2 Corinthians 11
Paul and the False Apostles
1 Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.
2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. References Jesus: 1 Corinthians 3:11, 1 Timothy 2:5
5 For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.
6 But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things.
7 Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of GodGod: Θεός (Theos). The Greek Theos (Θεός) refers to deity, used both for the one true God and false gods. Context determines whether it denotes the Father specifically or the Godhead generally. freely? References God: 1 Thessalonians 2:9. Parallel theme: 2 Corinthians 10:1, 12:13, 1 Corinthians 9:6
8 I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.
9 And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself. Parallel theme: 1 Thessalonians 2:6, 2:9
10 As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia. Truth: Romans 9:1. Parallel theme: 2 Corinthians 1:23, Acts 18:12, Romans 1:9
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 which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. Parallel theme: 1 Corinthians 9:12
13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. References Christ: Galatians 1:7, 2:4, Colossians 2:8. Parallel theme: Acts 20:30, Ephesians 4:14, Philippians 3:2, Colossians 2:4, 1 John 4:1, Revelation 2:2, 19:20 +5
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. Righteousness: 2 Corinthians 3:9. Parallel theme: Philippians 3:19, Jude 1:4, Revelation 9:11
Paul's Sufferings as an Apostle
16 I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little. Parallel theme: 2 Corinthians 11:1, 12:6
17 That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting. References Lord: 1 Corinthians 7:12. Parallel theme: 2 Corinthians 9:4
18 Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.
19 For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.
20 For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face.
21 I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also. Parallel theme: 2 Corinthians 10:10, 11:17
22 Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.
23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. References Christ: Colossians 1:24, Philemon 1:9. Parallel theme: 2 Corinthians 3:6, 6:9, Acts 9:16, 1 Corinthians 3:5, 15:10, Colossians 1:29, 2 Timothy 2:9 +4
24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; Parallel theme: Acts 13:50, 14:5, 17:5, 20:19, 25:3
27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Parallel theme: 2 Corinthians 6:5, 11:23, Jeremiah 38:9, Acts 14:23, 1 Corinthians 7:5, Philippians 4:12, 1 Thessalonians 2:9, 2 Thessalonians 3:8, Hebrews 11:37 +4
28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. Parallel theme: Acts 18:23, 20:2, Romans 11:13, 15:16, 16:4, 1 Corinthians 7:17, Colossians 2:1 +2
29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? Parallel theme: 1 Corinthians 8:13, 9:22
30 If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities. Glory: 2 Corinthians 12:1, Proverbs 25:27. Parallel theme: Proverbs 27:2, 1 Corinthians 2:3
31 The God and Father of our LordLord: Κύριος (Kurios). The Greek Kurios (Κύριος) means 'lord' or 'master,' used both for human masters and divinely for God the Father and Jesus Christ. Its application to Jesus affirms His deity, as it translates YHWH in the Septuagint. Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.
32 In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:
33 And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands. Parallel theme: Acts 9:25