Paul And The False Apostles
November 6, 2022
Commentary
The Apostle Paul is dealing with the most dangerous threat to a church the devil has – infiltration – the destruction of a church from within by teachers who are straying from the truth. This is still a dangerous threat to churches today. They are being destroyed from within by the satanic process of infiltration, by people who come in and gradually began to teach a deviate gospel. That is what was happening here at Corinth, and that is what is threatening many of our churches today.
In this passage we find Paul comparing himself to a “spiritual father” caring for his family. The picture is of a loving daughter engaged to be married. The engaged woman owes her love and allegiance to the one she is engaged to. If she was to share her heart with any other man, she would be guilty of unfaithfulness. Paul is comparing the church in Corinth to Eve (vv. 2-3). Instead of resisting the devil, Eve listened and gave in. He says the devil’s representatives in Corinth are doing the very same things as they make this threefold appeal:
1. They claimed to be associated with the twelve apostles.
2. They claimed to have superiority in speaking abilities. (vv. 4-9)
3. They claimed their method of being supported by the churches was proof of authority.
Paul sacrificed to minister to the church at Corinth. While there, he labored with his own hands as a tent maker (Acts 18:1-3) He did this so no one could accuse him of using the preaching of the Gospel as a means of making money.
Application
I need to be careful that I do not give more importance to associations, speaking abilities and methods than I do to faithfulness to the Lord and commitment to His Word.
2 Corinthians 11:1– 9 (NET)
1 I wish that you would be patient with me in a little foolishness, but indeed you are being patient with me! 2 For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy, because I promised you in marriage to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. 3 But I am afraid that just as the serpent deceived Eve by his treachery, your minds may be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus different from the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit than the one you received, or a different gospel than the one you accepted, you put up with it well enough! 5 For I consider myself not at all inferior to those “super-apostles.” 6 And even if I am unskilled in speaking, yet I am certainly not so in knowledge. Indeed, we have made this plain to you in everything in every way. 7 Or did I commit a sin by humbling myself so that you could be exalted, because I proclaimed the gospel of God to you free of charge? 8 I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so that I could serve you! 9 When I was with you and was in need, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia fully supplied my needs. I kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so.