Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

I hope you will put up with me in a little foolishness. Yes, please put up with me! I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.
I do not think I am in the least inferior to those “super-apostles.” I may indeed be untrained as a speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way. Was it a sin for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge? I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you. And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so. As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, nobody in the regions of Achaia will stop this boasting of mine. Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!
And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.
I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then tolerate me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting. In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would, but as a fool. Since many are boasting in the way the world does, I too will boast. You gladly put up with fools since you are so wise! In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or puts on airs or slaps you in the face. To my shame I admit that we were too weak for that!
Whatever anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I. Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?
If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying. In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me. But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.

• 2 Corinthians 11:1-33

Noted Biblical Scholars, Teachers, and Preachers Comments

2 Corinthians 10-13 ‘could these last four chapters be the “severe” letter?’: “An alternative is to suppose that the ‘earlier’ letter, warning against sexual immorality, is part of 2 Corinthians. Similarly, the four final chapters (2 Cor. 10–13) are considered to be the so-called ‘severe’ letter, the letter written ‘out of much affliction and anguish’ (2 Cor. 2:4). Those favoring this option point to a marked contrast: the positive relationship between Paul and the Corinthians evidenced in the early chapters of 2 Corinthians versus Paul’s harsh attacks on some in Corinth in 2 Cor. 10–13.”

• Timothy B. Cargal, et al., The Chronological Study Bible

2 Corinthians 10-13 ‘Paul’s Third Visit to Corinth’: “In the final chapters of 2 Corinthians Paul defends himself against false teachers who had come to Corinth and claimed authority greater than his. They mistook the ‘gentleness of Christ’ (2 Cor. 10:1) in Paul’s life for weakness, claiming that he was braver in his letters than he would be in a face-to-face encounter (10:10). In response Paul argues that the authority they claim is based on comparing themselves with each other and not on having the commendation of God (10:18).
“Paul wrote this defense of his apostolic authority in advance of his third visit to Corinth (12:14; 13:1), and thus after his ‘sorrowful’ visit (see 1:23–2:1). Paul’s uncharacteristic personal boasts (12:1) and his harsh condemnations of his opponents are in stark contrast to his warm regard for the Corinthians in other parts of 2 Corinthians (see 7:8–11, 16). Possibly these chapters were written soon after the “sorrowful” visit while emotions were still high on both sides, whereas the earlier chapters were written later once Paul and the Corinthians had been reconciled …
“Still, 2 Corinthians could have been written by Paul as it now appears in the New Testament. The apostle could have made reconciliation with some of the Corinthians while yet dealing with other opponents in the church.”

• Timothy B. Cargal, et al., The Chronological Study Bible

2 Corinthians 11 ‘Introduction’: ”In 1967, psychiatrist Dr. Thomas Holmes created a test we know as the Holmes-Rahe Stress Inventory. The scale provided a simple measurement as to how stress affects a person. It also predicted the way in which that stress could cause illnesses in an individual’s life.
“In creating the test, Dr. Holmes considered various changes and situations and gave each a numerical value, assigning points for the amount of stress it caused. Some of these included the death of a spouse (100 points), being fired from a job (47 points), having a baby (39 points), vacations (13 points), and Christmas (12 points). According to Dr. Holmes, when a person reached 200 points, that person was in deep trouble.
“Today we can only wonder at how many points the apostle Paul would have accumulated! In this next section of his letter, he describes how he was beaten (five times), shipwrecked (three times), in constant peril on journeys, robbed, persecuted (frequently), and weary and hungry (often). He also describes the stress that came from being concerned about the state of the churches that he had helped to found.
“Paul was able to weather these hardships because he didn’t look to his own power to survive them. He looked to the power of the Holy Spirit living within him. Paul had grown inwardly as he was assailed outwardly. In the same way, we can be assured no matter what troubles we face, we can trust God to be with us in the midst of them. However, like Paul, we need to take steps now-before the trials come-to strengthen our relationship with God so we can understand what it means to rely on His strength.”

• David Jeremiah, 2 Corinthians (Jeremiah Bible Study Series)

2 Corinthians 11:1 ‘foolishness of boasting’: “In order to respond to his opponents and try to win back those among the Corinthians who had embraced them, Paul feels compelled to engage in the very thing that he hates: the foolishness of boasting.”

• Tony Evans, The Tony Evans Bible Commentary (quoted Scripture without bold/italics)

2 Corinthians 11:2-4 ‘fight against false teaching’: “He had a godly jealousy for them, which made him zealous to silence once and for all the false teachers who were misleading them. Paul was their spiritual father in the gospel, and the Corinthians were like a pure virgin whom he had promised to a husband, Jesus Christ (11:2). But Paul was afraid that they were in danger of being deceived by the devil (the serpent) and led astray from a pure devotion to Christ (11:3) because they were willing to put up with false teaching, which amounted to another Jesus … a different spirit … a different gospel (11:4).”

• Tony Evans, The Tony Evans Bible Commentary (quoted Scripture without bold/italics)

2 Corinthians 11:2 ‘father of the bride’: “Paul used a wedding metaphor to present himself as the father of the bride, offering the Corinthians as pure and undefiled to Christ, the bridegroom.”

• Dorothy Kelley Patterson, General Editor, NIV Woman’s Study Bible (Patty Comber, Pauline Epistles contributor)

2 Corinthians 11:2 ‘a bride dressed for her husband’: “John’s descriptions of the future [in the Book of Revelation] steal your breath. His depiction of the final battle is graphic. Good clashes with evil. The sacred encounters the sinful. The pages howl with the shrieks of dragons and smolder with the coals of fiery pits.
“But in the midst of the battlefield there is a rose. John describes it in Revelation 21:2 …
” ‘I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. It was pre-pared like a bride dressed for her husband’ …
“In this final mountaintop encounter, God pulls back the curtain and allows the warrior to peek into the homeland. When given the task of writing down what he sees, John chooses the most beautiful comparison earth has to offer. The Holy City, John says, is like ‘a bride dressed for her husband.’”

• Max Lucado, The Applause of Heaven

2 Corinthians 11:3 ‘false apostles appealed to earthly wisdom’: “Paul cautioned the Corinthians that Satan, the father of all lies (Jn 8:44), would seek to distract them from the simplicity of the gospel. The enemy would attempt to deceive them with complicated and persuasive arguments, just as he had once deceived Eve (Ge 3:13; see 1Ti 2:14). The teachings of the false apostles sounded good, but in actuality they ‘led astray’ the Corinthians, distorting the Christian message (2Co 11:3). The false apostles promoted a spirit of human wisdom and gnosis (2Co 10:5; see 1Co 2:12; 2Co 1:12), a spirit of bondage to legalistic requirements (2Co 3:6), and a spirit of compromise (2Co 6:14–7:1; 12:21). This spirit was different than the spirit of liberty (2Co 3:17; Gal 2:4; 5:1), the spirit of love, joy and peace (Ro 14:17; Gal 5:22), and the spirit of power (Eph 3:20; Col 1:11; 2Ti 1:7) that Paul preached.”

• Dorothy Kelley Patterson, General Editor, NIV Woman’s Study Bible (Patty Comber, Pauline Epistles contributor)

2 Corinthians 11:4 ‘He who comes’: ”The false apostles came into the Corinthian church from the outside—just as Satan did into the Garden. Likely they were Palestinian Jews (cf. v. 22; Acts 6:1) who allegedly sought to bring the Corinthians under the sway of the Jerusalem church. They were in a sense Judaizers, seeking to impose Jewish customs on the Corinthians. Unlike the Judaizers who plagued the Galatian churches (cf. Gal. 5:2), however, the false apostles at Corinth apparently did not insist that the Corinthians be circumcised. Nor did they practice a rigid legalism; in fact, they apparently encouraged licentiousness (cf. 12:21). Their fascination with rhetoric and oratory (cf. 10:10) suggests they had been influenced by Greek culture and philosophy. They claimed (falsely, cf. Acts 15:24) to represent the Jerusalem church, even possessing letters of commendation (see … 3:1). Claiming to be the most eminent of apostles (v. 5), they scorned Paul’s apostolic claims. Though their teaching may have differed from the Galatian Judaizers, it was just as deadly. another Jesus … a different spirit … a different gospel. Despite their vicious attacks on him, Paul’s quarrel with the false apostles was not personal, but doctrinal. He could tolerate those hostile to him, as long as they preached the gospel of Jesus Christ (cf. Phil. 1:15–18). Those who adulterated the true gospel, however, received Paul’s strongest condemnation (cf. Gal. 1:6–9). Though the precise details of what the false apostles taught are unknown and don’t matter, they preached ‘another Jesus’ and ‘a different spirit,’ which added up to ‘a different gospel.’ you may well put up with it! Paul’s fear that the Corinthians would embrace the damning lies of the false apostles prompted his jealous concern for them (see notes on vv. 2, 3).”

• John MacArthur, John MacArthur Commentary (quoted Scripture without bold/italics)

2 Corinthians 11:5-6 ‘devoid of spiritual power’: “The false teachers had promoted themselves as being superior to Paul, but he knew he was not inferior to these so-called super-apostles (11:5). They had accused him of being untrained in public speaking. Yet Paul knew that his knowledge of the true gospel and the content of his message were far more important than oratorical skill (11:6). You may be a dynamic and persuasive public speaker. Nevertheless, if you’re no proclaiming, ‘Jesus Christ and him crucified’ (1 Cor 2:2), your message is insufficient and will be devoid of the spiritual power that comes only from the Word of God.”

• Tony Evans, The Tony Evans Bible Commentary (quoted Scripture without bold/italics)

2 Corinthians 11:5 ‘Cults’: “A cult is a religious group that has been established upon a special message not found in the Bible. Most cultic leaders testify of visions, revelations, spirit guides, or audible voices from heaven that have revealed truth to them alone. Their messages are characteristically apocalyptic and are often presented as ‘inspired.’
“Cultic leaders are nearly always authoritarian. They typically encourage their followers to adopt legalistic lifestyle and persecution mentality, adopting an outlook of ‘exclusivity’ for the group.
“Many people have suffered from the brainwashing and other fraudulent tactics of cults. Grievances include the lack of full disclosure when luring potential members into the cult through extortion, poor nutrition, sleep deprivation, auditory bombardment, as well as far more severe instances of slavery, physical abuse, and sexual exploitation. Cults tend to entice followers with what appear to be generous expressions of concern and a desire to meet the deep needs of people who are confused, suffering, dejected, or searching for meaning in life. In the minds of many Christian leaders, the increase in cult membership worldwide is a direct indicator of the church’s failure to meet these needs genuinely and fully.”

• Dorothy Kelley Patterson, General Editor, NIV Woman’s Study Bible (Patty Comber, Pauline Epistles contributor)

2 Corinthians 11:7-12 ‘preach the gospel’: “Paul always subordinated himself to the gospel. Instead of exalting himself and having the Corinthians pay for his services, he had received financial support from other churches and preached the gospel to them free of charge (11:7-8). He describes this as having robbed believers from Macedonia (11:8-9), meaning other Christians paid for his ministry when he could rightly have expected the Corinthians to support him themselves. But Paul hadn’t wanted to burden them and hinder the work of the gospel among them (11:9). This kind of boasting Paul was willing to engage in-that is, boasting about how he had sacrificed for them and about his great love for them (11:10-11). The false apostles wouldn’t boast in these kinds of humble attitudes and actions; thus, they were clearly not Paul’s equals (11:12).”

• Tony Evans, The Tony Evans Bible Commentary (quoted Scripture without bold/italics)

2 Corinthians 11:7 ‘Culture and Society’: “In the culture of the 1st century, exchanging gifts was an important way of establishing and continuing particular social relations. A person’s refusal of a gift could be interpreted as a refusal to accept the giver as an equal, or as a declaration that no social relation was desired. In other words, Paul’s refusal was open to serious misinterpretation (2 Cor. 11:7).”

• Timothy B. Cargal, et al., The Chronological Study Bible

2 Corinthians 11:8 ‘I robbed other churches’: “’Robbed’ is a very strong word, used in extrabiblical Gr. to refer to pillaging. Paul, of course, did not take money from churches without their consent; his point is that the churches who supported him while he ministered in Corinth received no direct benefit from the support they gave him. Why Paul refused to accept the support he was entitled to from the Corinthians (1 Cor. 9:15) is not clear; perhaps some of them were suspicious of his motives in promoting the offering for the Jerusalem church (cf. 12:16–18).”

• John MacArthur, John MacArthur Commentary (quoted Scripture without bold/italics)

2 Corinthians 11:13-15 ‘not Christians at all’: “Paul calls these opponents exactly what they were: false apostles and deceitful workers (11:13). They weren’t Christians but devilish imposters. Just as Satan disguises himself as an angel of light in order to deceive and corrupt, so these false teachers pretended to be servants of righteousness (11:14-15). False teachers are agents of the evil ventriloquist, repeating the ungodly humanist worldview of their owner. But Paul promises that God will judge them according to their works (11:15).
“Don’t assume that Satan’s temptations and tactics will always be obvious. He’s a liar and deceiver, and he’s been plying his trade for millennia. He’s familiar with your weaknesses, just like a coach who studies the game films of his opponents in order to exploit theirs. The enemy knows how to make succumbing to his temptations appear like good and right things to do. So, what can you do? ‘Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil’ (Eph 6:11), and ‘resist him, firm in the faith’ (1 Pet 5:9).”

• Tony Evans, The Tony Evans Bible Commentary (quoted Scripture without bold/italics)

2 Corinthians 11:16 ‘the inward person’: ”When Paul spoke of the “inward” person (see 2 Corinthians 4:16), he. was speaking of the soul or spirit-the center of our personality where the Holy Spirit and Christ reside. The key to standing strong in the midst of stress is to strengthen the inward person. This way, we can face whatever life brings our way because the strength with which God fills us meets the test. The problem is that we live in an outward world and the inward tends to get lost in the shuffle.
“There are several reasons for this. The first reason is that we do not have a proper appreciation far eternity. The Bible says the inward part of us lives on through eternity. The soul we have now is the same soul we will have throughout eternity. So, as we build the inward person, we are building that part of us that is eternal.
“The second reason is that we do not have God’s perspective on life. The world tells us that the most important thing we possess is our body. We must keep it beautiful, strong, and young … because it is everything. If we’re not careful, we may allow the world to squeeze us into its mold. In contrast, God’s emphasis is on the inward person. He looks at the heart.
“The third reason is that we do not value the inward person. We live in an accomplishment-oriented society, and spending time alone with God to build the inward person does not show up on a task list or accomplishment chart. So, instead we spend our time doing outward things-putting on a good show and creating a great shell. Inside, however, we may be feeling empty, because nobody cares to ask us how he are doing inwardly.
“Our responsibility is to push past these obstacles and to strengthen our trust in God in every area of life. We do this by studying His Word, spending time in prayer, and simply remaining silent before Him so that He can speak into our hearts. We fight against the enemies of the soul-the attitudes, the obstacles, and the distractions that keep us from focusing inward-knowing that the more we invest in our relationship with God right now, the more we will be able to rest and trust in Him when future struggles come.”

• David Jeremiah, 2 Corinthians (Jeremiah Bible Study Series)

2 Corinthians 11:17 ‘external appearance’: “The Corinthians evaluated others according to external appearances; so Paul used their standard for evaluating himself. Although he regarded this to be an exercise in foolishness, he maintained that he could match and even outdo all the boastful claims of the false apostles. Paul compared his own ministry with theirs and demonstrated that even on the basis of externals, their apostleship was deficient. They had not known the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings as he had. They had not been beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, imprisoned, nor had they hungered, thirsted, or gone sleepless for the sake of the kingdom. Although they had some claim to Jewish nationality and lineage; as far as ministry was concerned, they were completely lacking. Paul could boast more than they. However, he recognized that this was foolish, for it was not his own but Christ’s power he used for all he had experienced and accomplished (2Co 12:9).”

• Dorothy Kelley Patterson, General Editor, NIV Woman’s Study Bible (Patty Comber, Pauline Epistles contributor)

2 Corinthians 11:20 ‘brings you into bondage’: “The Gr. verb translated by this phrase appears elsewhere in the NT only in Gal. 2:4, where it speaks of the Galatians’ enslavement by the Judaizers. The false apostles had robbed the Corinthians of their freedom in Christ (cf. Gal. 5:1). devours you. Or ‘preys upon you.’ This probably refers to the false teachers’ demands for financial support (the same verb appears in Luke 20:47 where Jesus denounces the Pharisees for devouring widows’ houses). Takes from you. Better translated ‘takes advantage of you’ (it is translated ‘I caught you by cunning’ in 12:16). The false apostles were attempting to catch the Corinthians like fish in a net (cf. Luke 5:5, 6). exalts himself. This refers to one who is presumptuous, puts on airs, acts arrogantly, or lords it over people (cf. 1 Pet. 5:3). strikes you on the face. The false apostles may have physically abused the Corinthians, but the phrase is more likely used in a metaphorical sense (cf. 1 Cor. 9:27) to speak of the false teachers’ humiliation of the Corinthians. To strike someone on the face was a sign of disrespect and contempt (cf. 1 Kin. 22:24; Luke 22:64; Acts 23:2).”

• John MacArthur, John MacArthur Commentary (quoted Scripture without bold/italics)

2 Corinthians 11:21-31 ‘Paul’s credentials’: ”Incredible credentials! Yet Paul quickly adds that these credentials amount to mere foolishness-nothing but idle boasts. ‘This is not where my authority lies;’ he says, in effect. ‘If you really want to know where my authority lies and where true spiritual power comes from, let me tell you how I began to learn the lesson. This is not going to sound very impressive, but I want you to know that I am telling you the truth. This is the event I boast about more than anything else in my life-the moment when I began to learn the secret of genuine power:’
“Beginning with 11:31, Paul describes the time he had to be let down over the city wall of Damascus, just so that he could slink away into the darkness from the pursuing guards of King Aretas-as if he were a common thief! This is not a story of great victory and valor-it’s a story of defeat and discouragement. Yet this is how Paul learned the secret of victorious Christian living: When I am weak, then I am strong.“

• Ray C. Stedman, Adventuring Through the Bible

2 Corinthians 11:22 ‘’: “Paul was proud of his Hebrew heritage. He was no bigot-remember, he was the apostle to the Gentiles. He constantly disclaimed all confidence in circumcision. He withstood Peter to his face. He was continually breaking down the barriers that divided Jew and Gentile. But yet, for all that, as a man Paul was not ashamed to claim his Hebrew heritage.
“Notice the personal claim-‘So am I.’ The apostle knew that his claim was indisputable, but a great many persons say, ‘So am I,’ when they have no right to say it. Let us not claim to be Christians if we are not. It is far better to honestly confess oneself an outsider than to be an interloper among the saints of God. However, if a person has given good proof, I can only say that the claim in the text is one that will yield believers great joy. What a satisfaction it is to me to say, ‘So am I,’ when one of the Lord’s people cries, ‘My sins are forgiven through Jesus’s precious blood. I am a pardoned sinner!’ ‘So am I.’ ‘I am covered with Christ’s righteousness, a divine garment clothes me, and I am accepted in the Beloved!’ ‘So am I.’ ‘He has taken me into union with himself and made me a member of his body!’ ‘So am I!’”

• Charles H. Spurgeon, from sermon notes

2 Corinthians 11:23 ‘a they ministers of Christ’: “Paul had already emphatically denied that they were (v. 13); however, some of the Corinthians still believed they were. Paul accepted that belief for the sake of argument, then went on to show that his ministry was in every way superior to the false apostles’ so-called “ministry.” I speak as a fool. See …v. 1. Once again Paul expressed his extreme distaste for the boasting the Corinthians had forced him into. in labors … in deaths often. A general summation of Paul’s sufferings for the gospel; the next few verses give specific examples, many of which are not found in Acts. Paul was often in danger of death (Acts 9:23, 29; 14:5, 19, 20; 17:5; 21:30–32).”

• John MacArthur, John MacArthur Commentary (quoted Scripture without bold/italics)

2 Corinthians 16:26 ‘Daily Life and Customs’: “Travel was a frequent activity in the Roman world, although it was dangerous. There were many robbers (Luke 10:30; 2 Cor. 11:26), who stole not only possessions but sometimes the travelers themselves, selling them or using them as slaves. Augustus stationed the army along the roads to put down this menace, and earned the people’s gratitude for improving the security of their daily lives.”

• Timothy B. Cargal, et al., The Chronological Study Bible

2 Corinthians 11:27-28 ‘reliability’: “There is a common denominator in any form of greatness-reliability.
“It’s the bread and butter characteristic of achievement. It’s the shared ingredient behind retirement pens, Hall of Fame awards, and golden anniversaries. It is the quality that produces not momentary heroics but monumental lives.
“The Bible has its share … Consistent and predictable, these saints were spurred by a gut-level conviction that they had been called by no one less than God himself. As a result, their work wasn’t affected by moods, cloudy days, or rocky trails. Their performance graph didn’t rise and fall with roller-coaster irregularity. They weren’t addicted to accolades or applause nor deterred by grumpy bosses or empty wallets … And since their loyalty was not determined by their comfort, they were just as faithful in dark prisons as they were in spotlighted pulpits. “

• Max Lucado, God Came Near

My Thoughts

Paul begins this chapter with a plea for how he is jealous of them.  He planted the church in Corinth.  He taught them, but it seems anyone who comes along with a different idea is “smarter” than Paul was.

This zealous jealousy that Paul speaks of is like anyone we might lead to Christ or a better comparison is our own family.  Paul lived and worked among the Corinthians for a year and a half.  He got to know them personally.  This is his third letter.  Why are they so fickle?

I have had people call me, not trusting the answer they would get from the pastor (regarding denominational questions or the message being taught by another denomination).  I will do my research and give them an honest answer, even if they left the church I am presently attending.  There are so many churches sprouting, you need to study them in depth.  Listening to a few sermons and reading the mission statement can be misleading.

But Paul was getting messages that these people were talking about Paul in a poor light, making false statements, and their message was untrue.  It was not the same Jesus being taught.  The gospel was not the same.  The spirit in which they spoke was not the Holy Spirit.  Some may have been Judaizers.  Some may have been Gnostics.  But it was definitely not the simple message of Grace that Paul had taught them.  Since he planted the church, he felt responsible in getting them back on the right track.

Now, Paul needs to defend himself.  In a style like modern politicians, if you cannot attack the message of the other person, you attack the person himself (herself).  Paul was not an eloquent speaker, but his focus was in teaching them the gospel rather than swaying them emotionally with a fancy speech and emotionally charged rhetoric.  Paul worked with Priscilla and Aquila, tentmaking, and he was never a burden financially on the Corinth church.  This suggests that these “super-apostles” were charging them money in order to lie to them.  They were not apostles at all.  Paul says that he stole from other churches, but he used an emotionally charged word in that he accepted donations from a church that neither received Paul’s teaching or monetary payment in return.  But the other church gladly gave him the money.  One of those must have been the Macedonian churches in that he mentions them specifically.

Paul had wanted the Corinth church to grow and spread the gospel to the other towns near there, but now Paul is fixing yet another problem.

These people who teach false doctrine are slick.  They are crafty in their masquerade.  Paul will keep fighting them, for they are from Satan.  They will get what they deserve.

Paul talks “foolishly” in that he reminds them that he is an apostle.  And now he boasts of his suffering.  Paul speaks of being flogged.  He was given forty lashes minus one.  It was thought that forty lashes should be enough to kill a man.  Thus, forty lashes minus one would beat the man to the point of death, but not kill him.  He was stoned once.  He was beaten with rods.  He was shipwrecked three times.  And then to travel by foot from one place to another, he went through areas where he had to avoid bandits and murderers.

Paul boasts of this to let them know how much he loves them.  He did this to spread the gospel and plant churches wherever he went.  He even started his ministry by having the king in Damascus threaten to arrest him and he was lowered out the city wall in a basket.

But Paul is saying that this boasting is in righteous boasting, in that it is proof that he is living out the life as God’s servant, regardless of the cost.

Some Serendipitous Reflections

2 Corinthians 11:1-15 Paul and the False Apostles 1. Spiritually, you have been promised to one husband who is Christ (v.2). How are you getting ready for that upcoming wedding?
“2. What ‘different gospel’- has at one point or an-other pulled you away from Je-sus? How did you become aware of its deceitfulness?
“3. Sin rarely approaches us as evil, but as ‘virtue in disguise.’ From verses 2-4, how can you guard yourself against this satanic strategy?
2 Corinthians 11:16-33 Paul Boasts about his Sufferings 1. Both Jesus’ and Paul’s gentleness was mis-understood as weakness. How has that resulted in blessing (see Mt 5:5)? In what area do you need to embrace their example right now?
“2. Would Paul have been more popular if he had pushed his weight around? How would that have misrepresented the gospel?
“3. In your witness, where are you caught “between a rock and a hard place”?

• Lyman Coleman, et al, The NIV Serendipity Bible for Study Groups

Second Corinthians 11 has two sets of questions as noted.

Substitute whatever group for any reference to a small group or ask who could come to your aid.

If you like these Thursday morning Bible studies, but you think you missed a few, you can use this LINK. I have set up a page off the home page for links to these Thursday morning posts. I will continue to modify the page as I add more.

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.