Chapter 11
Influence of False Teachers
11:1 I wish you would bear with me in a little foolishness. Do bear with me! 2 For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. 3 But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
It almost seems like Paul is unsure how to approach them regarding the subject of being misled by other teachers without making it sound like human envy. So he opens with a request to bear with him in what he calls foolishness, that he feels a divine jealousy for them, as he was the one that brought them to Jesus. But he is now concerned that they are being deceived like Eve was by the serpent in the garden (see Genesis 3:1-7) and have been led astray from the true teachings of Jesus.
11:4 For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough.
Paul notes that they have been willing to listen to teachers that have been proclaiming: 1) a different Jesus; 2) a different spirit; and 3) a different gospel message. We know that they didn’t have what we call the New Testament Scripture at that time, but they nonetheless apparently welcomed alternate viewpoints.
11:5 Indeed, I consider that I am not in the least inferior to these super-apostles. 6 Even if I am unskilled in speaking, I am not so in knowledge; indeed, in every way we have made this plain to you in all things.
Paul recognizes that even though he is not the best speaker, he is not any less of a teacher when compared to what he calls “super-apostles” (some believe he is referring to Jesus inner group of apostles, while others believe he is pointing to some itinerant well-paid preachers, see verse 13). But what he lacks in speaking skill, he more than makes up for it with his knowledge.
11:7 Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached God’s gospel to you free of charge? 8 I robbed other churches by accepting support from them in order to serve you. 9 And when I was with you and was in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my need. So I refrained and will refrain from burdening you in any way. 10 As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be silenced in the regions of Achaia. 11 And why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!
Paul asks them,”Did he make a mistake by not charging them for his teaching?” He is essentially asking if is his teaching was of less value or less true because it was free? He reminds them (perhaps with a little sarcasm) that while he was with them he was supported by other churches. Including a time when he was in need, but he did not want to burden them in any way and that refrain will continue, as he will not stop teaching the truth about Jesus in Achaia, and tells them why, because he loves them.
11:12 And what I am doing I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do. 13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.
Paul states that he will continue to teach the truth in order to undermine the claims of false teachers who also claim to be doing God’s work. Note that the mission field went from being just a single ‘front’, the proclaiming of the gospel message, to now having to fight on a second ‘front’, false teaching. Christianity is essentially still in its ‘infancy’ at this time and there are already false apostles! Paul describes them as being deceitful workmen who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ. He then identifies their ‘boss’, Satan, saying that disguising oneself is a familiar ploy of Satan, as he even disguised himself as an angel of light (Click here to read more about what the Bible says about Satan). So, he says, it was no surprise to see Satan’s servants disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose judgment will not be good.
Considerations
Quick to Deceive, Distort, and Corrupt
It is astonishing to see how fast Satan was able to “mount an attack” against God’s plan for salvation. But just like what Paul said, it shouldn’t surprise us, as he and his minions had many years studying humanity and watching God’s work unfold. We read that Jesus and every epistle writer in the Bible at some point, warn against false preachers and teachers, as this is a serious problem. Perhaps the most chilling words are from Jude when he wrote, “For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.” (Jude 1:4, ESV, emphasis added) Where did the purveyors of lies creep into? Churches, ministries, denominations, bookstores, Christian homes, and any group that was teaching the truth. That was then, fast forward to today, who has been deceived, what text has been distorted, and what doctrine has been corrupted? The answer may be more overwhelming than we may want to admit. Just seeing the hundreds of separate church denominations is an answer in itself. Each claiming they have the correct interpretation which, as we know is wrong, as there can only be one truth! There is no substitute for knowing the Bible and through the Holy Spirit, discern the truth yourself don’t take anyone else’s word regarding interpretation (remember Acts 17:11).
Facing Substantial Persecution and Danger
11:16 I repeat, let no one think me foolish. But even if you do, accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little. 17 What I am saying with this boastful confidence, I say not as the Lord would but as a fool. 18 Since many boast according to the flesh, I too will boast. 19 For you gladly bear with fools, being wise yourselves! 20 For you bear it if someone makes slaves of you, or devours you, or takes advantage of you, or puts on airs, or strikes you in the face. 21 To my shame, I must say, we were too weak for that! But whatever anyone else dares to boast of—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast of that.
Before continuing his discourse against the false apostles, Paul asks that no one call him a fool, but even if they did, it’s okay. Because what he is about to admit will sound absurdly foolish. He is going to boast about facing substantial persecution and danger that he has endured. Since many of those itinerant teachers and false apostles boast according the flesh (their human achievements), so will he. Paul notes that they seem to put up with being made slaves, when someone takes everything from them, when taken advantage of, when manipulated, or when slapped in their face. Paul proclaims that he is too weak, or bold enough, to do those things. But he will boast about being foolish and so he begins his ‘foolish’ qualifications.
11:22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they offspring of Abraham? So am I.
He first lists his background, he notes he is a Hebrew, an Israelite, and an offspring of Abraham. From our perspective being a Hebrew, an Israelite, and an offspring of Abraham all sound the same. During Paul’s time, being a Hebrew likely differentiated him being a Hellenized Jew (Greek influence), an Israelite meant being in the bloodline of Jacob, and as an offspring of Abraham meant he was heir to the covenant promises given to Abraham.
11:23 Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. 24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?
Paul thought this type of boasting was foolishness, ranting on like a madman touting disasters, persecutions, and countless dangers! But understanding the nature of Satan desiring to stop the spread of the gospel in any way possible, it should be obvious to the reader that this level of persecution and attack is certainly unusual, one must conclude that he is the legitimate one sent by God. He ends his list by stating that besides all these ‘things’, he continues to be concerned regarding all the churches. Paul then asks two rhetorical questions, the first, “Who is weak without my feeling that weakness?” (NLT) speaks of empathy, both by those who can relate to his sufferings, and that he is willing to endure these trials for the sake of the gospel. The second question, “Who is led astray, and I do not burn with anger?” (NLT) In response to hearing how believers were being misled, Paul rightly became indignant and burns with anger.
11:30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. 32 At Damascus, the governor under King Aretas was guarding the city of Damascus in order to seize me, 33 but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his hands.
Paul tells them that if he must boast, he will boast of those things that show his weaknesses, as that further demonstrates his reliance on God. A statement that he proclaims God knows he is not lying. Why would he confirm that proclamation? Because it is the exact opposite of man’s thinking where one would boast of their personal strengths, often leaving God out of the ‘equation’. He then relates a story of one time that demonstrates his weakness by not confronting King Aretas as he was leaving Damascus (see Acts 9:23-25).