2 Corinthians 11:7-15

Butler's Commentary

SECTION 2

Unassertative (2 Corinthians 11:7-15)

7 Did I commit a sin in abasing myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached God's gospel without cost to you? 8I robbed other churches by accepting support from them in order to serve you. 9And when I was with you and was in want, I did not burden any one, for my needs were supplied by the brethren who came from Macedonia. So I refrained and will refrain from burdening you in any way. 10As the truth of Christ is in me, this boast of mine shall not be silenced in the regions of Achaia. And why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!

12 And what I do 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. 13For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15So it is not strange if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.

2 Corinthians 11:7-11 Undignified: Paul expresses shock! He had done something that made his detractors in Corinth slander him as if he had committed a gross sin (Gr. harmartian, miss the mark). He had humbled (Gr. tapeinon, lowly mindedness) himself and preached the gospel of God without cost to them! That is, he did not take financial support from Corinth (see 2 Corinthians 12:13-18; 1 Corinthians 9:15-18). According to ancient Greek culture, it was beneath a freeman's dignity to work with his hands. In that society teachers were supposed to make money out of teaching. Augustus Caesar is reported to have paid Verrius Flaccus, the rhetorician, an annual salary of approximately $500,000. Every town in the Roman empire was entitled to grant complete exemption from all civic burdens and taxes to a certain number of teachers of rhetoric and literature.

Paul figuratively robbed (Gr. esulesa, one who plunders openly and by violence) other churches (Macedonian brethren, see Philippians 4:15-18) by accepting support (Gr. opsonion, meat, bread, provisions for an army, or a soldier's pay) from them. He undoubtedly worked at his own tent-making craft to support himself. This he did to better serve (Gr. diakonian, deacon, minister) the brethren at Corinth. While he was at Corinth, and needed anythingwhich he says he didhe did not burden (Gr. katenarkesa, the word from which we get the English word, narcotics, means to be numbed or torpid, to grow stiff, to be idle, to be in a stupor) the Corinthians. Paul was no dead-weight or dead-beat at Corinth. He did not flop there.

But for his independence and self-sustaining work, he was slandered as undignified and humiliating. A working-apostle was humiliating to the church in the sophisticated metropolis of Corinth. Some congregations in the twentieth century are humiliated when they have only a self-supporting preacher. Would they be humiliated if the apostle Paul were their preacher?
Paul promises that he will continue to refrain from burdening the brethren in Corinth in any way. He will not let his favorite method of ministry (preaching free of charge) be silenced (Gr. phragesetai, stopped, quieted) in the regions of Achaia (Corinth). His reward for preaching was to preach it without charging for it (1 Corinthians 9:18). Someone at Corinth had insinuated that his refusal to take money from them for preaching indicated that he did not really care about them. He did take money from churches who offered it. He would not ask for it. He declared authoritatively the right of preachers to be supported (1 Corinthians 9:1-27). But for some reason, known to him and God, he would not take money from Corinth. His love for them, however, was undeniable!

There is a great deal to be said for the advantage in a self-sustaining ministry. Most importantly, the self-sustaining preacher is free from the temptation to flatter and preach what the itching-ears of those who support him want him to preach even if it disagrees with the Scriptures. Second, such a preacher is perhaps in better touch with the frustrations and expectations of the working-man segment of his congregation. His industriousness and fortitude would be a winsome example to all the unsaved community around him. But there is also a great deal to be said for the advantages of a congregationally-supported ministry. Obviously, a preacher who is paid by his congregation (get their living by the gospel 1 Corinthians 9:14) will have more prime time to give to the work of ministry (sermon preparation, pastoral counseling and visitation, evangelism, direction to corporate activities, etc.). Second, the fact of his physical dependence on the congregation gives the eldership and membership some spiritual control in his ministry should he go astray from sound doctrine. Third, it affords the membership of the congregation a keener awareness of individual participation in the work of the ministry. Individuals whose vocations and family responsibilities prohibit them from devoting as much time to gospel work as they would like may vicariously enter into this work by financial support of the paid minister. There are other advantages in both situations. Both methods (paid and free) are scripturally sanctioned. It is for preachers and congregations to decide for themselves. One thing is certain in the present financial status of American Christiansthey could support hundreds (even thousands) more preachers and missionaries than they are!

2 Corinthians 11:12-15 Unaffecting: The trouble-makers in Corinth were demanding financial support, bragging about their stature in the brotherhood, preaching another Jesus, putting on airs with grand affectation. Paul was humble, self-effacing, always talking of his weaknesses, uneloquent, unpretentious, working for a living, proclaiming a crucified, risen Christ who saves by grace, so his enemies called him a fool. They convinced some of the Christians at Corinth that Paul could not be an apostle because he was not like they were.

Paul replies, I will continue to be what I am and do what I do in order to undermine (Gr. ekkopso cut off) the claim of those.. Paul intends to expose and stop the pseudo-apostles. The only way to deal with deliberately disguised falsehood is exposure (see Ephesians 5:6-13) and excision! Ray Stedman writes:

This tactic of plain-spoken exposure is missing in the churches today; many are destroyed because no one will stand up and confront false teachers. We are caught up with the world's philosophy and anything goes. We must be nice to everyone, always. But the apostles never did that, nor did Jesus. Look at the sharp language he employed on occasion with the Pharisees. Right to their faces he called them, snakes and vipers, and dead men's tombs, full of rotting bones. filled with an awful stench. That is not the way to win friends and influence people! Jesus set that aside and told the truth.

There would be no affectation from Paul. He would not disguise reality. Those slandering him were in reality deacons of the devil.

These Judaizers boasted they were superior to Paul. They disguised themselves so they might appear that way and not be found out to be what they really werefalse. Paul intended to show that they were not superior but that they work on the same terms as we do. Certainly, Paul was not saying here that his opponents were on the same level as he was in Christ. In fact, he says they are servants of Satan! He evidently means to insist that the Corinthians are to judge his opponents on the same terms he is willing to have himself judgedto measure them all, not by one another, but by Christ and his word.

The Judaizers were false apostles (Gr. pseudoapostoloi, fake-apostles). They were deceitful workmen (Gr. ergatai dolioi, alluring, ensnaring, baiting, workmen). The Greek word dolioi is also used in 2 Corinthians 4:2 of those who ensnare people by distorting (huckstering) the truthmingling the truths of God's word with false doctrines. This is precisely what the Judaizers did. This was their disguise. Paul uses the Greek word metaschematizomenoi to expose them as disguising ones. We get our English words scheme, and schematic from this Greek word. They were scheming (conspiring and deceiving) against Paul and against the Church at Corinth.

But Paul said he was not astonished (no wonder) at this scheming of the Judaizers because even Satan disguises himself (puts on a facade) as an angel (Gr. angelon, messenger) of light. Paul uses the same Greek word (metaschematizetai) to describe Satan's scheming deceit. The KJV translation into the English word transform is not exact. Satan is not able to transform himself into an angel of light. He disguises himself. The only thing Satan can do is pretend or deceive. He is only a pseudo messenger of truth. There is no truth in him at all (John 8:44). He has no power to really rule, really create, or really perform miracles. He can seduce, beguile and disguise himself, but has no power whatsoever to transform his nature. Plummer says, Transform implies a greater change than is meant here, and -transfigure-' should be kept for metamorphoomai. sunschematizomai (Romans 12:2; 1 Peter 1:14) means -acquire an outward form in accordance with.-'

God said of the serpent in Genesis 3:1 that he was more subtle than any other wild creature that the Lord God had made. The Hebrew word translated subtle is aroom and means crafty, cunningit is translated into the Greek word phronimotatos (mental alacrity) in the Septuagint. Satan does not confront people openly and honestly. He will not represent himself as he really isa liar, a cheat, a deceiver, and a destroyer. He confronts people disguised as one who wants to help, please, give, reward and make life exciting. He is named in the book of Revelation as the great dragon. that ancient serpent. the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world (Revelation 12:9). Revelation also informs us that he has transferred his deceitful powers to the beast (world rulers) who, in turn, transfers deceitful powers to the false prophet (religious false teachers) and to the harlot (materialistic, hedonistic, carnal society) (Revelation 13:1 to Revelation 18:24). The devil does not come to us in red leotards with horns, a tail, and a pitchfork. He comes disguised as invincible political power, as a religious lamb (which speaks like a dragon), and as an alluring, seductive, desirable companion (harlot) whose pleasures we may purchase and enjoy with no untoward consequences at the end of the relationship.

Paul actually calls those slandering him and teaching another Jesus and a different gospel, servants (Gr. diakonoi, deacons, ministers) of Satan. They had disguised themselves as ministers of righteousness. But their's was a righteousness according to Judaismaccording to the law of Moses. They were ministering the dispensation of death! There is no righteousness for man in law-keeping (Galatians 2:16). Man's only righteousness is in the grace of God through Christ, appropriated by faith. It is inevitable for the servants of Satan that their end will correspond to their worksthat is, they will fall victim to their own lies. They will lose their ability to tell truth from falsehood and they will victimize themselves! They will deceive themselves!

The devil and his servants are very subtle. They are cunning and crafty. They disguise themselves as messengers of light. But the Christian has at his disposal mighty weapons through God. He has the weaponry to overthrow all obstacles to the knowledge of Godeven the deceit and disguises of Satan! The Christian's primary weapon is the Word of God (the sword of the Spirit). The veneer of disguised religiosity is stripped from false teachers by the simplicity of God's word. Their real character and methods are exposed in such passages as 1 Peter 2:1-22;1 John 4:1-6; Matthew 7:15-23; Matthew 23:1-36; 1 Corinthians 15:1-58; 1 Timothy 4:1-5; 2 Timothy 3:1-9; Titus 1:10-16; Jude 1:3-23. There is hardly any excuse for a Christian being led astray by messengers of Satan. The Christian need only prove a teacher's manner of life and his doctrine by the Bible and he will be able to see through any disguise of Satan or his ministers! It should not be strange (Gr. ou mega, no great thing) to the Christian that the devil has servants who disguise themselves. The Christian should not be surprised or overwhelmed by their machinations. God has supplied weapons by which the Christian may not only penetrate the disguises of evil, he has made it possible for Christians using these weapons to conquer and capture evil thoughts and bring them and the person who thinks them under obedience to Christ. But that means a Christian must know the word of God, think on these things (Philippians 4:8-9), believe them and practice them. If he does not he is ignorant and vulnerable to the designs (2 Corinthians 2:11) and the disguises of Satan and his servants. David, the Psalmist, said it succinctly a number of times: ... the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes (Psalms 19:8); ... I have laid up thy word in my heart, that I might not sin against thee. (Psalms 119:8-11). And even the Lord Jesus himself, the perfect man, God-Incarnate, depended upon the Scriptures to defend himself against the deceit and disguises of the inveterate Slanderer (see Matthew 4:1-11). The Scriptures expose the schemes of the devil and his servants. Depend on them!

Applebury's Comments

Paul's Defense Of His Ministry At Corinth
Scripture

2 Corinthians 11:7-15. Or did I commit a sin in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I 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 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.

Comments

did I commit a sin?This is a continuation of the ironical appeal in defense of Paul's ministry. The Corinthians knew that Paul had refused to accept support from them in order to avoid criticism from those who might say that he was preaching the gospel for material gain. See 1 Corinthians 9:12-18.

They were also aware of the fact that as a teacher Paul had a right to receive support from them. He did not hesitate to work with his hands at tent-making when he first came to Corinth while awaiting the help that later came from the churches of Macedonia. It was a custom that every Jewish boy be taught a trade and learn the dignity of work. Paul was no exception. The only reason that he said that he had humbled himself by working with his hands is that it was not in accord with the custom of that day to let teachers do so.

I robbed other churches.This is also said in irony, for it was actually a privilege for those who had received the gospel through the ministry of Paul to share with him as he went elsewhere preaching the Lord Jesus Christ. He had taken wages from them that he might preach to the Corinthians. His needs had been met by others, and he kept himself from being a burden to any man at Corinth.

when they came from Macedonia.The church at Philippi began supporting Paul when he was at Thessalonica. At that time they were the only ones helping him. More than once they responded to his needs. See Philippians 4:14-18. For some reason not stated by Paul, the line of supply was broken when Paul came to Corinth. This caused him to fall back on his trade to make a living. In the light of his own statement about the matter, we can be reasonably sure that Paul was entirely too busy spreading the gospel to continue working at a trade any longer than necessary for the support from Macedonia to reach him. But he had kept himself from being a burden to the churches of Achaia and he was determined to hold steadfastly to that policy. As the inspired apostle of Christ he spoke the truth when he preached, and what he was now saying was equally true. No one, not even the super-apostles who may have been pressing the issue, could stop him from boasting about this in the regions of Achaia.

Wherefore?Such a statement called for an explanation. The teachers who had come to Corinth after Paul left were evidently aware of the fact that he had received no support from the Corinthians. Apparently they were endeavoring in some manner to get him to do so, or to insinuate that he had done so, in order that they might have the opportunity to receive support or to justify the support they had already been accepting. Since they were false teachers, Paul absolutely refused to allow them any such opportunity to boast about their work.

because I love you not?Paul's attitude toward the churches of Achaia in no way indicated that he loved the less than the churches of Macedonia from whom he had received support. God knew his love for them. Since Paul had demonstrated it to them time and again and had openly declared it in his letters, the Corinthians knew that he loved them.

For such men are false apostles.Paul boldly labeled those who had been attacking him and attempting to undermine his work at Corinth. They were not apostles of Christ; they were false apostles, deceitful workers who were attempting to appear as apostles of Christ. Where they came from or who had sent them is not known, but the Corinthians must have known about it.

for even Satan.Paul clearly implies that Satan was back of the work of those whom he called false apostles. Since Satan could fashion himself into an angel of light, his minsters had no difficulty in masquerading as ministers of righteousness. Their destructive work only served to indicate the ultimately destruction that would be visited upon them.

Satan had appeared in an attractive form when he completely deceived Eve. His true character is indicated by such figures as those used by Peter and others. Peter refers to him as a roaring lion seeking to devour his victims. See 1 Peter 5:8. John refers to him as a great dragon and calls him the old serpent and deceiver of the whole world. See Revelation 12:9. Jesus said he is a murderer and the father of the lie. See John 8:44. Being warned by such clear description the enemy of all righteousness, the people of God ought not to listen to his ministers.

Boasting A Little As One Counted Foolish