Read the Passage: 2 Corinthians 11

Listen to the Redeemed Mind Podcast: 2 Corinthians 11

Jealousy and Defense (11:1–15)

Paul had just taught that boasting about oneself is foolish (cf. 2 Cor. 10:17–18), yet given the false teachers’ attack on his ministry, Paul felt compelled to defend himself. This is why Paul begins this passage by asking the church to “bear with me in a little folly” (2 Cor. 11:1). Observe that Paul later writes, “I have become a fool in boasting, [but] you have compelled me” (2 Cor. 12:11). In 2 Cor. 11:2 Paul begins his defense by reminding the church that he had betrothed them to Christ; yet, in light of their dalliance with the false teachers, Paul declares, “I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ” (2 Cor. 11:3). Paul’s lament here is helpful, as it is a reminder that the gospel message is simple, whereas false teaching is often complex, hidden, and presented as being only for the religious elite.

As Paul mentioned earlier at 2 Cor. 10:10, one of the false teachers’ critiques of his ministry was that “his speech [is] contemptible.” Here in 2 Cor. 11:6 Paul even admits that he was “untrained in speech.” While oratorical ability can be helpful in ministry, an even more important skill is knowledge of the gospel. Indeed, an accurate presentation of the gospel is better than an elegant delivery of heresy. In 2 Cor. 11:7–11 Paul summarizes his ministry in Corinth, which he says was marked by humility (cf. 2 Cor. 11:7), financed by other churches (cf. 2 Cor. 11:8), supported by Paul’s own work (cf. 2 Cor. 11:9), and marked by love (cf. 2 Cor. 11:10–11). The fact Paul took no money from Corinth is important, for false teachers almost always focus on material things like money, sex, and power. In 2 Cor. 11:12–15 Paul compares the actions of the false teachers to Satan’s deceitful lies.

Boasting and Foolishness (11:16–21)

In 2 Cor. 11:16–21, Paul continues to defend his ministry, although he did so, by his own admission, “as a fool . . . [and] not according to the Lord” (2 Cor. 11:16–17). While this may seem like a strange admission, note that Paul was not sinning; rather, he was merely “answer[ing] a fool according to his folly” (Prov. 26:5). In other words, Paul defended his ministry utilizing a methodology that the false teachers could understand—that is, by boasting. In 2 Cor. 11:19 Paul sarcastically referred to the Corinthians as being “wise,” for they had foolishly received the false teachers into their church. Next, in 2 Cor. 11:20 Paul lists some of the consequences of accepting false doctrine, which include: being in bondage, being preyed upon, being swindled, being crushed, and being abused. Finally, once again using sarcasm, Paul declares that he had been “too weak” (2 Cor. 11:21) to abuse the church.

Suffering and Concern (11:22–33)

In 2 Cor. 11:22–29 Paul details certain aspects of his ministry. In 2 Cor. 11:22–23, as he compared his credentials with those of the false teachers, Paul reminded the church that he is a Hebrew, an Israelite, the seed of Abraham, and a minister of Christ. Next, by way of distinguishing himself from the false teachers, Paul lists some twenty-five ways in which he had suffering on account of the gospel ministry. These trials include: abundant labors, many stripes, frequent imprisonment, imminent death, receiving thirty-nine stripes, being beaten with rods, being stoned, being shipwrecked, taking many journeys, being in peril everywhere, experiencing weariness, toil, sleeplessness, hunger, thirst, fasting, cold, and nakedness. Note, however, that despite the various ways in which he had suffered, Paul writes that his greatest trial was his daily “deep concern for all the churches” (2 Cor. 11:28).

Eight times in 2 Cor. 11–12 Paul mentions foolishness in conjunction with boasting. While he felt compelled to boast in this passage (cf. Cor. 12:11), Paul writes, “I will boast in the things which concern my infirmities” (2 Cor. 11:30). This is why Paul had listed the twenty-five ways in which he had suffered. In other words, although he was obliged to boast, Paul refused to boast about his successes. To conclude his boasting and defense of his ministry, in 2 Cor. 11:32–33 Paul cites the account of his undignified, if not humiliating, escape from Damascus, when he was lowered down in a basked, at night, from a window in the wall of the city—all because both the secular authorities and Jewish leaders were trying to kill him (cf. Acts 9:23–25). While Paul’s boasting in this chapter does display God’s protection and faithfulness, most people do not boast about their failures and setbacks.

Application Questions:

1. If a biography of your life was written, would it glorify God? What are some things you would expect people to say in your eulogy?
2. How would you summarize or condense the simple yet essential elements of the gospel message?
3. How can true teachers be distinguished from those who spread false doctrines? Are there common traits that mark all false teachers?
4. What makes false teaching so attractive to many within the church? What are some of the most resilient heresies?
5. What kinds of things could you legitimately boast about in regard to your own Christian service and ministry?