2 Corinthians 11

Paul Defends His Apostleship

Who bears with Paul while he indulges? (verse 1)

Why kind of jealousy does Paul have for the church? (verse 2)

Who has Paul promised the church to? (verse 2)

How has Paul promised to present the church to Christ? (verse 2)

What kind of devotion to Christ is mentioned in verse 3?

How might the church's minds be corrupted and led away? (verse 3)

How does the church seem to react if one comes and preaches another Jesus? (verse 4)

What might they also be willing to receive? (verse 4)

What might they also be willing to accept? (verse 4)

What do they seem to welcome and tolerate? (verse 4)

Does Paul consider himself in anyway inferior to the super-apostles? (verse 5)

What is Paul's strength mentioned in verse 6? 

Or did I [perhaps] sin by ___________ myself so that you might be exalted and honored, because I preached God’s gospel to you free of charge? - verse 7

Did Paul run short of money while with the Corinthians? (verse 9)

Did Paul burden any of the Corinthians? (verse 9)

How was Paul fully supplied? (verse 9)

Where did Silas and Timothy come from? (verse 9)

What will Paul continue to do? (verse 9)

Will Paul's boast of independence be silenced in the regions of Achaia? (verse 10)

Why will Paul's boast of independence be silenced in the regions of Achaia? (verse 10-12)

How does Paul feel about the Corinthian church in verse 11? 

Why will Paul keep doing what he is doing? (verse 12)

Who does Paul cut off by doing what he is doing? (verse 12)

Is it a wonder that there are people masquerading as apostles of Christ? (verse 13-15)

Who masquerades as an angel of light? (verse 14)

What will correspond with their deeds? (verse 15)

What does Paul ask of those who think he is foolish? (verse 16)

Does Paul speak as the Lord would in his confident boasting? (verse 17)

What do many boast of? (verse 18)

Is Paul a Hebrew? (verse 22)

Is Paul an Israelite? (verse 22)

Is Paul a descendant of Abraham? (verse 22)

Is Paul a servant of Christ? (verse 23-29)

Has Paul experienced labor? (verse 23)

Has Paul experienced prison? (verse 23)

Has Paul been beaten? (verse 23)

Has Paul been often in danger of death? (verse 23)

How many times did Paul receive from the Jews thirty-nine lashes? (verse 24)

How many times was Paul beaten with rods? (verse 25)

Was Paul stoned? (Verse 25)

How many times was Paul shipwrecked? (verse 25)

How long has Paul spent adrift on the sea? (verse 25)

What kind of dangers has Paul had while traveling? (verse 26-27)

What inescapable pressure does Paul experience besides the external things? (verse 28-29)

What does Paul feel? (verse 29)

What is Paul's reaction to someone who is made to sin? (verse 29)

Who knows that Paul is not lying? (verse 31)

Why did King Aretas guard the city of Damascus? (verse 32)

How did Paul slip through his fingers? (verse 33)

What does Paul say the church is tolerating? (verse 20)

What does Paul boast in? (verse 30)

Interpretation

What is the tone of verses 18-29?

Is it worth boasting about the things in verse 24-29?

Interpretation

What is the tone of this chapter?

What is the tone of verse 8?

Thoughts

But I am afraid that, even as the serpent beguiled Eve by his cunning, your minds may be corrupted and led away from the simplicity of [your sincere and] pure devotion to Christ. - verse 3

 As the truth of Christ is in me, my boast [of independence] will not be silenced in the regions of Achaia (southern Greece). - verse 10

Why? Because I do not love you [or wish you well, or have regard for your welfare]? God knows [that I do]! - verse 11

 But what I am doing I will keep doing, [for I am determined to keep this independence] in order to cut off the claim of those who want an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things they brag about. - verse 12

For such men are counterfeit apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. - verse 13

And no wonder, since Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. - verse 14

So it is no great surprise if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness, but their end will correspond with their deeds. - verse 15

Is Paul a servant of Christ? (verse 23-29)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rznoe3zKxM&list=RDPjab00qQG3k&index=4

The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, He who is blessed and to be praised forevermore, knows that I am not lying. - verse 31

Matthew 7:15-20 

You Will Know Them by Their Fruits

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

2 Corinthians 11 Amplified Bible (AMP)

Paul Defends His Apostleship

11 I wish you would bear with me [while I indulge] in a little foolishness; but indeed you are bearing with me [as you read this]. 2 I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy because I have promised you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. 3 But I am afraid that, even as the serpent beguiled Eve by his cunning, your minds may be corrupted and led away from the simplicity of [your sincere and] pure devotion to Christ. 4 For [you seem willing to allow it] if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted. You tolerate all this beautifully [welcoming the deception]. 5 Yet I consider myself in no way inferior to the [so-called] [a]super-apostles. 6 But even if I am unskilled in speaking, yet I am not [untrained] in [b]knowledge [I know what I am talking about]; but we have made this evident to you in every way, in all things.

7 Or did I [perhaps] sin by humbling myself so that you might be exalted andhonored, because I preached God’s gospel to you [c]free of charge? 8 I robbed other churches by accepting [more than their share of] financial support for my ministry to you. 9 And when I was with you and ran short [financially], I did not burden any of you; for what I needed was fully supplied by the brothers (Silas and Timothy) who came from Macedonia (the church at Philippi). So I kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so. 10 As the truth of Christ is in me, my boast [of independence] will not be silenced in the regions of Achaia (southern Greece). 11 Why? Because I do not love you [or wish you well, or have regard for your welfare]? God knows [that I do]!

12 But what I am doing I will keep doing, [for I am determined to keep this independence] in order to cut off the claim of those who want an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things they brag about. 13 For such men are counterfeit apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, since Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 So it is no great surprise if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness, but their end will correspond with their deeds.

16 I repeat then, let no one think that I am foolish; but even if you do, at least accept me as foolish, so that I too may boast a little. 17 What I say in this confident boasting, I say not as the Lord would [with His authority], but foolishly. 18 Since many boast [of worldly things and brag] about human accomplishments, I will boast too. 19 [d]For you, being so wise, gladly tolerate and accept the foolish [like me]! 20 For you tolerate it if anyone makes you his slave; or devours you and your possessions; or takes advantage of you; or acts presumptuously; or hits you in the face. 21 To my shame, I must say, we have been too weak [in comparison to those pseudo-apostles who take advantage of you].

But in whatever anyone else dares to boast—I am speaking foolishly—I also dare to boast. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they [self-proclaimed] servants of Christ?—I am speaking as if I were out of my mind—I am more so [for I exceed them]; with far more labors, with far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, and often in danger of death. 24 Five times I received from the Jews [e]thirty-nine lashes. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent adrift on the sea; 26 many times on journeys, [exposed to] danger from rivers, danger from bandits, danger from my own countrymen, danger from the Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger on the sea, danger among those posing as believers; 27 in labor and hardship, often unable to sleep, in hunger and thirst, often [driven to] fasting [for lack of food], in cold and exposure [without adequate clothing]. 28 Besides those external things, there is the daily [inescapable] pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I do not feel [his] weakness? Who is made to sin, and I am not on fire [with sorrow and concern]?

30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that reveal my weakness [the things by which I am made weak in the eyes of my opponents]. 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, He who is blessed and to be praised forevermore, knows that I am not lying. 32 In Damascus the [f]governor (ethnarch) under [g]King Aretas guarded the city of Damascus in order to arrest me, 33 and I was [actually] let down in a basket through a [h]window in the wall, and slipped through his fingers.

Footnotes:

1. 2 Corinthians 11:5 This may be a sarcastic reference to the teachers of false doctrine (pseudo-apostles) who opposed Paul and tried to claim they had an association with the original twelve disciples.
2. 2 Corinthians 11:6 Like the original Twelve, Paul received his knowledge of the gospel from the Lord.
3. 2 Corinthians 11:7 Traveling philosophers and religious teachers (including the false apostles) customarily charged for their lectures. Paul’s reason for refusing support from this church is unclear.
4. 2 Corinthians 11:19 The sarcastic tone of vv 19-21 reflects Paul’s extreme frustration with the Corinthian church.
5. 2 Corinthians 11:24 OT law limited judicial scourging (whipping) to forty lashes. The Jews established a tradition of thirty-nine lashes to minimize the risk of making a mistake in the count and giving the guilty party more than forty.
6. 2 Corinthians 11:32 Perhaps also leader of the Jewish community.
7. 2 Corinthians 11:32 King of the Nabatean Arabs from 9 b.c. to a.d. 40.
8. 2 Corinthians 11:33 I.e. small door.

2 Corinthians 11 American Standard Version (ASV)

11 Would that ye could bear with me in a little foolishness: [a]but indeed ye do bear with me. 2 For I am jealous over you with [b]a godly jealousy: for I espoused you to one husband, that I might present you as a pure virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, your [c]minds should be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is toward Christ. 4 For 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 [d]gospel, which ye did not accept, ye do well to bear with him. 5 For I reckon that I am not a whit behind [e]the very chiefest apostles. 6 But though I be rude in speech, yet am I not in knowledge; [f]nay, in every way have we made this manifest unto you in all things. 7 Or did I commit a sin in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I [g]preached to you the gospel of God for nought? 8 I robbed other churches, taking wages of them that I might minister unto you; 9 and 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. 10 As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this glorying in the regions of Achaia. 11 Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth. 12 But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off [h]occasion from them that desire an occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. 13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, fashioning themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for even Satan fashioneth himself into an angel of light. 15 It is no great thing therefore if his ministers also fashion themselves as ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

16 I say again, Let no man think me foolish; but if ye do, yet as foolish receive me, that I also may glory a little. 17 That which I speak, I speak not after the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of glorying. 18 Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also. 19 For ye bear with the foolish gladly, being wise yourselves. 20 For 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. 21 I speak by way of disparagement, as though we had been weak. Yet whereinsoever any is bold (I speak in foolishness), I am bold also. 22 Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I. 23 Are 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. 24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day have I been in the deep; 26 in journeyings often, in perils of rivers, in perils of robbers, inperils from my [i]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; 27 in labor and travail, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 28 [j]Besides those things that are without, there is that which presseth upon me daily, anxiety for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is caused to stumble, and I burn not? 30 If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things that concern my weakness. 31 [k]The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed [l]for evermore knoweth that I lie not. 32 In Damascus the [m]governor under Aretas the king guarded the city of the Damascenes in order to take me: 33 and through a window was I let down in a basket by the wall, and escaped his hands.

Footnotes:

1. 2 Corinthians 11:1 Or, nay indeed bear with me.
2. 2 Corinthians 11:2 Greek a jealousy of God.
3. 2 Corinthians 11:3 Greek thoughts. See 3:14.
4. 2 Corinthians 11:4 Greek good tidings. Compare 2:12.
5. 2 Corinthians 11:5 Or, those preeminent apostles
6. 2 Corinthians 11:6 Or, nay, in everything we have made it manifest among all men to you-ward
7. 2 Corinthians 11:7 Greek brought good tidings. See 10:16.
8. 2 Corinthians 11:12 Greek the occasion of them.
9. 2 Corinthians 11:26 Greek race. Compare Acts 7:19.
10. 2 Corinthians 11:28 Or, Besides the things which I omit. Or, Besides the things that come out of course
11. 2 Corinthians 11:31 Or, God and the Father. See Rom. 15:6.
12. 2 Corinthians 11:31 Greek unto the ages.
13. 2 Corinthians 11:32 Greek ethnarch.