2 Corinthians11
King James Version · Public Domain
1Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.
2For 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.
3But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
4For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
5For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.
6But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been thoroughly made manifest among you in all things.
7Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?
8I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.
9And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.
10As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.
11Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth.
12But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.
13For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
14And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
15Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
16I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little.
17That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.
18Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.
19For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.
20For ye 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.
21I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.
22Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.
23Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
24Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
25Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
26In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine 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 brethren;
27In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
28Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
29Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?
30If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.
31The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.
32In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:
33And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 2 Corinthians 11.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The apostle gives the reasons for speaking in his own commendation. (1–14). Shows that he had freely preached the gospel. (5–15). Explains what he was going to add in defence of his own character. (16–21). He gives an account of his labours, cares, sufferings, dangers, and deliverances. (22–33).
vv1-4
The apostle desired to preserve the Corinthians from being corrupted by the false apostles. There is but one Jesus, one Spirit, and one gospel, to be preached to them, and received by them; and why should any be prejudiced, by the devices of an adversary, against him who first taught them in faith? They should not listen to men, who, without cause, would draw them away from those who were the means of their conversion.
vv5-15
It is far better to be plain in speech, yet walking openly and consistently with the gospel, than to be admired by thousands, and be lifted up in pride, so as to disgrace the gospel by evil tempers and unholy lives. The apostle would not give room for any to accuse him of worldly designs in preaching the gospel, that others who opposed him at Corinth, might not in this respect gain advantage against him. Hypocrisy may be looked for, especially when we consider the great power which Satan, who rules in the hearts of the children of disobedience, has upon the minds of many. And as there are temptations to evil conduct, so there is equal danger on the other side. It serves Satan's purposes as well, to set up good works against the atonement of Christ, and salvation by faith and grace. But the end will discover those who are deceitful workers; their work will end in ruin. Satan will allow his ministers to preach either the law or the gospel separately; but the law as established by faith in Christ's righteousness and atonement, and the partaking of his Spirit, is the test of every false system.
vv16-21
It is the duty and practice of Christians to humble themselves, in obedience to the command and example of the Lord; yet prudence must direct in what it is needful to do things which we may do lawfully, even the speaking of what God has wrought for us, and in us, and by us. Doubtless here is reference to facts in which the character of the false apostles had been shown. It is astonishing to see how such men bring their followers into bondage, and how they take from them and insult them.
Key Words
ὄφελον (óphelon): I ought (wish), i.e. (interjection) oh that!
ἀνέχομαι (anéchomai): to hold oneself up against, i.e. (figuratively) put up with
μοῦ (moû): of me
μικρόν (mikrón): a small space of time or degree
ἀφροσύνη (aphrosýnē): senselessness, i.e. (euphemistically) egotism; (morally) recklessness
γάρ (gár): properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles)
ζηλόω (zēlóō): to have warmth of feeling for or against
θεός (theós): figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very
ζῆλος (zēlos): properly, heat, i.e. (figuratively) "zeal" (in a favorable sense, ardor; in an unfavorable one, jealousy, as of a husband (figuratively, of God), or an enemy, malice)
ὑμᾶς (hymâs): you (as the objective of a verb or preposition)
Cross References
2 Corinthians 11Paul acts as the 'friend of the Bridegroom' who espouses the church as a chaste bride to Christ.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Direct historical allusion to the serpent's deceptive temptation of Eve in Eden.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Parallels the warnings against quickly accepting 'another gospel' or a different message than first received.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Paul asserts his apostolic standing, not being a whit behind the chiefest apostles in labor.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallel defense of Paul's apostleship; forced to boast though not behind the chiefest apostles.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
The Mosaic law limiting physical scourging to forty stripes, leading to the Jewish 'forty save one' custom.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The historical record of Paul escaping Damascus by being let down the wall in a basket.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallel imagery of Christ presenting the Church to Himself as holy, unblemished, and chaste.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Historical account of Paul working as a tentmaker in Corinth to preach the gospel freely.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Christ's warning against false prophets who come in sheep's clothing but are inwardly wolves.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Paul uses similar solemn oaths calling on Christ's truth to attest his sincerity.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Fulfillment of Christ's prophecy that His messengers would be scourged in synagogues.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Historical confirmation of Paul being beaten with rods by Roman magistrates at Philippi.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Identifies the 'false brethren' who crept in to spy out and enslave believers.
Supported by Matthew Poole