaccredited, 2 Corinthians 11:16-33**

16 I repeat, let no one think me foolish; but even if you do, accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little. 17(What I am saying I say not with the Lord’s authority but as a fool, in this boastful confidence; 18since many boast of worldly things, I too will boast.) 19For you gladly bear with fools, being wise yourselves! 20For you bear it if a man makes slaves of you, or preys upon you, or takes advantage of you, or puts on airs, or strikes you in the face. 21To my shame, I must say, we were too weak for that! But whatever any one dares to boast ofI am speaking as a foolI also dare to boast of that. 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 am a better oneI am talking like a mandmanwith far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. 24Five times I have received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25Three times I have been beaten with rods; once I was stoned. Three times I have been shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been adrift at sea; 26on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brethren; 27in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure upon me of my anxiety for all the churches. 29Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?

30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 31The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed for ever, knows that I do not lie. 32At Damascus, the governor under king Aretas guarded the city of Damascus in order to seize me, 33but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped his hands.

**2 Corinthians 11:16-21 a Unauthoritative: **The slander-problem Paul faced was fundamentally a challenge to his authority. His enemies charged that, according to their criteria, he had shown no evidence of religious authority. According to his antagonists, he was weak in his message and his methods. Their concept of an authority-figure was one who would move into a congregation and take over. Such an authority would suppress individual freedoms (enslave), exploit (prey upon), take advantage of, be high and mighty with (put on airs), and insult (slap in the face) people. An authority ought to be somewhat tyrannical and ruthless or he will lose his authority, they rationalized. A religious authority would brag and boast and exude self-confidence just like worldly leaders do, according to the Judaizers.

So Paul begins his treatment of this slanderous insinuation. In 2 Corinthians 11:1 he had satirically asked the Corinthians to bear with him in a little foolishness. He meant, of course, that he was not really acting foolishly at all, but that his opponents were and if it took that kind of foolish boasting to rescue them from the false teachers, he might condescend to a little of it. Now he says again, let no one think me foolish. The Greek syntax here is strong: Palin lego me tis me doxe aphrona einai, Again I say, not anyone me judge foolish to be! But Paul was not sure they could see through the foolishness of the false teachers and perceive the wisdom of his behavior. So, again, he condescends to play the foolish game of boasting in worldly accomplishments, just to draw the Corinthians away from the Judaizer’s death through legalism, and back to his gospel of life through grace. If they must have a boasting fool as their leader, let them accept Paul as that fool.

The next statement (2 Corinthians 11:17-18) is parenthetical. The Corinthians must be assured that he was not accrediting his authority, in the long list of boasting he was about to do, on some divine standard or command of the Lord. Not that the Lord would disapprove of Paul’s method, but there was no divine order from God that he do it this way. To boast of worldly things (Gr. kata ten sarka, according to the flesh) was not the standard that the Lord had set up for his apostles. But since Paul’s motive was spiritual and only the cause of Christ was his aim, and since everything he would say would be true (as opposed to the falsehoods of his opponents), he could righteously engage in this contest of boasting about outward appearancesas repugnant as it was to his soul.

Certainly, if the apostle Paul could, in good conscience (distasteful as it was to him personally), defend himself against slander by entering a contest of boasting about his credentials and sacrificial ministry for the Lord, it is a precedent that modern ministers may followwhen needed! Paul’s aim was to protect the reputation of the gospel and the church of Christ. When slanderous falsehoods are spread about preachers (or other leaders of the Lord’s church) the real target is the name of Christ and the church. It is imperative, therefore, that preachers (and other spiritual leaders) be above reproach in their living (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:6; Ephesians 4:1 to Ephesians 5:33; Philippians 1:27-30; 1 Peter 2:11-17, etc.). They must also be able, by knowledge of the scriptures, to stop the mouths of the gainsayers (Titus 1:9-16; 1 Timothy 4:11-16; 2 Timothy 2:14-19; 2 Timothy 2:23-26; 2 Timothy 4:1-5).

Notice again the sarcasm or satire used by the apostle. In 2 Corinthians 11:19-20 he really bears down! J.B. Phillips paraphrases, From your heights of superior wisdom I am sure you can smile tolerantly on a fool. Oh, you-’re tolerant all right! You don-’t mind, do you, if a man takes away your liberty, spends your money, takes advantage of you, puts on airs or even smacks your face? We wonder how this was received by all the members of the church at Corinth! In many modern congregations there would be some so offended by such sarcasm they would withdraw membership! Not only that, they would badmouth a preacher who spoke such satire. But lying slander is such a serious offense to God’s spokesmen and has such far reaching evil consequences for the gospel and the church, drastic methods like boasting and sarcasm are necessary to defeat it.

Paul uses biting words to describe the stupidity of the Corinthians. They might as well bear with his foolish boasting about his work and his apostleship because they bear with the fools who are disguising themselves as apostles but are really Satan’s servants. The Corinthians were fools themselves (Gr. aphrona, out of their minds) for they were willing to bear with men who enslaved them, preyed upon them (Gr. katesthiei, devour swallow up), took advantage of (Gr. lambanei, lit. takes them), put on airs (Gr. epairetai, exalt themselves), or struck them in the face (Gr. prosopon humas derei, face of you, beats). What fool but a religious fool would allow himself to be dominated, devoured, taken, humiliated and psychologically slapped around? What fool but a religious fool would think that the true spiritual leader sent from God is supposed to tyrannize people, use people and abuse them? Perhaps this is why many people reject all forms of Christianitythey have grown up under a religious system ruled over by disguised pseudo-apostles who have dominated them, taken them, and slapped them around. They realized they were made fools of and think all Christianity is represented by these pseudo messengers of light. Paul minced no words in denouncing the pseudo-messengers and pulled no punches in calling those fools who followed them.

Sarcastically, Paul concludes, To my shame, I must say, we were too weak for that! or as J.B. Phillips translates, I am almost ashamed to say that I never did brave strong things like that to you. That is sarcasm! Paul’s record with the Corinthian church (even his epistles) stood in sharp contrast to that of the pseudo-apostles. He did everything he could to free them from sin and judgment; he never preyed upon them or took them; he was before them in all humility; and even when he had to be severe with words, he did so to protect them from those who would enslave them.

**2 Corinthians 11:21 b - 2 Corinthians 11:30 Unqualified: **The Judaizers boasted about their qualifications and at the same time disparaged Paul’S. So Paul enters the contest of listing qualifications repeating his disgust (I am speaking as a fool) that such methods have to be used. How could a man who taught so much about humility be so boastful about his being a better servant than others?

Paul was humble. He taught others that humility is what Christ exemplified and what God desires in all men. He wrote, Do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others better than yourselves. (Philippians 2:3 ff). But here, Paul is counting himself better than the pseudo-apostles who were trying to seduce the Corinthian church! He considered such boasting the last resort he had to rescue the Corinthians. For the sake of the gospel and the Corinthians, not for his own sake, it has to be done. His credentials as the true apostle and authorized spokesman for God must be established. His true love for the church and the gospel must be vindicated. He spoke in plain, factual, historical terminology because he loved the Corinthians. He took no money from them and appeared to be unsophisticated because he loved them. He is even doing what grinds against his spirit (boasting) because he loves them. There are occasions, hopefully few, when true, humble, serving, working preachers have to show they are as knowledgeable, as caring, as able, as committedand even more so-as the hundreds of pseudo-messengers of God. Too many people follow messengers rather than the message. Occasionally, the messenger with the true message has to boast of his messengership to turn the fool away from disguised, deceitful pseudo-messengers.

Are they Hebrews, Israelites, descendants of Abraham? So is Paul. His lineage was unquestionable! (see Philippians 3:4-7; Acts 22:3; Acts 26:5; Romans 11:1). His attachment to his Jewish heritage was unassailable. His love for Jewish people was close to divine (Romans 9:1-5)! How many of the Judaizers would be willing to go to hell for their Jewish brethren?

Are they saying they are servants (Gr. diakonoi, ministers) of Messiah (Gr. Christou, anointed one, Christ)? It is so repugnant to Paul to brag or compare himself with-others he thinks of himself as a madman (Gr. paraphronon, mentally beside myself, or out of my mind) for having to do so. But he will condescend to madness so Corinth may see who really is the servant of Christ and who are pretenders! Paul gives an incredible list of personal sacrifices he had made already for the gospel. This does not take into account what he will go through in the remaining years of his life, some of which is documented in Acts, Chapter s 19 through 28. All the following took place before he wrote II Corinthians in 57 A.D.

far greater labors (Gr. kopois, toil, hard word). We know Paul toiled at tent-making (Acts 18:1-3) at Corinth and other places. Making tents from animal hair, wool, or skins would be arduous labor. What other labor Paul did we are not told. We do believe him when he says he toiled in far greater ways than his opponents. Paul appears to have been skilled in seamanship (Acts 27:1-44). Being a world-traveler he probably worked with his hands at many different tasks.

far more imprisonments (Gr. phulakais, caged, locked-up). We know Paul was imprisoned at Philippi, at Jerusalem, at Rome (twice). How many other times he was made a prisoner we are not told. It appears he fought with beasts at Ephesusperhaps he was imprisoned there and made to fight in a Roman arena.

countless beatings (Gr. plegais, wound, blowEnglish plague). Paul had so many beatings he was plagued with them. He used the Greek word huperballontos (countless) which literally means, thrown upon, or piled high. This would include the Jewish forty, less one and the Roman rods, plus countless others. so many beatings he had stopped counting.

often near death (Gr. en thanatois, lit. in death). Often in his ministry (at the writing of II Corinthians, approximately 15 years) Paul had been so near death he felt he was in it. It began at Damascus (Acts 9:1-43), continued at Iconium (Acts 14:5), Lystra (Acts 14:19), Phillipi (Acts 16:22), in Ephesus (Acts 19:30-31), at Jerusalem (Acts 21:31; Acts 23:14), many times at sea (Acts 27:1-44; 2 Corinthians 11:25-26), in times of hunger (2 Corinthians 11:27), in Asia Minor (2 Corinthians 1:8-9), in Roman arenas (1 Corinthians 15:32), during travel (2 Corinthians 11:26-27). He bore in his body, the marks of the Lord Jesus (Galatians 6:17); he shared in the sufferings of Christ (Philippians 3:10); in his flesh he completed what was lacking in Christ’s afflictions. (Colossians 1:24). He was so often near death in the Lord’s work he considered himself (and other apostles) as men sentenced to death (see 1 Corinthians 4:8-13).

five times. forty lashes less one (Gr. tesserakonta para mian, the phrase is simply, forty less one which was commonly understood to be the 39 stripes of Mishnaic punishment. The law of Moses laid down this punishment (Deuteronomy 25:1-3) and decreed a maxim of forty stripes. There was dire warning against exceeding the maxim. It, therefore, became a practice to stop at 39 stripes. The Mishnah says: They bind his two hands to a pillar on either side, and the minister of the synagogue lays hold on his garments. so that he bares his chest. A stone is set behind him on which the minister of the synagogue stands with a strap of calf-hide in his hand, doubled and re-doubled, and two other straps that rise and fall thereto. The handpiece of the strap is one handbreadth long and one handbreath wide, and its end must reach to his navel (when the victim is struck on the shoulder the end of the strap must reach the navel). He gives him one third of the stripes on front and two thirds behind, and he may not strike him when he is standing or when he is sitting but only when he is bending down. and he that smites smites with one hand and with all his might. If he dies under his hand, the scourger is not culpable. But if he gives him one stripe too many, and he dies, he must escape into exile because of him. Five times Paul suffered punishment at the hands of his Jewish countrymen which could easily have killed him.

three times beaten with rods (Gr. tris errabdisthen, beatings with the lictors or serjeants [rhabdouchoi, lit., rod bearers])rods of Roman soldiers. These were rods of birch wood. There was no limitation on the number of blows that might be administered. Victims often died. Some were beaten until internal organs were visible through the torn flesh. The Romans often used this as a trial by the rod to determine innocence or guilt before further sentencing to death by crucifixion. Three times Paul was forced to submit to this torture. Had any of the pseudo-apostles experienced this in the name of Jesus?

once I was stoned (Gr. elithasthen, large rocks, not pebbles English prefix lith [stone] comes from this Greek word). Paul was struck with stones by his persecutors so severely in Lystra, he was pronounced dead and dragged out of the city where his friends gathered around him and saw him rise up and go immediately about his work of evangelism (Acts 14:19 ff).

three times. shipwrecked (Gr. enauagesa, from naus a ship and agnumi to break). Three times Paul went through the terrifying experience of a ship breaking up beneath his feet on the high seas. It would be three of those countless times he had been in death. Being shipwrecked is being as near death as you can be. There are manifold dangers in such an experience: drowning, predators in the seas, exposure to the elements, dying of hunger and thirst.

a night and a day. adrift at sea (Gr. nuchthemeron en to butho, the phrase is concise, nuch night, hemera day in the deep (butho from the Greek bathos). Paul’s shipwreck experiences and twenty-four hours adrift at sea occurred before he wrote this letter and he was yet to experience the shipwreck recorded in Acts 27:1-44.

on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers (Gr. kindunois potamon, lit. in peril from riverspotamon signifies fresh water or natural water and is translated flood in Matthew 7:25; Matthew 7:27; Revelation 12:15-16). Rivers in Asia Minor and Greece were often in flood-stage and there were few bridges. Paul would have to cross these raging torrents at the peril of drowning or being swept downstream and dashed against rocks.

danger from robbers (Gr. kindunois leston, the word leston is related to the word leia, booty, and signifies those who plunder openly and violently in contrast to kleptes, a thief). When Paul traveled the countryside was open to highway robbers (the road to Jericho afforded a place for men to rob a man violently and leave him to die, see Luke 10:29-37). While the empire of Rome had made significant improvements toward safety for travelers, the army could not patrol all the thousands of miles of roadway or the uncharted foot-trails traveled by Paul.

danger from my own people (Gr. kindunois ek genous, in peril from his own kind or genre). Jews were scattered over all the Roman empire, from Italy on the west to Persia on the East. They lived in their own little communities in every city and village. But Paul was not only unwelcome among the majority of his own race, he was in peril from them! It was not only a physical problem but undoubtedly a psychological problem for Paul as well.

danger from Gentiles (Gr. kindunois ex ethnon, in peril from ethnics or nations). Anyone who was not a Jew was an ethnic or Gentile. Jews considered all non-Jews to be aliens no matter where the Jew lived. The Jews kept the Gentiles stirred up against Paul and his Christianity, claiming it was anti-Jewish and anti-Roman (see Acts 14:19; Acts 16:19 ff; Acts 17:13; Acts 18:12; Acts 24:1 ff; Acts 25:7; 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16, etc.). And, of course, there was a long standing attitude of contempt and malice from the Gentiles toward the Jews (and Paul was a Jew).

danger in the city (Gr. kindunois en polei, peril in a city). Huge metropolises like Corinth, Ephesus, Rome, Damascus, Jerusalem were over populated, festered with slums, disease, crime, prostitution, political corruption, conflagrations, and the ever present gladiatorial games which consumed thousands and thousands of slaves, Christians and others in their deadly struggles.

danger in the wilderness (Gr. kindunois en eremia, peril in the deserted places). Areas between the cities and villages were called deserts because they were deserteduninhabited. These deserts were often expansive and required many nights camping out in them where there was no civilization. They were populated by wild beasts and robbers. There were no shelters, no stores, no human help available. Paul was often in peril traveling through such wilderness. Modern missionaries find such situations even today in many backward countries.

danger at sea (Gr. kindunois en thalasse). This was discussed in the statements on shipwreck No. 8 and night-day adrift No. 9.

danger from false brethren (Gr. kindunois en pseudadelphois, peril in pseudo-brethren). Paul specifically mentions false brethren in his epistle to the Galatians (Galatians 2:4) who secretly. slip in to spy out our freedom. that they might bring us into bondage.. He warned the elders from Ephesus that there would be men from among your ownselves. arise. speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. (Acts 20:29-30). A true brother would not imperilonly a false brother would pose danger to a Christian minister. Evidently there would be false brethren in many places to make Paul list them as perils. Jesus warned his apostles brother would deliver up brother among them (Matthew 10:16-25). People posing as followers of Christ were slipping into the congregations in order to bring them under Judaism, perhaps to betray them to civil authorities after Christianity began to be persecuted by the Romans.

in toil and hardship through many a sleepless night (Gr. kopo. mochtho. agrupniais pollakis, in tiredness and painfulness and sleeplessness many times). The Greek word agrupniais is from agreuo, to chase, and hupnos, sleep. Paul lost many nights of sleep due to being so tired and pain-wracked in body he could not sleep. He was often what we call bone-weary. When one considers all he has said to this point, one wonders how he could possibly get his body to go on taking the punishment it did after he wrote this letter. There must have been many days when he wondered if he could physically continue to climb mountains, ford flooded rivers, sleep out in the cold nights, go without food, take beatings, shipwrecks, imprisonments, and stay alive! AND WITH ALL THIS HE WAS WELL PLEASED (see comments on 2 Corinthians 12:10).

in hunger and thirst, often without food (Gr. en limo kai dipsei en nesteiais pollakis, the Greek word limo means famine or hunger not self-imposed; nesteiais is translated fastings and could mean self-imposed abstinence from food for some spiritual reason. Paul did fast (Acts 9:9; probably in Acts 21:26; probably in Galatians 1:17). The word nesteiais could also mean hunger from famine or lack of food available. The word dipsei (see the English word dipsomania) always means thirst. And Paul says he was often in such straits.

in cold and exposure (Gr. en psuchei kai gumnoteti, cold and naked). The word gumnoteti is stronger than the English word exposure. While Paul was undoubtedly often exposed to the elements of nature out in the wilderness areas, this word indicates he may have often been stripped of all clothing in certain circumstances. Shipwrecked, he might lose his clothing, imprisoned it might have been taken away from him, when he was being beaten he would be stripped. And taken in conjunction with the word psuchei, cold, it probably means there were many times when his clothing was not sufficient to keep him from being very cold.

… daily pressure upon me of my anxiety for all the churches. (Gr. he epistasis moi he kath hemeran he merimna pason ton ekklesion) Epistasis literally means, standing upon, or burdened upon me. Merimna means divided mind or anxiousnessit is the same word Jesus warned against in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:22-34). Jesus told us we should not be anxiousbut about what? He meant not to be anxious about matters of the flesh! Paul had learned to be content in whatever state of the flesh he found himself (Philippians 1:20-23; Acts 25:11; 2 Timothy 4:6-8). But he was pressured or burdened and mentally distracted about the churches! Paul’s care for the churches was a daily affair (hemeran), not monthly or annually. It was a burden he carried each day (and sleepless night). It kept his mind occupied. His thoughts were constantly distracted to the trouble of the churches. He cared about their persecutions. He cared about their divisiveness. He cared about the false teachers seducing them. He cared about their need for spiritual growth. He cared about their need to give. It is not wrong to occupy our minds with cares and pressures of the church and spiritual things. Jesus wants us to be distracted from the things of the world and attracted to the things of the Spirit! If we worried and fretted and cared half as much about spiritual things as we do about physical things, thousands more people would hear the gospel and thousands more parents would direct their children to be preachers and missionaries. Concern for the church is not a lack of faith!

Concluding this long list of weaknesses and perils, Paul declares his credentials as a true apostle are found in his scars. He asks the rhetorical question, Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant? In other words, he would have the Corinthians (and his opponents there) understand that the sign of true allegiance to Christ inevitably produces weaknesses and perils. He is a full participant in these marks of the true servant of Christ. Paul always taught that weakness (as the world thinks of weakness) is the way of the Christian (see 1 Corinthians 8:11-12; 1 Corinthians 9:22; Romans 14:1-2). His second question has two interesting Greek wordsskandalizetai (fall or stumble) and pyroumai (indignant or burn). He is thinking of the Judaizing slanderers who have been trying to seduce the Corinthians by their false teaching. They would be causing the Corinthians to fall from grace by going back to the law of Moses and they would be boasting in the strength of fleshly self-righteousness. This would make Paul, whose gospel was that of the weakness of the flesh and the power of grace, burn with indignation.

2 Corinthians 11:30-33 Unassuming: Paul’s approach to the ministry, especially the apostolic ministry, is incredible in the light of the world’s view of religion. He summarizes in these verses his whole philosophy of evaluating a person’s service to the Lord! And he says, If I must boast (compare my ministry to others) I will boast of things that showed my weaknesses.

The Lord gave a signal about weakness in ministry at the very beginning of Paul’s service. Paul refers to the time he was let down over the wall in a basket. After his conversion he was obsessed with showing the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah promised in the Old Testament and of converting the Jewish nation! He was eminently qualified for this ministry to the Jews. That was his burning desire (Romans 9:2-3). So he started out to do it (Acts 9:1-31) but things kept falling apart until they reached such a terrible state that his friends, fearing for his life, took him out to the Damascus wall and let him down from the city in a basket. The night I had to sneak out of Damascus. that is the event I boast about, he says.

Isn-’t that interesting? Looking back, with all his own plans and dreams of conquest and glory for Christ collapsed around his feet, that was the night he began to learn a great truth: self-made men and self-made plans are not what qualify a person as a servant of Christ.

Today’s world is being swamped with the philosophy that such things are what make us usable as Christians (a strong personality, an outgoing, optimistic outlook, gifts of leadership, handsome frame and body, musical ability, speaking ability). All these are the things that some people believe are prime prerequisites for ministry. But Paul says that is a mistake. God uses weakness! All the physical, outward attributes Paul once counted gain he decided were nothing but a pile of manure in contrast to what he learned in weaknesses.

There is no truth the Lord wants us to learn which is greater than this! The opponent of Paul at Corinth slandered him as weak. Paul replies, I gladly boast of my weaknesses. I am content with them (ch. 12). Strengths without Christ’s sovereignty over us are garbageweaknesses with Christ are priceless jewels! Slander. Untrue aspersions. Censorious criticisms about lack of ego, personality-power, and sophistication. How should a preacher deal with it? By accepting in faith that the Lord will one day vindicate his faithfulness. And, when necessary for the preservation of Christ’s honor and the church’s stability, by boasting of his weaknesses as they have been of service to the Lord in toil, peril, and hardship.

2 Corinthians 11:21-33

Applebury’s Comments

Paul’s Labors and Sufferings Scripture

2 Corinthians 11:21b-33. Yet whereinsoever any is bold (I speak in foolishness), I am bold also. 22 Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I. 23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as one beside himself) I more; in labors more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in deaths oft. 24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day have I been in the deep; 26 in journeyings often, in perils of rivers, in perils of robbers, in perils from my countrymen, in perils from the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in labor and travail, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 28 Besides those things that are without, there is that which presseth upon me daily, anxiety for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is caused to stumble, and I burn not? 30 If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things that concern my weakness. 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus he who is blessed for evermore knoweth that I lie not. 32 In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king guarded the city of the Damascenes in order to take me: 33 and through a window was I let down in a basket by the wall, and escaped his hands.

*Comments

Yet whereinsoever any is bold.*It was foolish to be forced to compare his sufferings for Christ with anything the false teachers had suffered, for they were preying on the church at Corinth and endeavoring to lead the people away from Christ. In relation to God’s ancient people, Paul was their equal; but certainly in relation to Christ he excelled them. In relation to the things he suffered for Christ, he was too far beyond them for comparison.

*Are they Hebrews?*Although Paul was born in Tarsus of Cilicia, his parents were Hebrews and on that score he was easily equal to any of the false teachers who were claiming to be true teachers since, in all probability, they had come from Jerusalem.

*Are they Israelites?*The ancient chosen people of God bore the name which was given to Jacob after he had wrestled with the Angel of the Lord and had been blessed by him. The name symbolized the transformation that had taken place in his life. It appropriately applied to the nation that had been chosen from among all the nations of the world as a royal nation, a holy priesthood, a people that belonged to God. Were these teachers at Corinth Israelites? So was Paul.

*Are they seed of Abraham?*The Jews proudly looked to Abraham as their father. They argued with Jesus despite their intention to put the Son of God to death that they were the seed of Abraham. Literally, of course, they were; but their hatred for Jesus proved that they were the offspring of Satan. See John 8:31-44. The Jewish teachers who troubled the church at Corinth claimed to be Abraham’s offspring. Paul could substantiate his right to be called a child of Abraham for he was of the stock of Israel and of the tribe of Benjamin. More than that, He had surrendered his life to the Lord Jesus Christ.

*Are they ministers of Christ?*While one would have to be out of his mind to admit their claim to be ministers of Christ was true, Paul was prepared to compare his ministry with theirs and to demonstrate that he far excelled them in relation to Christ. He had labored more abundantly than they. He had been imprisoned as a result of his service to Christ more than they. He had undergone countless beatings and had constantly faced death for Christ. What had they done for Him?

*Of the Jews five times received forty stripes save one.*This list of the things that Paul had suffered in his ministry for Christ is a challenge to the false teachers at Corinth to compare the things that they had done with the things Paul had endured. The Corinthians who certainly must have known much of what Paul had undergone were well aware of the fact that the super-apostles were in no way a match for him.

He mentioned the beatings which he had received, the time when he was stoned, and the times that he had suffered shipwreck. Although he was a Roman citizen, he had been beaten and imprisoned at Philippi. He was stoned and abandoned for dead at Lystra. He suffered shipwreck three times. At one time, probably because his ship went down far from shore, he spent a full twenty-four period in the deep.

*in journeyings often.*Paul listed the perils which he had faced on his many travels. He had risked his life in crossing rivers, in traveling through bandit infested areas, in the things he had suffered from the hands of his own countrymen as well as Gentiles. He had faced perils in the cities, in the wilderness and at sea. He knew what it meant to be among false brethren. His experience with them was enough to justify his warning the church against them.

*in labor and travail.*Paul did not have an easy life; it was one filled with labor, hardship, and suffering. It meant standing guard during periods of distress; it meant being without food and drink; it meant fasting often in order that he might give all his time to the task before him; it meant enduring cold and nakedness.

*Besides those things that are without.*Paul gave the list of the things he had suffered for the cause of Christ. It was adequate to establish his claim to have undergone suffering for beyond anything the false teachers at Corinth had ever done. Aside form all this, there was one thing that had not been mentioned: the thing that brought daily pressure upon him, anxiety for all the churches. If there had been any question in the mind of anyone regarding all that he had said in refutation of the claims of the false teachers, there could be no doubt whatever about this climactic issue, for Corinthians knew very well about Paul’s anxiety for them. But he was just as concerned for the Philippians and the brethren at Thessalonica. They all knew of his deep concern for the saints in Judea.

*Who is weak?*The meaning of anxiety is indicated in Paul’s attitude toward the weak. He understood and desired to help as if he were that weak person himself. It is doubtful if any more Christ-like attitude toward the weak can be found. As he thought of the brother in Christ who for some cause had stumbled, he so identified with that one that he burned with the shame that should have been felt by the erring one. The Corinthians knew about his concern for the weak and erring. Did they see anything like it in the teachers who were attempting to discredit Paul by saying that he was weak in their presence even if he was bold in his writings?

*If I must needs glory.*Since the situation at Corinth had forced Paul into this line of defense, he insisted in boasting not about his power but about his weakness. The secret of this weakness is revealed in 2 Corinthians 12:9. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ knew that Paul was not lying when he related the incident by which he was to prove his weakness and humility and through which he had been forced to put is trust in God alone. The incident had taken place in Damascus. A guard had been thrown around the city to prevent his escape, but his friends had let him down through an opening in the wall, and he had escaped the hands of those who were bent on killing him. See Luke’s description of the incident in Acts 9:23-25. The providence of God had watched over him; the faithful messenger of the gospel went on his way preaching Christ.

Summary

As Paul continued the defense of his apostleship, he began a long, ironical appeal for them to bear with him in a little foolishness. Irony is seen in the fact that he appeared to boast, but in reality he wasn-’t. His sincere purpose in coming to Corinth was to preach the gospel that he might espouse them to Christ as a pure virgin. He was afraid lest false teachers should lead them away from the simplicity and purity that ought to mark their relation to Christ. Eve had been completely deceived by the serpent. They were in danger of having the same thing happen to them through the work of the ministers of Satan in their midst. In each of the examples given to support the charge, Paul assumes that the thing was being done. Someone had come to them and had preached another Jesus. Paul had preached Jesus Christ and Him crucified. He had preached the resurrection of Christ as the foundation of hope of resurrection from the dead. But some in Corinth had denied that there is a resurrection, despite the evidence Paul had given to prove it. Just what the super-apostles were saying about another Jesus is not stated, but no other Jesus could have them from their sins. The second example had to do with the spirit they had received. What was the different kind of spirit which they had not received through his ministry? It may have been the spirit of slavery as opposed to the spirit of freedom found in the spirit covenant.

His third example had to do with the gospel. They were accepting a different kind of gospel. It may have been some such perversion of the gospel as mentioned in Galatians 1:6-8. Paul said, You bear beautifully with this kind of thing. The irony lies in the fact that they could not put up with his gospel as he preached the truth about Christ.

In defense of his ministry as an apostle of Christ Paul said, I consider that I do not fall short of the chiefest apostles. Who were they? Not Peter nor John, for there was no such distinction among the apostles of Christ. Paul had in mind those who were preaching another Jesus, those whom he labeled false apostles. Paul freely admitted that he did not belong to the class of professional orators, but this implied no inferiority in his message. Our word rude denoting a lack of artistic or refined expression misses the point, for no uncultured crudeness or unpolished, inelegant speech can be attributed to Paul. Paul continued to speak in irony as he asked, Did I commit a sin by preaching to you without pay, robbing other churches that I might be able to do so? Macedonia had supported him in Corinth. He had been a burden to no one. He was determined to maintain this policy in order to prevent false apostles having an excuse to receive support from the church. They had boasted of the right to support and apparently would have been glad for Paul to receive it in order to justify their doing so. Paul was determined to give them no grounds for such a thing. In irony he said, Let no one think that this attitude of mine is foolish. But even if they did, he was going to boast a little about it. This was not through the gentleness and meekness of the Lord, that is, the Lord had not used this approach in dealing with false teachers in His day. Paul was not saying, however, that he was substituting his opinion for the inspired message of the Lord. He intended to boast in the fleshas a human beingsince others were doing so and the Corinthians were gladly listening to them. They thought this was permissible since they were wiseirony again! Paul compared his racial and religious background with that of the false apostles. He compared his service for Christ with that of the false apostles, even if it was foolish to think of them as ministers of righteousness. After telling of his labors, his sufferings, and his trials, there was one more thing to mention: his anxiety for all the churches. Even the foolish ones at Corinth would know better than to attempt to compare the super-apostles with Paul on this point. His experience in Damascus was another example of his weakness in which he boasted, since boasting seemingly had to be done.