Back to Home Page | Back to Index |

2 Corinthians Chapter Eleven

 
Chapter Eleven General Review
 
OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER
 
1) To understand why Paul felt it necessary to engage in "foolish 
 boasting"
 
2) To see how one might be misled by "false apostles" and "deceitful 
 workers"
 
3) To appreciate the great amount of suffering Paul endured as a 
 minister of Christ
 
SUMMARY
 
As Paul continues defending his apostolic authority, he finds it
necessary to engage in "a little folly." He does so out of concern for
their faithfulness to Christ and his fear that others may have
corrupted their minds from the simplicity that is in Christ (1-4). He
also finds himself having to explain why he did not accept support from
them. Evidently this was the basis for charges against him by those
who considered themselves "the most eminent apostles". But Paul, who
had good reasons for not accepting their support, recognizes these
detractors as they really were: "false apostles" and "deceitful
workers" (5-15).
 
While not desiring to act foolishly, he finds it necessary since it 
seems that the Corinthians are so willing to accept those who do
(16-21). With some foolish boldness, then, Paul claims equal footing
with his detractors as it pertains to physical heritage. But when it
comes to service as a minister of Christ, he far surpasses them as is 
evident in the things he suffered. After listing many examples of
suffering, he concludes that if he must boast it will be in the things
which concern his infirmity, giving his escape from Damascus as an
illustration (22-33).
 
OUTLINE
 
I. THE NECESSITY FOR SOME "FOOLISH BOASTING" (1-21)
 
 A. OUT OF CONCERN FOR THEIR FAITHFULNESS (1-4)
 1. He resorts to a little folly, because with godly jealousy he
 seeks to present them as a chaste virgin to Christ (1-2)
 2. Because of their seeming willingness to receive those who 
 offer a different Jesus, spirit, and gospel, he fears that
 their minds may be corrupted (3-4)
 
 B. BECAUSE OF COMPARISON WITH FALSE APOSTLES (5-15)
 1. Though untrained in speech, it is not the case with knowledge,
 and Paul has demonstrated that he is not inferior to the "most
 eminent apostles" (5-6)
 2. The reasons he refused to accept support from them (7-12)
 a. While with them, he received support from other churches
 (7-9a)
 b. He is determined to continue this practice of not being a
 burden to them (9b-10)
 c. Not because he does not love them, but to cut off 
 opportunity for those who wish to be regarded as Paul in 
 matters of which they boast (11-12)
 3. These boasters are "false apostles" (13-15)
 a. As deceitful workers, they transform themselves into 
 apostles of Christ (13)
 b. This is no great marvel, for if Satan transforms himself
 into an angel of light, similar tactics can be expected of
 his ministers (14-15)
 
 C. WITH GREAT RELUCTANCE (16-21)
 1. Paul is no fool, but for those who think otherwise, then 
 receive him as a fool as he begins to boast (16)
 2. Boasting is foolish and not of the Lord, but seeing that many
 boast and they seem to put up with them gladly in their 
 wisdom, then Paul will boast too (17-19)
 3. Since they seem willing to endure those who abuse them, Paul
 will be bold and boast a little as well (20-21)
 
II. THE GROUNDS FOR HIS "FOOLISH BOASTING" (22-33)
 
 A. HIS PHYSICAL HERITAGE (22)
 1. Like his opponents, He is a Hebrew
 2. Like his opponents, He is an Israelite
 3. Like his opponents, He is of the seed of Abraham
 
 B. HIS SACRIFICIAL SERVICE AS A MINISTER OF CHRIST (23-33)
 1. It is foolish to speak of his opponents as ministers of 
 Christ, but if so, Paul is one much more (23a)
 2. He has labored more, and suffered more, than they (23b)
 3. A list of the suffering Paul endured as a minister of Christ
 (24-29)
 a. Five times he was beaten with 39 stripes by the Jews (24)
 b. Three times he was been with rods (25a)
 c. Once he was stoned (25b)
 d. Three times he was shipwrecked (25c)
 e. A night and a day in the deep (25d)
 f. Miscellaneous perils on his many journeys (26)
 g. Miscellaneous discomforts (27)
 h. His daily concern for the condition of churches (28-29)
 4. If he must boast, then let it be concerning his infirmity 
 (30-33)
 a. His "infirmity" (possibly his "thorn in the flesh" of 
 11:7-10) was the persecution he endured in service to 
 Christ
 b. As an example, having to flee Damascus (31-33)
 
REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER
 
1) What are the main points of this chapter?
 - The necessity for some "foolish boasting" (1-21)
 - The grounds for his "foolish boasting" (22-33)
 
2) How did Paul desire to present the Corinthians to Christ? (2)
 - As a chaste virgin
 
3) What was Paul fearful of concerning the Corinthians? (3)
 - That their minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in
 Christ
 
4) What were they seemingly willing to put up with? (4)
 - Those who preach a different Jesus, offer a different spirit, and
 a different gospel
 
5) In what area did Paul concede that he was untrained? In what area
 was this not so? (6)
 - In speech; in knowledge
 
6) What practice of Paul evidently was used as a charge against him?
 (7)
 - Preaching of the gospel of God free of charge
 
7) While at Corinth, from whom did Paul receive support? (8-9)
 - Other churches, brethren from Macedonia
 
8) Why would Paul continue the practice of not accepting support from
 the Corinthians? (12)
 - To cut off opportunity for those who wish to boast that they are
 just like Paul
 
9) How does Paul describe these opponents of his? (13)
 - False apostles, deceitful workers
 
10) How does Satan often transform himself? And his ministers?
 (14-15)
 - As an angel of light; as ministers of righteousness
 
11) How did Paul view the confidence of boasting? (17)
 - Not according to the Lord; as foolishness
 
12) Then why does Paul engage in such boasting? (18-19)
 - Because many others were doing it, and the Corinthians seem to 
 gladly accept them
 
13) In what three ways was Paul equal to his opponents? (22)
 - He was a Hebrew, an Israelite, and of the seed of Abraham
 
14) List five things endured by Paul as a minister of Christ (24-25)
 - Five times he was beaten with 39 stripes
 - Three times he was beaten with rods
 - Once he was stoned
 - Three times he was shipwrecked
 - A night and a day he spent in the deep
 
15) If Paul must boast, in what would he boast? (30)
 - In the things that concern his infirmity
 
16) What event does he relate as an example of his infirmity? (31-33)
 - The escape from the governor of Damascus

A Different Jesus, Spirit, And Gospel (11:4)
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. In 2 Co 11:1-4, Paul expresses his grave concern for the brethren in
 Corinth...
 a. With a godly jealousy, he is fearful their minds may have been
 corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ - 2 Co 11:1-3
 b. With a touch of irony, perhaps even sarcasm, he refers to their
 seeming willingness to put up with someone who might teach 
 "another Jesus", "a different spirit", even "a different gospel" 
 - 2 Co 11:4
 1) He most likely has reference to "Judaizing teachers"
 2) These were Jewish believers in Christ who taught Gentiles had
 to be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses (cf. Ac 15:1-29;
 Ga 2:1-5)
 
2. The problem Paul faced is not unique to his day and age; even 
 today...
 a. There are people who teach a "Jesus" different than the One
 revealed in the Bible
 b. Many claim to be led by the "Spirit", who in fact may heeding a 
 different "spirit"
 c. What is often proclaimed as the "gospel", has been altered in its
 message so as to be different than the gospel proclaimed by the
 apostles of Christ
 
3. The danger of leaving "the simplicity that is in Christ" is very 
 real, and so I wish to...
  a. Identify how some actually preach "A Different Jesus, Spirit, And
 Gospel"
 b. Briefly review what the Bible teaches about Jesus, the Spirit, 
 and the gospel of Christ
 
[Let's begin with the idea of...]
 
I. A DIFFERENT JESUS
 
 A. A DIFFERENT JESUS AS PREACHED BY SOME TODAY...
 1. Some "non-Christian" religions, of course, teach a different
 Jesus
 a. That Jesus was at best simply a good man or teacher (e.g.,
 Judaism)
 b. That Jesus was at best a prophet of God (e.g., Islam)
 2. But some professing "Christian" religions also teach a 
 different Jesus
 a. That He is a created being (Jehovah Witnesses)
 b. That He is a god among many gods (Mormons)
 c. The "Jesus Seminar" has sought to redefine who Jesus was,
 by stripping Him of many of the teachings and miracles
 attributed to Him in the Bible
 
 B. THE TRUE JESUS IS THE ONE REVEALED BY HIS APOSTLES...
 1. As eyewitnesses who spent time with Him, only they are 
 qualified to testify as to who Jesus was - cf. Ac 10:39-41; 
 2 Pe 1:16; 1 Jn 1:1-2
 2. Their testimony, as recorded in the New Testament, reveal 
 Jesus to be:
 a. The Christ, the Son of the Living God - Mt 16:16
 b. The One who was with God, and was God - Jn 1:1-2
 c. The One in Whom all the fullness of God dwells bodily -
 Co 2:9-10
 d. The One Who died for our sins and rose from the dead, as
 foretold in the Old Testament scriptures - 1 Co 15:1-4
 e. The One Who teaches that many will be lost, and requires an
 obedient faith - Mt 7:13-14,21-23; 28:20
 
[In truth, the only reliable historical record that we have of Jesus is
the New Testament, written by those who either knew Jesus intimately,
or were personal acquaintances of His apostles. If we desire to know
the "true" Jesus, it is to them we must turn!
 
As we continue, consider some thoughts related to...]
 
II. A DIFFERENT SPIRIT
 
 A. MANY PEOPLE PROFESS TO BE LED BY THE SPIRIT TODAY...
 1. It is quite common to hear people say, "The Spirit led me to 
 do this, believe that..."
 a. They believe the Holy Spirit leads through impressions,
 intuition, etc.
 b. They believe the Holy Spirit is so leading people in all
 the denominations
 2. Yet these same people teach conflicting doctrines
 a. Some believe the Spirit tells them pray to Mary; others say
 the Spirit tells them that is blasphemous
 b. Some believe the Spirit confirms to them that Joseph Smith
 is a prophet, others are convinced the Spirit tells them he
 was a false prophet
 c. In one highly publicized case, one church said the Spirit
 led them to sell their church building at a set price; but
 another church wanting to buy the building said the Spirit
 told them the price was too high!
 -- We can appreciate the wisdom of John's admonition to "test the
 spirits" - 1 Jn 4:1
 
 B. THE TRUE SPIRIT IS THAT WHICH INSPIRED THE APOSTLES...
 1. Who was to guide them into all the truth - Jn 16:12-13
 2. Who did not lead them through impressions that could be 
  misinterpreted, but through audible and sometimes visual means
 that could be confirmed miraculously
 a. Note that the Spirit "said" to Philip... - cf. Ac 8:29
 b. Note that while Paul's "impression" was to go one way, the 
  Holy Spirit made it clear where He wanted them to go - cf.
 Ac 16:6-7
 -- I.e., the Spirit did not, and does not lead people in ways
 that might be confused with impressions or wishes of the
 human spirit
  3. The Spirit led the apostles into "all" the truth
 a. Paul had proclaimed the "whole counsel of God" - Ac 20:27
 b. Peter had been given "all things that pertain to life and
 godliness" - 2 Pe 1:3
 c. The faith was "once for all" delivered unto the saints - 
 Ju 3
 4. The Spirit "confirmed" the completed revelation by signs and
 wonders - He 2:1-4
 a. Therefore our task is to "give the more earnest heed" to
 those things revealed by the Spirit through the apostles
 and prophets of the New Testament
 b. Or as per Jude, to "contend earnestly for the faith once
 delivered" - Ju 3
 -- We can "test the spirits" by comparing them with the revealed
 and confirmed Word of God, for that is how the Spirit speaks
 to us today!
 
[So much religious confusion is the result of people listening to their
own "human spirit", when what we need to do is return to that Word of
God which the Spirit revealed in the first place!
 
Finally, it saddens me deeply to say that many sincere people are 
teaching...]
 
III. A DIFFERENT GOSPEL
 
 A. MANY PEOPLE PROCLAIM A DIFFERENT GOSPEL TODAY...
 1. Two extreme views of the gospel are often preached
  a. Salvation by works (i.e., we are saved by meritorious 
 deeds)
 b. Salvation by faith alone (i.e., obedience not required)
 -- Actually, these two extremes are simply over-reactions 
 against each other
 2. To illustrate, consider the subject of baptism
 a. Some teach that baptism without faith saves
 b. Others teach that faith without baptism saves
 -- Jesus taught that both faith and baptism saves - Mk 16:16
 3. As we seek to proclaim the true gospel, we need to remember
 that any change results in a "perverted gospel", against which
 Paul warned - Ga 1:8-9
 
 B. THE TRUE GOSPEL IS THAT WHICH THE APOSTLES PROCLAIMED...
 1. Their gospel contained "facts to believe", such as:
 a. Jesus was crucified for our sins - 1 Co 15:1-3
 b. He was raised from the dead - 1 Co 15:4
 c. He is exalted as Lord and Savior - Ac 2:33-36
 d. He is coming again to execute judgment and be glorified 
 - 2 Th 1:7-10
 2. Their gospel also contained "commands to obey" (cf. 2 Th 1:8;
 1 Pe 4:17; in which we learn the gospel must be "obeyed");
 such commands include:
 a. Believing Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God - Ac 8:35-37
 b. Confessing your faith in Jesus as Lord - Ro 10:9-10
 c. Repenting of your sins - Ac 2:38; 3:19; 17:30
 d. Being baptized for the remission of your sins - Mk 16:
 15-16; Ac 2:38; 22:16
 e. Remaining faithful to the Lord until death - Mt 28:19-20;
 Re 2:10
 3. And their gospel contained wonderful "promises to receive",
 including:
 a. The remission of sins - Ac 2:38; 3:19
 b. The gift of the Holy Spirit - Ac 2:38; cf. Jn 7:37-39;
 Ac 5:32
 c. The gift of eternal life - Ro 6:23
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. The warning against receiving "A Different Jesus, Spirit, And 
 Gospel" is a timely one...
 a. There are literally thousands of different denominations, 
 teaching conflicting doctrines
 b. Many have developed doctrines that are distinctly different as it
 relates to:
 1) Who Jesus is
 2) How the Spirit reveals His truth to us
 3) What constitutes the gospel of Jesus Christ
 
2. Who, and what, is the true Jesus, Spirit and gospel? - cf. 2 Co 11:4
 a. The true Jesus is the One the apostles preached
 b. The true Spirit is the One received by the early Christians, Who
 guided them into the truth which is fully and completely revealed
 in the pages of the New Testament
 c. The true gospel is that one proclaimed by the apostles and 
 received by the early church
 
3. Brethren, be careful lest "your minds...be corrupted from the 
 simplicity that is in Christ"!
  a. Satan would love to deceive us like he did with Eve
 b. He has his own "ministers of righteousness" working in his behalf
 - cf. 2 Co 11:13-15
 
The only way to avoid being deceived is to be like the Christians in
Jerusalem who "continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine..." 
(Ac 2:42). Whose doctrine are you heeding?

－－《Executable Outlines》

Godly Jealousy

Who Is Weak

And I Do Not Feel Weak

I. Lose Sincere and Pure Devotion to Christ

1. Lead Astray

2. Three “Deception”

3. Watch Out

II. Preach the Gospel free of Charge

1. Supply from Elsewhere

2. Not to be a Burden to the Church

3. Love Is the Greatest

III. Paul’s Sufferings

1. Willing to be Foolish

2. Willing to Suffer

3. Boast of His Weakness