2 Corinthians 11:3
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.
Original Language Analysis
φοβοῦμαι
I fear
G5399
φοβοῦμαι
I fear
Strong's:
G5399
Word #:
1 of 24
to frighten, i.e., (passively) to be alarmed; by analogy, to be in awe of, i.e., revere
ὡς
as
G5613
ὡς
as
Strong's:
G5613
Word #:
4 of 24
which how, i.e., in that manner (very variously used, as follows)
ὁ
G3588
ὁ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
5 of 24
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ὄφις
the serpent
G3789
ὄφις
the serpent
Strong's:
G3789
Word #:
6 of 24
a snake, figuratively, (as a type of sly cunning) an artful malicious person, especially satan
τῇ
G3588
τῇ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
10 of 24
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
πανουργίᾳ
subtilty
G3834
πανουργίᾳ
subtilty
Strong's:
G3834
Word #:
11 of 24
adroitness, i.e., (in a bad sense) trickery or sophistry
αὐτοῦ
G846
αὐτοῦ
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
12 of 24
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
φθαρῇ
should be corrupted
G5351
φθαρῇ
should be corrupted
Strong's:
G5351
Word #:
14 of 24
properly, to shrivel or wither, i.e., to spoil (by any process) or (generally) to ruin (especially figuratively, by moral influences, to deprave)
τὰ
G3588
τὰ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
15 of 24
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
νοήματα
minds
G3540
νοήματα
minds
Strong's:
G3540
Word #:
16 of 24
a perception, i.e., purpose, or (by implication) the intellect, disposition, itself
ἀπὸ
from
G575
ἀπὸ
from
Strong's:
G575
Word #:
18 of 24
"off," i.e., away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; literal or figurative)
τῆς
G3588
τῆς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
19 of 24
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἁπλότητος
the simplicity
G572
ἁπλότητος
the simplicity
Strong's:
G572
Word #:
20 of 24
singleness, i.e., (subjectively) sincerity (without dissimulation or self-seeking), or (objectively) generosity (copious bestowal)
τῆς
G3588
τῆς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
21 of 24
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
εἰς
that is in
G1519
εἰς
that is in
Strong's:
G1519
Word #:
22 of 24
to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases
Cross References
Colossians 2:8Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.Ephesians 4:14That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;Galatians 1:6I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:Colossians 2:4And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.1 John 4:1Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.1 Timothy 2:14And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.Hebrews 13:9Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.Revelation 12:9And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.Genesis 3:13And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.John 8:44Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Historical Context
Gnostic-type teaching that valued esoteric knowledge and added requirements to simple faith in Christ plagued early Christianity. The 'super-apostles' likely promoted circumcision, special visions, Jewish credentials, or philosophical sophistication as necessary additions to the gospel. Paul consistently opposed such corruptions (cf. Galatians, Colossians).
Questions for Reflection
- What contemporary teachings subtly move believers away from simple, wholehearted devotion to Christ by adding requirements or emphasizing secondary matters?
- How does Satan's strategy in Eden—questioning God's word, offering alternative wisdom—manifest in modern challenges to orthodox Christianity?
- In what ways might you have allowed your mind to be corrupted from simplicity in Christ through sophisticated arguments or complex religious systems?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
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. Paul's fear (phoboumai, φοβοῦμαι) is not anxiety but pastoral vigilance. The Genesis 3 typology is striking: the false apostles play the serpent's role, the Corinthians are Eve, and the threat is corruption from Christ-centered simplicity.
The verb exēpatēsen (ἐξηπάτησεν, 'beguiled') means 'thoroughly deceived' by cunning (panourgia, πανουργία, 'craftiness'). The serpent's strategy—questioning God's word, offering alternative wisdom, promising godlike status—parallels the false apostles' methodology. They corrupt noēmata (νοήματα, 'minds/thoughts'), targeting the intellect with sophisticated arguments.
The simplicity that is in Christ (haplotētos tēs eis Christon, ἁπλότητος τῆς εἰς Χριστόν)—some manuscripts add 'and purity'—describes undivided, single-minded devotion. The gospel is not complex philosophizing but straightforward faith in Christ crucified. The false apostles' elaborate teachings moved beyond this simplicity, adding requirements and boasting in human wisdom.