2 Corinthians11
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1Would that ye could bear with me in a little foolishness: but indeed ye do bear with me.
2For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy: for I espoused you to one husband, that I might present you as a pure virgin to Christ.
3But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is toward Christ.
4For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or if ye receive a different spirit, which ye did not receive, or a different gospel, which ye did not accept, ye do well to bear with him.
5For I reckon that I am not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.
6But though I be rude in speech, yet am I not in knowledge; nay, in every way have we made this manifest unto you in all things.
7Or did I commit a sin in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I preached to you the gospel of God for nought?
8I robbed other churches, taking wages of them that I might minister unto you;
9and when I was present with you and was in want, I was not a burden on any man; for the brethren, when they came from Macedonia, supplied the measure of my want; and in everything I 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 glorying 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 that desire an occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.
13For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, fashioning themselves into apostles of Christ.
14And no marvel; for even Satan fashioneth himself into an angel of light.
15It is no great thing therefore if his ministers also fashion themselves as ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
16I say again, Let no man think me foolish; but if ye do, yet as foolish receive me, that I also may glory a little.
17That which I speak, I speak not after the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of glorying.
18Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.
19For ye bear with the foolish gladly, being wise yourselves.
20For ye bear with a man, if he bringeth you into bondage, if he devoureth you, if he taketh you captive, if he exalteth himself, if he smiteth you on the face.
21I speak by way of disparagement, as though we had been weak. Yet whereinsoever any is bold (I speak in foolishness), 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 one beside himself) I more; in labors more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, 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 have I been in the deep;
26in journeyings often, in perils of rivers, in perils of robbers, in perils from my countrymen, in perils from the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
27in labor and travail, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
28Besides those things that are without, there is that which presseth upon me daily, anxiety for all the churches.
29Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is caused to stumble, and I burn not?
30If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things that concern my weakness.
31The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed for evermore knoweth that I lie not.
32In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king guarded the city of the Damascenes in order to take me:
33and through a window was I let down in a basket 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