2 Corinthians 11
2 Corinthians • Sermon • Submitted
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It’s easy to get got up in the latest or newest thing or idea.
Think about something new that you bought and you wish you could have your old one back.
I often here people talk this way about a dishwasher. The new ones don’t clean nearly as good as my old one does.
For myself, I can think of a few pair of shoes that I wish I could have just replaced rather than bought new.
My mind also goes to vehicles. The old vehicles are so much easier to work on and fix than the new vehicles today.
As we are working our way towards the end of Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth, I want to remind you of the background of this city and church.
The city is a philosophical city that prides itself on knowledge and learning. Here in the final chapters Paul is confirming to the church that he is an apostle.
The Judaizers have come in behind Paul after he shared the Gospel and preached a different Gospel to this church. Paul laid the Gospel foundation and now the Judaizers have come said Paul is not an apostle and he does not have the Gospel.
Paul is refuting this idea.
So its as if this church heard the true Gospel and received it, then the Judaizers put something flashy in front of them and said listen to this new idea and they chased after it with everything they have.
They left the Gospel teaching and went after something new and flashy.
Paul begins to draw them back in.
1 I wish you would put up with a little foolishness from me. Yes, do put up with me.
2 For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy, because I have promised you in marriage to one husband—to present a pure virgin to Christ.
3 But I fear that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your minds may be seduced from a complete and pure devotion to Christ.
4 For if a person comes and preaches another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or you receive a different spirit, which you had not received, or a different gospel, which you had not accepted, you put up with it splendidly!
5 Now I consider myself in no way inferior to the “super-apostles.”
6 Though untrained in public speaking, I am certainly not untrained in knowledge. Indeed, we have always made that clear to you in everything.
7 Or did I commit a sin by humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge?
8 I robbed other churches by taking pay from them to minister to you.
9 When I was present with you and in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my needs. I have kept myself, and will keep myself, from burdening you in any way.
10 As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be stopped in the regions of Achaia.
11 Why? Because I don’t love you? God knows I do!
12 But I will continue to do what I am doing, in order to deny the opportunity of those who want an opportunity to be regarded just as our equals in what they boast about.
13 For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.
14 And no wonder! For Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
15 So it is no great thing if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their destiny will be according to their works.
16 I repeat: No one should consider me a fool. But if you do, at least accept me as a fool, so I too may boast a little.
17 What I say in this matter of boasting, I don’t speak as the Lord would, but foolishly.
18 Since many boast in an unspiritual way, I will also boast.
19 For you, being so wise, gladly put up with fools!
20 In fact, you put up with it if someone enslaves you, if someone devours you, if someone captures you, if someone dominates you, or if someone hits you in the face.
21 I say this to our shame: We have been weak. But in whatever anyone dares to boast—I am talking foolishly—I also dare:
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 servants of Christ? I’m talking like a madman—I’m a better one: with far more labors, many more imprisonments, far worse beatings, near death many times.
24 Five times I received 39 lashes from Jews.
25 Three times I was beaten with rods by the Romans. Once I was stoned by my enemies. Three times I was shipwrecked. I have spent a night and a day in the open sea.
26 On frequent journeys, I faced dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own people, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the open country, dangers on the sea, and dangers among false brothers;
27 labor and hardship, many sleepless nights, hunger and thirst, often without food, cold, and lacking clothing.
28 Not to mention other things, there is the daily pressure on me: my care for all the churches.
29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?
30 If boasting is necessary, I will boast about my weaknesses.
31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is praised forever, knows I am not lying.
32 In Damascus, the governor under King Aretas guarded the city of the Damascenes in order to arrest me,
33 so I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his hands.
Pray
I want you to recall chapter 10
12 For we don’t dare classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. But in measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves to themselves, they lack understanding.
and
18 For it is not the one commending himself who is approved, but the one the Lord commends.
Those he is arguing against in chapter 11 are listed here in chapter 10.
This group of Judaizers have commended themselves by their own standards that they have created.
Verse 18 describes them as ones who are commending themselves and Paul says the real value is in the one that the Lord commends.
1 I wish you would put up with a little foolishness from me. Yes, do put up with me.
Paul writes and says I wish you would put up with a little foolishness from me. That is I am going to use their arguments to establish that I am a true apostle.
Chapter 10 says they use their standards to establish that those who live according to the things they put in place are creditable.
He says it’s foolish to use their arguments to establish that the Gospel I preach is the true Gospel, but if you would put up with this then I will prove it to you.
2 For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy, because I have promised you in marriage to one husband—to present a pure virgin to Christ.
He says I am going to use their arguments to prove that I am legitimate and the reason is...
I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy
God’s jealousy
5 You must not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the fathers’ sin, to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,
24 For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.
God desires that we love and worship him alone. He is a jealous God.
Paul says I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy
Remember where we are here in this point of the text. The Judaizers have come in behind Paul and presented some new and flashy ideas. The church at Corinth has entertained and pursued these new ideas.
Paul says I am jealous over you with godly jealousy.
I think this accurately depicts a pastor’s heart for his church. This year I have had some come to me and feel that they are called to other churches. I have had others come to me saying they are pursuing a new idea of church.
This sums up my heart for those who leave. I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy. It has never been easy to let anyone “go”.
Why is he jealous?
2 For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy, because I have promised you in marriage to one husband—to present a pure virgin to Christ.
I have promised you in marriage to one husband. to present a pure virgin to Christ.
The imagery takes us to the cultural picture of Jewish wedding. In Paul’s day this would be two separate ceremonies.
The first was the betrothal ceremony
The second was the nuptial ceremony
This second ceremony consummated the marriage.
Usually a year elapsed between the two. the girl during that period was regarded legally as the man’s wife, while socially she remained a virgin.
The betrothal contract was binding, and could be broken only by death or a formal written divorce. Unfaithfulness or violation of a betrothed girl was regarded as adultery and punishable as such.
Paul sees himself as the agent of God through whom his converts were betrothed to Christ, and feels under obligation to ensure that they are presented as a pure virgin to her one husband at the nuptial ceremony when the marriage will be consummated.
This is at the second coming of Christ.
That is a picture of love for this church that Paul has. It is also a massive weight of responsibility that Paul takes on behalf of this church.
3 But I fear that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your minds may be seduced from a complete and pure devotion to Christ.
I want to present you as a virgin to Christ, But I fear
What does he fear?
I fear that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, you minds may be seduced from a complete and pure devotion to Christ.
1 Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You can’t eat from any tree in the garden’?”
2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit from the trees in the garden.
3 But about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God said, ‘You must not eat it or touch it, or you will die.’ ”
4 “No! You will not die,” the serpent said to the woman.
5 “In fact, God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
6 Then the woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves.
The focus is on the mind. Satan is a liar and tries to get us to listen to his lies, ponder them, and then believe them.
With Eve, this is what Satan did.
First: He questioned God’s word, Did God really say?
Second: He denied God’s word, No! you will not die
Third: He then substituted his own lie, you will be like God or you shall be as gods
3 But I fear that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your minds may be seduced from a complete and pure devotion to Christ.
2 Corinthians: An Introduction and Commentary d. The Corinthians’ Gullibility (11:1–6)
The word translated thoughts (noēmata) is found only six times in the New Testament, every time in Paul’s writings, and five out of the six times in 2 Corinthians.
I want you to see these on the screen and here them.
11 I have done this so that we may not be taken advantage of by Satan. For we are not ignorant of his schemes.
14 but their minds were closed. For to this day, at the reading of the old covenant, the same veil remains; it is not lifted, because it is set aside only in Christ.
4 In their case, the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
5 and every high-minded thing that is raised up against the knowledge of God, taking every thought captive to obey Christ.
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Here is 2 Corinthians 11
3 But I fear that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your minds may be seduced from a complete and pure devotion to Christ.
Paul is concerned about the minds being seduced. His focus is not on the compromise of the morals of his readers but a the minds being led astray.
Christians’ minds are prime targets for the assaults of the serpent and the intent of these assaults on the minds is to lead them astray.
2020 Summed up right here.
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Satan has attacked the mind in order to lead astray Christians from their complete devotion to Christ!
4 For if a person comes and preaches another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or you receive a different spirit, which you had not received, or a different gospel, which you had not accepted, you put up with it splendidly!
This is the shiny new thing. Their minds are being led away to this new thing.
He says if a person comes and preaches another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or receive a different spirit which you had not recieved or a different gospel, which you had not accepted, you put up with it splendidly!
2 Corinthians: An Introduction and Commentary d. The Corinthians’ Gullibility (11:1–6)
Paul’s opponents stressed the power and glory of Christ to the virtual exclusion of the fact that he had also known weakness, humiliation, persecution, suffering and death. Paul preached Christ crucified as Lord, so a proclamation like that outlined above would seem to him to be the preaching of another Jesus.
As Paul is refuting these people who have come in as the new shiny thing, it is clear that in 2 Corinthians have revolved around letters of recommendation or great speaking and great knowledge.
I draw attention to this because in Galatians Paul is fighting a different fight Galatians 1: 6-9. In Galatia their fighting that those who receive the Gospel must also be circumcised in order to be saved.
This is separate from what is going on here in Corinth. The reason I point this out is that their are many ways these Judaizers are trying to lead believers astray.
The real enemy Satan uses many different tactics to lead believers astray.
I have witnessed this in our own community. Jehova Witnesses trying to build on foundation that has been laid.
You put up with it splendidly!
2 Corinthians: An Introduction and Commentary d. The Corinthians’ Gullibility (11:1–6)
You submit to it readily enough (lit. ‘you bear with it well’). Paul uses the same word here as he did in v. 1. It is no wonder he felt he could ask his readers to bear with him when he knew they were bearing well enough with those who preached a different gospel.
Club team basketball coach yesterday yelling at kids to get it together. The parents paid for this coach to yell at their kids.
We often put up with a whole lot more for a whole lot less in the world.
5 Now I consider myself in no way inferior to the “super-apostles.”
6 Though untrained in public speaking, I am certainly not untrained in knowledge. Indeed, we have always made that clear to you in everything.
Paul is responding to their claims about these men who have letters of recommendation and are great public speakers.
Paul is inferior to his opponents in public speaking but he is superior to the far more important area of knowledge.
By knowledge Paul means primarily insight into the mystery of the gospel, which his opponents failed to understand properly.
7 Or did I commit a sin by humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge?
8 I robbed other churches by taking pay from them to minister to you.
9 When I was present with you and in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my needs. I have kept myself, and will keep myself, from burdening you in any way.
10 As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be stopped in the regions of Achaia.
11 Why? Because I don’t love you? God knows I do!
In Acts 18:3
3 and being of the same occupation, stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade.
Paul worked as a tentmaker so he would not have to take any money from the Corinthians.
7 Or did I commit a sin by humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge?
Did I sin by not taking money from you?
The cultural custom was that the Greeks reguarded it as degrading for a philosopher or itinerant teacher to engage in manual work to supply his need.
Some are saying he is not an apostle because he preached free of charge to you.
8 I robbed other churches by taking pay from them to minister to you.
9 When I was present with you and in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my needs. I have kept myself, and will keep myself, from burdening you in any way.
10 As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be stopped in the regions of Achaia.
11 Why? Because I don’t love you? God knows I do!
12 But I will continue to do what I am doing, in order to deny the opportunity of those who want an opportunity to be regarded just as our equals in what they boast about.
2 Corinthians: An Introduction and Commentary e. The Matter of Financial Remuneration (11:7–15)
The word Paul uses here, sylaō (‘to rob’), is a strong one. In the papyri it was used with the meaning ‘to pillage’, and in classical Greek it was used predominantly in a military context meaning ‘to strip’ (a dead soldier of his armour). Why Paul chose such a strong word is difficult to determine. Perhaps he wanted to bring home to the Corinthians the lengths to which he had gone in making the gospel available to them free of charge, i.e. even to the extent of ‘robbing’ other churches by accepting support from them for work done in Corinth, work from which the donors would receive no benefits.
verse 10
His opponents would like his boasting to be silenced.
13 For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.
14 And no wonder! For Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
15 So it is no great thing if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their destiny will be according to their works.