Day 160 – Tuesday, August 12, 2025

One Year Journey Through the New Testament

2 Corinthians 11

Welcome to our journey through the New Testament!

Concern for Their Faithfulness

1 Oh, that you would bear with me in a little folly—and indeed you do bear with me. ² For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. ³ But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. ⁴ For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it! 

(2 Corinthians 11:1–4, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Paul expressed his concern that the Corinthians may be deceived by false teachers who would teach another Christ.
• He feared that a new teaching or spirit or gospel might draw them away from the truth.
• He wanted them to learn from the example of Adam and Eve, and not be drawn away from the simplicity of the gospel.

Paul and False Apostles

⁵ For I consider that I am not at all inferior to the most eminent apostles. ⁶ Even though I am untrained in speech, yet I am not in knowledge. But we have been thoroughly manifested among you in all things.

⁷ Did I commit sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge? ⁸ I robbed other churches, taking wages from them to minister to you. ⁹ And when I was present with you, and in need, I was a burden to no one, for what I lacked the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied. And in everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so I will keep myself. ¹⁰ As the truth of Christ is in me, no one shall stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia. ¹¹ Why? Because I do not love you? God knows!

¹² But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast. ¹³ For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. ¹⁴ And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. ¹⁵ Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. 

(2 Corinthians 11:5–15, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Paul reminded them of his work among them that proves his apostleship.
• He reminded them that he did not take money or pay from them for his ministry. He asked if that was wrong of him. He told them that he did not ask for pay because he loved them.
• He warned them against false apostles, deceivers who long for fame and fortune. He reminded them of Satan, who transforms himself in an “angel of light.” His ministers would do the same.

Reluctant Boasting

¹⁶ I say again, let no one think me a fool. If otherwise, at least receive me as a fool, that I also may boast a little. ¹⁷ What I speak, I speak not according to the Lord, but as it were, foolishly, in this confidence of boasting. ¹⁸ Seeing that many boast according to the flesh, I also will boast. ¹⁹ For you put up with fools gladly, since you yourselves are wise! ²⁰ For you put up with it if one brings you into bondage, if one devours you, if one takes from you, if one exalts himself, if one strikes you on the face. ²¹ To our shame I say that we were too weak for that! But in whatever anyone is bold—I speak foolishly—I am bold also. 

(2 Corinthians 11:16–21, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• He told the Corinthians that he was no fool. His words and preaching came from the Lord, not his own flesh.
• He told them that they should not tolerate fools who said they were of God, but were not.
• He told them not to become enslaved to false teachers, for they would destroy them and the church.

Suffering for Christ

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 labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. ²⁴ From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. ²⁵ Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; ²⁶ in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; ²⁷ in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness—²⁸ besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. ²⁹ Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?

³⁰ If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity. ³¹ The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. ³² In Damascus the governor, under Aretas the king, was guarding the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desiring to arrest me; ³³ but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands. 

(2 Corinthians 11:22–33, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Paul then compared his background to that of the false teachers. His resume included: Hebrew Israelite, seed of Abraham, a successful minister of Christ, tremendous labors, punishments by beating and imprisonment, stoned and left for dead, shipwrecked, in perils often, all in the service of the Lord and for the church.
• If Paul was to boast, it would be in his infirmity, or his misfortunes, not in his own ability. He is just as qualified as the false teachers, but they had not suffered for the gospel and the church as Paul had.
• Paul shared the story of being let down the wall of Damascus in a basket as another example of his woes.
• What does this tell us? Ministry will cost you, but it is worth it. Ministry is a calling. God calls and we answer without dismay. Do what God tells you to do. It may cost you in this world, but in the world to come, there will be great reward.

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All Scriptures from New King James Version unless otherwise noted.

Join us this afternoon at 5:00 pm for a discussion of this chapter live online. Live@5 with Dr. Greg Sloop can be found on Facebook on the Dr. Greg Sloop page or on the Kannapolis Church of God Facebook page or Youtube page. Another blog will be posted each weekday at 6:00 a.m.