2 Corinthians 11:1-31

Teacher: Rusty Kennedy
​Series: 2 Corinthians (Acts)

Rusty's Notes

• I start with asking the question, “What are you passionate about?”
• How does that affect your words or behavior?

 

• Paul focuses in on how he is weak in the sense of being persecuted, pouring his life out, [and] living a life that was really like a slave’s life in some ways in terms of the work he had to do [and] the type of life he had to live.
• And he does this “Fool’s Speech” to set his form of ministry, which is sacrificial, over against the false ministry of these interlopers in Corinth who are trying to stand up and present themselves as powerful people in the culture—people who have money, people who have position. Paul says that’s not really what Christian ministry is about.[1]

PAUL AND THE FALSE APOSTLES
2 CORINTHIANS 11
1 I wish you would put up with a little foolishness from me. Yes, do put up with me!

• The process that he uses here is basically a plea. In verse 1 he’s going to say, “Come on, guys. Bear with me. Bear with me.” “Work with me here” is really what he’s saying.[2]

2 For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy, because I have promised you in marriage to one husband—to present a pure virgin to Christ.

• Paul wants to make sure that the Corinthians are doctrinally pure [and] that they are not getting off into theologically dangerous and destructive beliefs because of buying into the teaching of these false teachers.
• It’s actually the kind of jealousy where you feel very deep emotions because you are deeply interested in the welfare of someone.

3 But I fear that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your minds may be seduced from a sincere 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!

• “You guys are not approaching this situation with these false teachers from a wisdom standpoint, from a biblical standpoint. You’re buying into their foolishness.”
• These are not valid Christian teachers who just differ with Paul in approach. He says that they are preaching another Jesus; they’re preaching under the influence of a different spirit, and they are preaching a different gospel than the true gospel.
• Often people use that word “tolerance” to say that we ought to accept everybody no matter what.[3]

5 Now I consider myself in no way inferior to those “super-apostles.”

• someone who did not have extensive training.[4]

6 Even if I am untrained in public speaking, I am certainly not untrained in knowledge. Indeed, we have in every way made that clear to you in everything.

• He points out here that what he is especially good at is communicating knowledge or truth.
• He’s saying that “Even though I have chosen not to use flowery rhetorical ability here, I have taught you faithfully.”[5]

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.

• He actually uses missions funds from Macedonia to support his ministry in Corinth.[6]

9 When I was present with you and in need, I did not burden anyone, since the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my needs. I have kept myself, and will keep myself, from burdening you in any way.

• He does not want to be obligated to any power person in Corinth to promote their agenda.[7]

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!

• If you want me to boast about something, I’m going to boast about the fact that I’m not taking money from you.[8]

12 But I will continue to do what I am doing, in order to deny an opportunity to those who want to be regarded 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 surprise if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will be according to their works.

• Well, he says, “I’m going to carry out a pattern of ministry that makes what I’m doing and my gospel very distinct from the approach of these false teachers.
• I want you to see very clearly that we are not doing the same thing.
• It’s not simply a choice between gospel ministry A and gospel ministry B.”
• Paul says, “Their form of ministry is false.
• They are false apostles, they are deceitful, [and] they are just disguised as apostles of Christ.”
• And he says this fits their character perfectly.
• Whereas Paul himself follows the pattern of Christ, these false teachers follow the pattern of Satan.
• You can have people who come and minister in a church, and they’re using the right words.
• They present themselves as really concerned about righteousness, and yet, when you dig a little bit deeper in what is going on with them, there are red flags there that point to the fact that they’re really not authentic ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ.[9]

 
PAUL’S SUFFERINGS FOR CHRIST
16 I repeat: Let no one consider me a fool. But if you do, at least accept me as a fool so that I can also boast a little. 17 What I am saying in this matter of boasting, I don’t speak as the Lord would, but as it were, foolishly. 18 Since many boast according to the flesh, I will also boast.

• The process here that he uses is direct confrontation. He is saying, “You guys are doing something that is inappropriate.”
• And it’s really a beautiful piece of rhetoric that he is using here, and he gets into a bit of sarcasm, actually, where he is saying things on the surface like he’s applauding them, but really, what he’s doing is he is chastising them.
• He is really confronting them very directly with how bad it is that they are welcoming these false teachers in their midst.[10]

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 exploits you, if someone takes advantage of you, if someone is arrogant toward you, if someone slaps you in the face. 21 I say this to our shame: We have been too weak for that!

• A slave’s status was the lowest status in the culture—“if these false teachers eat up your resources; if they gobble down the resources that you have, then you applaud them. You think that that’s great. If they just swallow you whole, you think that’s a great thing.”
• So, in essence, in this whole section of 2 Corinthians, I think Paul is directly addressing that minority who are still interacting with the false teachers, and he’s really interacting and directing his comments toward those false teachers themselves.
• He never addresses them directly because he doesn’t want to dignify them, but he is always having his words aimed at those guys in the background.[11]

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 descendants of Abraham? So am I.

• Paul is identifying with the false teachers.
• They must be the Judeizers that have persistently followed Paul’s ministry.

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, many times near death.

• Now Paul distinguishes the differences between them and himself.
• Power vs weakness.
• Paul is presenting that he is superior because of his weaknesses… pure foolishness.
• This is the whole Gospel… it is foolishness to the world.

24 Five times I received the forty lashes minus one from the Jews. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I received a stoning. 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 Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, and dangers among false brothers; 27 toil and hardship, many sleepless nights, hunger and thirst, often without food, cold, and without clothing. 28 Not to mention other things, there is the daily pressure on me: my concern for all the churches.

• Paul is dealing with anxiety because of his passion for the Church.
• What search committee would present Paul as a candidate for church leadership based upon this resume?

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 blessed forever, knows I am not lying.

• Here is a man who had it all as a Pharisee.
• Gave it all up for a life of weakness and misery.
• He was beaten by both the Jews and the Gentiles.
• Around 400 AD, Augustine said there two kinds of pastors: those who cared for their flock and others who sit in it to gratify themselves by temporal honors and worldly advantages.[12]
• It happened in the early church. It happened in 400 AD and it is still happening today.
• Most likely, the ones who Paul is adamant against would probably never teach this passage.

[1] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Lexham Press.
[2] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Lexham Press.
[3] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Lexham Press.
[4] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Lexham Press.
[5] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Lexham Press.
[6] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Lexham Press.
[7] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Lexham Press.
[8] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Lexham Press.
[9] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Lexham Press.
[10] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Lexham Press.
[11] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Lexham Press.
[12] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Lexham Press.