2 Corinthians 11:1-33

Paul Defends His Apostleship And Compares Himself With His Opponents (2 Corinthians 11:1).

An exact determination of who the visiting preachers were who constituted the new grave threat to Paul's ministry, is not possible, but we may certainly discover many of their characteristics. ‘Are they Hebrews? Are they Israelites?' (2 Corinthians 11:22) demonstrates that the intruders were Jewish Christians, but the lack of references to circumcision and the Mosaic law indicates that they were not like the Judaising opponents mentioned in Galatians, feeling bound by the Law. Rather they claimed special knowledge, and superior powers and super spiritual experiences.

It seems probable that they came from Jerusalem and cited the twelve as their authority, (without necessarily having justification), for Paul asserts his equality with the twelve (2 Corinthians 11:5). But he has no truck with the claim to Apostleship of the intruders themselves. They are ‘false Apostles'. Whereas the opponents in Galatians appear to have stressed their Jewishness, including the necessity for circumcision and keeping the Law, these may rather have been Hellenistic (affected by Greek civilisation) Jews, stressing experiences of the Spirit. They also stress that they are ‘Christ's' (2 Corinthians 10:7). This may suggest that they knew Him in His earthly ministry, or were disciples of those who had.

The absence of specific theological argument might suggest that doctrinal questions were not the main issue, unless he considers that he has already combated this (2 Corinthians 2:14 to 2 Corinthians 7:1), but he does refer to ‘another Jesus', ‘another spirit' and ‘another Gospel' (2 Corinthians 11:4), and it is difficult to see how he could describe them as ministers of Satan if he saw them as orthodox (2 Corinthians 11:15). His comments on them there are most scathing. However, most of Paul's efforts in 2 Corinthians 10:7 to 2 Corinthians 12:13 are spent in combating the suggestion that his credentials were inferior to theirs, and that might suggest lack of content to their message rather than specific gross unorthodoxy. Possibly they saw Jesus as a wonderworking teacher, mighty in the Spirit, just as they considered that they were, a diminishing of His deity.

For it is clear from the context that these intruders do lay great importance on such things as the outward display of the Spirit, and oratorical skills and heritage. "Signs, wonders and miracles" are "things that mark an apostle" (2 Corinthians 12:12), and "visions and revelations" are grounds for boasting (2 Corinthians 12:1). They pride themselves on eloquent speech (2 Corinthians 10:10; 2 Corinthians 11:6) and correct heritage (2 Corinthians 11:22). This might tie in with the portrayal of the intruders in Chapter s 1-7 as those who seek to legitimise their authority through letters of recommendation, and who take pride in what is outward rather than in what is in the heart (2 Corinthians 5:12), assuming they are connected. Those apparently saw the covenant made with Moses as of prime importance (chapter 3).

Part of their argument against Paul is that as well as not being an orator, he also has to work to support himself, unlike the true Apostles who could depend on those to whom they went for their keep (Matthew 10:9). (Paul turns this argument against them). And they seek to demean his very appearance and the fact that he has a disability from which God does not heal him. He can clearly not be an Apostle.