Paul and the False Apostles
Paul feels he must explain his actions, even...
Paul feels he must explain his actions, even though he dislikes doing so. He claims a strong connection with the church (11:2). His enemies are trying to lead the Corinthian believers away from Christ.
1I hope you will put up with a little of my foolishness, but you are already doing that. 2I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. For I promised you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.
3I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ. 4For if someone comes and proclaims a Jesus other than the One we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit than the One you received, or a different gospel than the one you accepted, you put up with it very easily.
These false teachers called themselves "super apostles" and...
These false teachers called themselves "super apostles" and looked down on Paul for not speaking eloquently (10:10).
5I consider myself in no way inferior to those “super-apostles.” 6Although I am not a polished speaker, I am certainly not lacking in knowledge. We have made this clear to you in every way possible.
7Was it a sin for me to humble myself in order to exalt you, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge?
Paul had been accepting contributions from Macedonia, specifically...
Paul had been accepting contributions from Macedonia, specifically Philippi (Philippians 4:15–19). This apparent inconsistency made the Corinthians suspicious of his motives or doubtful of his love for them (2 Corinthians 11:11).
8I robbed other churches by accepting their support in order to serve you. 9And when I was with you and in need, I was not a burden to anyone; for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my needs. I have refrained from being a burden to you in any way, and I will continue to do so. 10As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be silenced in the regions of Achaia. 11Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!
12But I will keep on doing what I am doing, in order to undercut those who want an opportunity to be regarded as our equals in the things of which they boast.
Paul strongly criticizes the false teachers in Corinth...
Paul strongly criticizes the false teachers in Corinth (compare Galatians 1:6–9). Although these teachers wanted to claim their work was like Paul's (2 Corinthians 11:12), they were actually false apostles and deceitful workers (compare Philippians 3:2). Just as Satan transformed himself into an angel of light to deceive Eve (as described in the Jewish apocryphal book The Life of Adam and Eve), his servants also pretend to be servants of righteousness. Satan’s servants claim to be God’s servants, but their actions are evil, and their punishment is certain (see 2 Corinthians 5:10).
13For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions.
Paul’s Suffering and Service
Paul acts like a boastful fool (see also...
Paul acts like a boastful fool (see also 12:11–13) to show his real qualifications as a suffering apostle. The intruders' arrogance forces Paul to write in a way that mirrors their behavior, using irony.
16I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then receive me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little. 17In this confident boasting of mine, I am not speaking as the Lord would, but as a fool. 18Since many are boasting according to the flesh, I too will boast. 19For you gladly put up with fools, since you are so wise.
The Corinthian church welcomed the intruders, even when...
The Corinthian church welcomed the intruders, even when they took advantage of and insulted them. They viewed Paul's decision not to exploit them as a sign of weakness.
20In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or exalts himself or strikes you in the face.
Instead of boasting about his strengths and successes...
Instead of boasting about his strengths and successes like the false teachers, Paul boasts about his weaknesses and defeats, directing attention away from himself and toward God.
21To my shame I concede that we were too weak for that!
Speaking as a fool, however, I can match what anyone else dares to boast about. 22Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.
in more imprisonments: Paul was imprisoned many times....
in more imprisonments: Paul was imprisoned many times. For example, see Acts 16:22–23. Clement of Rome states that Paul was imprisoned seven times.
the forty lashes minus one: This punishment is described in Deuteronomy 25:1–3. The Jewish leaders punished Paul as a renegade Jew, and he repeatedly faced death.
in more imprisonments: Paul was imprisoned many times. For example, see Acts 16:22–23. Clement of Rome states that Paul was imprisoned seven times.
the forty lashes minus one: This punishment is described in Deuteronomy 25:1–3. The Jewish leaders punished Paul as a renegade Jew, and he repeatedly faced death.
I am so much more!: Paul’s service to...
I am so much more!: Paul’s service to Christ involved suffering and hard work like Christ's. Some of these challenges are recorded in Acts.
23Are they servants of Christ? (I am speaking as if I were out of my mind.) I am so much more: in harder labor, in more imprisonments, in worse beatings, in frequent danger of death. 24Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked. I spent a night and a day in the open sea.
Paul's long journeys are recorded in Acts 13–28....
Paul's long journeys are recorded in Acts 13–28. He faced danger and endured hardship on these trips.
26In my frequent journeys, I have been in danger from rivers and from bandits, in danger from my countrymen and from the Gentiles, in danger in the city and in the country, in danger on the sea and among false brothers, 27in labor and toil and often without sleep, in hunger and thirst and often without food, in cold and exposure.
28Apart from these external trials, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not burn with grief?
30If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 31The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is forever worthy of praise,† knows that I am not lying.
As a final "boast" of his weakness, Paul...
As a final "boast" of his weakness, Paul shares the story of his escape from Damascus a few years after his conversion (see Acts 9:23–25; Galatians 1:15–18).
King Aretas IV of Nabataea controlled Damascus only after AD 37, following the death of Emperor Tiberius (see Josephus, Antiquities 18.5.1–3). The mention of Aretas dates Paul's escape from Damascus between AD 37 and the end of Aretas's reign in AD 39 or 40.
As a final "boast" of his weakness, Paul shares the story of his escape from Damascus a few years after his conversion (see Acts 9:23–25; Galatians 1:15–18).
King Aretas IV of Nabataea controlled Damascus only after AD 37, following the death of Emperor Tiberius (see Josephus, Antiquities 18.5.1–3). The mention of Aretas dates Paul's escape from Damascus between AD 37 and the end of Aretas's reign in AD 39 or 40.
32In Damascus, the governor under King Aretas secured the city of the Damascenes in order to arrest me. 33But I was lowered in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his grasp.