2 Corinthians 11 — Simplicity in Christ
Introduction: Paul had great love for the Corinthian church and he wanted them to know he was not trying to press them for financial support. It also saddened him to feel it necessary to give them great detail about his sufferings for Christ as a chosen apostle, in response to some men at Corinth who had made strong criticism of his leadership abilities.
NOTE: Bible passages are from the American KJV.
A — Paul Was Determined to Preach Christ Without Financial Support from the Corinthians
2 Corinthians 11 “1 Would to God you could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. 2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he that comes preaches another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if you receive another spirit, which you have not received, or another gospel, which you have not accepted, you might well bear with him… 7 Have I committed an offense in abasing myself that you might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?… 13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”
Comments: Paul wanted to make it clear that it was going to be foolishness or folly for him to be presenting his authority as an apostle, but the necessity drove him. He had prepared the Corinthians to be the bride of Christ by the message of grace to salvation; and he did not want them to be so easily deceived in the same manner as Eve was deceived by the subtle lies of the serpent in the Garden (Genesis 3:1–8). His critics were trying to put themselves on the same level of authority as Apostles of Christ, and they wanted to gain benefits for themselves in so doing. That was a very dangerous approach, for even Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light and he will have false ministers of righteousness to serve him. Galatians 1:8–9 pronounces a curse on any who preach another gospel. Romans 16:17–18 warns against those who cause divisions contrary to sound doctrine, serving their own interests with fair speeches. 2 Peter 2:1 warns of false teachers who bring in damnable heresies. 2 John 1:7–11 declares that whoever does not stay in the doctrine of Christ has not God.
B — Paul Felt Compelled to Foolishly Boast to the Corinthians
2 Corinthians 11 “16 I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little. 17 That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting. 18 Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also. 19 For you suffer fools gladly, seeing you yourselves are wise. 20 For you suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face… However, whenever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.”
Comments: Paul had purposely been meek and humble when he was at Corinth, for the message he had was of Christ, and not of himself. If necessity would require him to use more boldness, and to describe his apostleship to answer his critics, he would offer that to the Corinthians. He would give them more of the type of things that had seemingly carried the people into following attributes of the flesh, rather than the enabling of the Spirit.
C — Paul Described His Heritage and His Suffering as He Served Christ
2 Corinthians 11 “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 a fool) I am more; in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, 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 I have been in the deep; 26 In journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by my own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brothers; 27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 28 Beside those things that are without, that which comes on me daily, the care of all the churches… 30 If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern my infirmities. 31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for ever more, knows that I lie not. 32 In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me: 33 And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.”
Comments: Paul gave a listing of some of the things about himself that should have been evident, such as his Hebrew heritage; and many of the times that he had suffered in the material sense because he constantly presented spiritual truth as he traveled. Some items in his list are not mentioned elsewhere in Scripture. The item he put at the end of the list actually began the record of his encounter with the risen Christ on his way to Damascus, and his conversion from persecutor to evangelist (Acts 9:1–27, Acts 18:1–11). His strong witness that Christ is the Son of God concluded with his escape from threats on his life by being lowered over the city wall in a basket under the cover of night. Paul wrote that if the Corinthians caused him to boast, he would boast of the things which concern his infirmities. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed forever more, knew that he did not lie.
Reflections in Prayer
Oh, my Father in heaven, I have many of the weaknesses that characterized the church at Corinth. I have sometimes placed too much of my attention on the individuals who I have heard preach or teach the Word of God over the years; rather than joyfully receiving what your Holy Spirit has worked through them when they are not distracted by the world system. Help me LORD to carefully reinforce in my heart the beauty and simplicity of the truth that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and the only Savior for my soul. I want to live in the reality that Christ in me, is my secure hope for glory. All praise to Christ Jesus, the Son of God. Hallelujah, amen!
Published 27 March 2021