2 Corinthians - Chapter 11

2 Corinthians Chapter 11 - Beware of False Prophets & Teachers

11 I wish that you would bear with me in a little foolishness; but indeed you are bearing with me. 2 For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin. 

I wish that you would bear with me in a little foolishness (Paul is admitting his fault)

.. but indeed, you are bearing with me (they are putting up with Paul even when tempted not to)

For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy (what is a godly jealousy? – God is jealous if you put anyone or anything ahead of Him)

.. for I betrothed you to one husband (committed you and prepared you)

.. so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin (like a father presenting his daughter)

Paul was preparing the church in Corinth to be wed to Jesus Christ.  His correction was to make sure the bridge had not spot or blemish…

3 But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. 

But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness (how did the serpent deceive Eve? – by his craftiness.  He said did got really say that you cannot eat the fruit from the tree of knowledge.  He got Eve to question God’s word.  Then he lied to her.  If you eat the fruit you will not die but you will be like God knowing both Good and Evil)

This is the same pattern he uses today.  First he gets us to question God’s word.  Then he lies to use and says its not the way God said its this other way.  Satan gets us to question and then tries to get us to believe a lie.. Don’t fall for it.

.. your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.

Paul preached a message of repentance and salvation through faith not of works.  Evil men want to add to it.  They say faith in Jesus Christ alone is not enough..  Paul was afraid that the church in Corinth would be easily led astray from this simple yet powerful truth.

4 For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully. 

It seems the church in Corinth was willing to listen and entertain other variations of the faith because the word says “you bear this beautifully”.  If someone preaches salvation other than through faith Jesus Christ crucified and raised again on the 3rd day – don’t listen, don’t even be willing to entertain these false preachers / teachers.  They are merely trying to fleece the sheep.

5 For I consider myself not in the least inferior to the most eminent apostles. 6 But even if I am unskilled in speech, yet I am not so in knowledge; in fact, in every way we have made this evident to you in all things.

Paul consider himself “not in the least inferior to the most eminent apostles”.  In other words he was every bit as the apostles who dress well, looked good and spoke well.  Their out appearance was more in line with the world said “important people looked like, talked like, acted like, etc.

Paul said he might be “unskilled in speech, yet I am not so in knowledge”.  He knew God’s word and he knew God’s will and was walking and talking according to Godly knowledge not worldly.  His understanding of God’s will was evident in all things.

Let our words, actions, humility and acts be evident that we conduct ourselves according to a knowledge of God and His word as well.

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