With an irony that marks all 2 Corinthians 11, Paul asked the Corinthians to bear with him as he took on the foolish position of his detractors. Promoting oneself is foolish, but Paul recognized the necessity, for the Corinthians had become tolerant of and responsive to such speech. Paul did not want to boast of his credentials, but the Corinthians’ acceptance of the false apostles’ claims forced Paul to set forth his credentials. That was the only way he could get them to see the truth.

One of Paul’s strongest claims to authority over the church-a claim that could not be made by his detractors-was that he had “fathered” the church.  While his image of his role of the father of the bride was fresh in their minds, Paul suggested that his critics were like the tempter in the Garden of Eden.

It’s easy to feel Paul’s sense of hurt that people whom he had introduced to Christ and whom he had begun to nurture in their faith would so uncritically be taken in by so different an approach. One senses sarcasm as Paul suggests that he was amazed that the people who couldn’t stand him would put up with what they did. Paul was up against a kind of man-centered worldliness masquerading as spiritual religion.

The so-called “eminent apostles” referred to in 2 Corinthians 11:5-6 came from outside Corinth to subvert the God-given authority of Paul and the other true apostles. This threat is alive and well today; only vigilance will enable Christians to hold fast to what is true. What is confusing to sincere church members is that people who spread a false gospel can sound so spiritual and so sure of themselves that without even being aware of what’s happening they are taken in. A gospel of love and forgiveness and freedom can so subtly be replaced with a gospel of fear and suspicion and guilt and conformity.

Although these “eminent” apostles were polished in the latest rhetorical techniques, they corrupted the truth. In contrast, Paul admitted to being untrained in speech, but he was grounded in the revelation of God, and he spoke with God’s authority. Christians can stand tall when they stand firm in the Word of God and the work of Christ.

While the false apostles burdened the Corinthians financially, Paul took no money from them for preaching the gospel. Instead, he was supported by other churches, the Macedonians, and by his work as a tentmaker. By saying he robbed other churches, Paul emphasized that the Macedonians’ generosity enabled him to serve the Corinthians. His resort to manual labour to support himself embarrassed the Corinthians, who felt such work to be beneath the dignity of an apostle. With biting irony, Paul asked his accusers how foregoing his right to support could possibly be a sin. In fact, by refusing support he had humbled himself so they could be exalted; that is, lifted out of their sin and idolatry.

Paul was determined not to accept support from the Corinthians for his ministry, lest his opponents use that action to negate his boasting. To keep the Corinthians from misunderstanding his refusal, he affirmed his love for them and then appealed to the highest authority, for God knows!

These false apostles were spreading a false gospel. Just like people have made fake copies of fake money over the years, Satan offers many false counterfeits of Christ to deceive people. He does not care what people believe or how sincerely they believe it as long as they are believing a lie. In fact, the more sincerely people believe something that is false, the better the devil likes it. Just as with counterfeit money, the best tool to detect false doctrine is a close familiarity with the truth. The more we know about what is real, the easier it is for us to detect what is false. It should not be any surprise to us when we encounter false doctrine.

We live in a society that is a go-along-to-get-along generation. We don’t like confrontation. We don’t want to comment on the way other people live or don’t live their Christian lives. Who do we think we are to insist that others should be consistent in their faith? Who died and left us in charge? What the Christian movement needs now are more disciples who are more consistent, more devoted to the Lord, and more zealous for His Kingdom and righteousness. Such disciples would not be able to keep from calling for the repentance and renewal our generation of Christians needs so badly.

Following Jesus is a matter of a choice that we have to make each and every day. Most people won’t make that choice because it isn’t the easiest road to take. Unfortunately, it is the only choice that leads to real life. It is the only choice that allows us to become all that God wants us to be.

Most of us are not equipped to fight a spiritual battle, let alone win a war. Satan often uses born-again, Spirit-filled believers as his agents to do his bidding in order to destroy God’s work. This can happen when we leave doors unlocked. These doors are labelled as hatred, bitterness, rebellion, jealousy, greed, and more. Unless we deal with these doors, Satan will enter our lives and steal our peace, joy, and effectiveness for Christ. He will hinder our relationships with God, and then our relationships with others. If we confess these strongholds to God, He will close these doors.

Paul spoke the truth in love, hoping that the Corinthians would see the truth. So it is in our lives. There are times when we will speak the truth in love and others will not listen. If they don’t, love them through it and allow the Lord to use your gentle witness to impact their lives forever. Understanding and accepting the truth written in the Bible about Him assures that we are on the spiritual path that leads to heaven.

That path includes taking people back to the basics of Christianity like Paul did with the church at Corinth. It is the gospel message and the gospel message only that leads to a life of faith and freedom. Add to it or take away from it, and we are left with no gospel at all. It is Jesus Christ-His death, burial and resurrection-that is the only message that matters. In the simple truth of God’s grace and love, we will find peace and rest and the power we need for victorious living.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible: New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013; p. 1613)
2. Chafin, K.L., & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 30: 1,2 Corinthians (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1985; pp. 274-277)
3. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible: New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)
4. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The Macarthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
5. Dr. Paul Chappell, “Counterfeit Copies.” Retrieved from daily@dailyintheword.org
6. Pastor David McGee, “2 Corinthians 11:7.” Retrieved from theword@aboutthebridge.com
7. Bob Christopher, “Gentlemen, This is a Football.” Retrieved from bob@basicgospel.net
8. T.M. Moore, “Citizens and Ambassadors.” Retrieved from noreply@ailbe.org
9. Jim Liebelt, “Wholehearted, Simple Commitment.” Retrieved form www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/homeword/wholehearted-simple-commitment-homeword-october.html?
10. Michael Youssef, Ph.D.,” Your Enemy Has a Plan.” Retrieved from web@ltw.org