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2
Corinthians Chapter Eleven
I.
Content of the Chapter
The Narration of the
Minister
A. His jealousy ---- the church is corrupted from the
simplicity (v.1-4);
B. His innocence ---- preach the
gospel of God free of charge without being burdensome to you (v.5-11);
C. His judgment ---- pick the false apostles
out (v.12-15);
D. His boasting (v.16-33):
1. According to his foolishness (v.16-21);
2. According to his identity (v.22-23);
3. According to his tribulations (v.23-33);
II.
Verse by Verse Commentary
2Cor. 11:1 “Oh, that you would bear
with me in a little folly--and indeed you do bear with me.”
YLT: “O that ye were bearing with me a little of the folly,
but ye also do bear with me:”
Meaning of Words: “bear”: endure, hold oneself up against, put
up with; “little”: small, least, less; “folly”: senselessness, foolishness,
recklessness;
Literal
Meaning: “oh, that you would bear with
me in a little folly—”, “folly”, it means that one should do something
that he does not want to so or that makes him unhappy. In order to compare
Paul’s works with that of those false apostles who slip into the church in
“And indeed you do bear with me”, it indicates that the godly sorrow of believers
in
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Boast of oneself is foolish. Christians
should avoid self-boast.
2) It unsuitable for a Christian to manifest
his qualification or working achievements. However, it is for the sake of the
Lord or for the purpose of leading others to the right knowledge of the Lord’s
works, one does not need to conceal himself excessively.
2Cor. 11:2 “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.”
YLT: “for I am zealous for you with zeal of God, for I did
betroth you to one husband, a pure virgin, to present to Christ,”
Meaning of Words: “jealous”: have warmth of
feeling for or against, affect, desire, envy; “betrothed”: join; “chaste”:
pure, clean, innocent;
Literal
Meaning: “for I am jealous for you
with godly jealousy”, “jealousy”, it is the jealousy of one who cannot bear
the abnormal condition because of love, so it can also be called “jealous
love”. What Paul cannot bear is not that he is forsaken by believers in
“For I have betrothed you to one husband”, “betrothed”, it means that a father agrees with his
daughter’s marriage in the original. Therefore, Paul here just treats believers
in
“That I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ”, “chaste”, both the heart and actions are
pure without being defiled by anything or anyone; “virgin”, it refers to the position and condition of believers
before the Lord’s second coming ---- love the Lord only; “to Christ”, in the
New Testament, Christi is often mentioned as the bribe and the church the
bridegroom (see Matt. 9:15; John 3:29; Rom. 7:4; 1Cor. 6:15; Eph. 5:23-32; Rev.
19:7-9; 21:2).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Every minister of God should have close
fellowship with God so as to be joined with God in oneness. Thus God can
express His feeling through them.
2) The position of the preacher in the heart of
believers and his own loss are nothing. What is really important is to lead
believers to touch Christ directly and love Christ.
3) Christian lives in the world should be as a
chaste virgin who loves nothing outside of Christ.
2Cor. 11:3 “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.”
YLT: “and I fear, lest, as the serpent did beguile Eve in his
subtilty, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that in the
Christ;”
Meaning of Words: “be corrupted”:
shrivel, wither, ruin; “simplicity”: singleness, sincerity; “craftiness”:
trickery, subtilty; “deceived”: seduce, beguile;
Literal
Meaning: “but I fear, lest somehow, so
your minds may be corrupted”, “minds may be corrupted”, it means that the minds are corrupted and
become abnormal;
“From
the simplicity that is in Christ”,
“simplicity” means singleness and sincerity. If one’s
mind is corrupted, he will love things outside of Christ, thus losing the
singleness and simplicity toward Christ.
“As the
serpent deceived Eve by his
craftiness”, “serpent” refers to the ancient serpent, namely, the devil and
Satan (Rev. 12:9). The devil beguiled Eve with craftiness so that her mind was
corrupted. Then, she doubted the will of God and lost the simplicity in God.
Moreover, she desired the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil and
lost the singleness toward God.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Those who have believed the Lord through
grace are betrothed to Christ. The most important is the “simplicity” in Him as “chaste” as the virgin (v.2). If
we have been “seduced” by Satan and love the world, we will arouse the “godly jealousy” (v.2). It is woe to us!
2) God is a jealous God (Ex. 20:5). God is
mostly jealous of men’s “being corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ” of their minds. As long as something makes
us lose the absolute “purity” to Christ (v.2) and distracted from Christ, no
matter what it is, God regards it “jealousy”. He is jealous of it mostly.
3) Whenever our minds are “corrupted from the simplicity”, we have followed in the steps of corruption of
Eve. Oh, remember not when the old serpent set the trap for man for the first
time, it was just distracting man’s attention from Christ who is the tree of
life!
2Cor. 11:4 “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!”
YLT: “for if, indeed, he who is coming doth preach another
Jesus whom we did not preach, or another Spirit ye receive
which ye did
not receive, or other good news which ye did not accept -- well were ye bearing
,”
Meaning of Words: “preach”: proclaim, punish;
“receive”: accept, take; “put up with”: endure, forbear, suffer;
Literal
Meaning: “for if he who comes preaches
another Jesus whom we have not preached”,
“another Jesus”,
it means that Jesus they preached is not the Jesus preached by the apostles
(namely, not according to the revelation of the Scriptures), e.g. Jesus is a
holy man, but not God (see 1:7); Jesus is the firstborn of all creation, but
not the Creator (see Col. 1:15). Jesus is God, but is a God who is inferior to
the only true God. Jesus rose in spirit, not in the flesh…etc.
“For if you receive a different spirit which you have not
received”, “a
different spirit”, it indicates that
the spirit is
different from the true Spirit. For example, the spirit of bondage that makes
man fear (see
“Or a different gospel
which you have not accepted”, “a different gospel”, to modify the gospel a little bit in
order to cater to the world tastes or personal opinions (see 1Cor. 15:1-2; Gal.
2:6-9);
“You may well put up with it!” It is ironic words, rebuking them for receiving
those who preach heresies without considerations. Paul means: if you are really
so wide, why are you so straitened to us (see 6:12)?
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
We who have heard
the gospel and believed and are saved should beware of those who preach “another Jesus”
and ask us to receive “a different spirit” which we have not received. Even the
Lord Jesus himself had said, “Then if any one say to you, Behold, here is the
Christ, or here, believe not” (Matt. 24:23), because there are many false
things. May the Lord grant us wisdom to distinguish it.
2)
All
the teachings preached by the apostles in the early church times are out of the
revelation of God. Believers should keep them (see Acts 2:42). In other words,
all the teachings different from what the apostles have preached are wrong (see
2John10).
3)
Sometimes,
the different “Jesus, spirit, gospel” may be not totally different. Possibly,
most of them are the same with the Scriptures and yet are slightly varied.
However, the nature is changed finally, e.g. the liberalism also preaches that
Jesus is the son of God. However, they hold that all men in the world are the
sons of God and are begotten by God. Therefore, the Lord Jesus is just the same
as the common people in the world.
4)
The
message of the gospel is bringing man back to Christ so that men shall love
Christ. When our eyes are fixed on things outside of Christ or we can only be
saved by some added things in faith, we are just preaching a different
gospel.
2Cor. 11:5 “For I consider that I am
not at all inferior to the most eminent apostles.”
YLT: “for I reckon that I have been nothing behind the very
chiefest apostles,”
Meaning of Words: “most eminent”:
exceeding above, very highly; “inferior”: come behind, fail, suffer need;
Literal
Meaning: “for I consider that”, Paul says this according to his spiritual
knowledge (see v.6), not because of his pride.
“I am not at all inferior to the most eminent apostles”, “the most eminent apostles”, it is ironic word, which indicates that
those false apostles who crept into the church in
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
Though Paul is small
(Paul means “tiny” in the original), he considers
that “he is not at all inferior to the
most eminent apostles”, for his knowledge is not untrained (v.6), which is his
knowledge of the full Christ ---- “my knowledge in the mystery of Christ” (Eph.
3:4). Among the apostles, no one has
deeper revelation than Paul. Therefore, one’s true spiritual stature is his true
knowledge about Christ.
2) Paul is not fit to be
called apostle according to his condition before he is saved, so he calls
himself “the least of the apostles” (1Cor. 15:9). However, he is not at all
inferior to the most eminent apostles
according to his condition after he is saved. What is most important is not our
condition before we are saved, but that after we are saved.
3) Today, many Christians pay attention to the
preachers more than the message itself so that they may blindly adore “the most
eminent apostles” (the original) and accept their words without any
discernment. However, actually, those who preach will pass away sooner or
later. Only the valuable massage will abide forever.
2Cor. 11:6 “Even though I am untrained
in speech, yet I am not in knowledge. But we have been thoroughly manifested
among you in all things.”
YLT: “and being in readiness to avenge every disobedience,
whenever your obedience may be fulfilled.”
Meaning of Words: “untrained”: ignorant, rude,
unlearned; “knowledge”: the objective knowledge;
Literal
Meaning: “even though I am untrained
in speech”, it means that when Paul preaches, he has not
applied the skills of the speech of the Greek philosophers nor cited the
classics or the flowery language (see 10:10).
“Yet I am not in knowledge”, Paul has the knowledge of the mystery of Christ
because of the revelation of God (see Eph. 3:3-5; Gal. 1:16).
“But we have been thoroughly manifested among you in all
things”, “all things”: the whole conversation and conduct of a
man. The level of one’s knowledge can be discerned from his conducts.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The speech of the preachers is indeed
important, the thought expressed by the words is more important. The beautiful
words have not presented with spiritual minds, it will be of no value.
2) Teachers in the world pay attention to the
way of teaching, and yet the spiritual teachers emphasize the content of
teaching. The former draws men to pay attention to themselves, and the latter
draws men to the sermons.
3) The good example of a preacher is the best
sermon. If a servant of the Lord can not put his sermon into practice in
himself, he cannot profit others greatly in spirit.
2Cor. 11:7 “Did I commit sin in
humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God
to you free of charge?”
YLT: “and even if unlearned in word -- yet not in knowledge,
but in every thing we were made manifest in all things to you.”
Meaning of Words: “free”: in vain, without a cause; “humble”:
depress, low, abase; “exalt”: life up, elevate;
The Background: “because
I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge?” Paul preaches the gospel of God to others free of
charge. However, his opposers slandered him and said that what he has preached
is worthless.
“Did I commit sin in humbling myself that you might be
exalted”, no matter in the church or in the world, (1Tim.
5:17)
Literal
Meaning: “did I commit sin in humbling
myself that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you
free of charge?”
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Today, the
2) To sacrifice oneself for the Lord and give
up one’s lawful rights
3) A faithful worker should suffer the
2Cor. 11:8 “I robbed other churches,
taking wages from them to minister to you.”
YLT: “other assemblies I did rob, having taken wages, for
your ministration;”
Meaning of Words: “rob”: strip, despoil; “wages”: pay; “minister”: relief, service;
Literal
Meaning: “I robbed other churches”, “other churches”, it means that the
service of Paul (see Phil. 4:15-16). Note that the plural form of “churches”
shows that not only the church in
“Taking wages from them to minister to you”, “taking wages”, it does not mean that Paul had charged when he
preached the gospel in other places (see v.7), but that they received their
wages as that the workman received his hire, which was his right (see 1Tim.
5:17-18; 1Cor. 9:1-11).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Though the workers of the Lord do not ask
for wages, they do not refuse the gift of the church and believers. The giving
and receiving of money should be done by God so that will be natural and good
(Phil. 4:15-20).
2) The workman is worthy of his hire (1Tim.
5:18). Believers should consider the need of the workers of the Lord, and the
workers should receive the provision of the Lord. It is wrong of assuming that
the ministers of the Lord should lead a poor life.
3) The preachers should be fully acquainted
with the spiritual condition of the church they serve so as to have right
response.
2Cor. 11:9 “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
YLT: “and being present with you, and having been in want, I
was chargeable to no one, for my lack did the brethren supply -- having come
from
Meaning of Words: “present”: come behind,
fail, lack, suffer need; “burden”: be burdensome, slothful; “supply”: fill
up further, furnish fully; “keep myself”: hold fast, preserve;
Literal
Meaning: “and when I was present with
you, and in need, I was a burden to no one”,
“in need”: the shortage in living and
service; “a burden”: the burden to others in money; when Paul preached the
gospel in Corinth, he preached as well as did the tent-making work on account
of living needs (see Acts 18:1-4).
“For what I lacked the brethren who came from
“And in everything I kept myself from being burdensome to
you, and so I will keep myself”, “keep myself”:
especially in the matter of receiving money; “in everything I kept myself”, I never receive the provision of money
without reason.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Christians should not only mind their own
affairs and eat their own bread (2Thess. 3:10-12) but also look after their own
families so as not let the church be burdened (1Tim. 5:16).
2) The workers who truly love believers hope
that believers will focus on the teachings they teach instead of being
distracted to pay attention to the physical provision.
3) The preachers and the common believers
should both keep themselves in giving and receiving of money so as not to let
the testimony of Christ be defiled.
2Cor. 11:10 “As the truth of Christ is
in me, no one shall stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia.”
YLT: “The truth of Christ is in me, because this boasting shall
not be stopped in regard to me in the regions of Achaia;”
Meaning of Words: “truth”: reality, verity; “stop”: keep
secret, seal up;
Literal
Meaning: “as the truth of Christ is in
me”, “the truth of Christ”, the nature of the life of Christ is true
and is yes in him (see 1:19-20). This life is not only in Paul but also has
been manifested out of him so that he can speak and work in truth without any
crafty motive or purpose.
“No one shall stop me from this boasting in the regions of
Achaia”, “Achaia”, it is in the
“No one”, no one of believers in
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Paul has “the truth of Christ” in him. Though men misunderstand him, God
“knows” him. Likewise, if we walk according to the truth of Christ in us, we
will not be afraid of the misunderstanding of others and will have boldness in
God.
2) The “boasting of Paul” is due to the “truth
of Christ” in him. Yes, he who has the reality of Christ can bear witness with
boldness. It seems to be “boasting”, and yet is the vivid manifestation of the
reality of Christ.
2Cor. 11:11 “Why? Because I do not love
you? God knows!”
YLT: “wherefore? because I do not love you? God hath known!”
Literal
Meaning: “why”? ---- Why do I not receive the money of your believers in
“Because I do not love you”? ---- Is it because that Paul refuses their
provision on account of his displeasure with their distrust of him? No!
“God knows!” Paul does not prove his love to
believers in
2Cor. 11:12 “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.”
YLT: “and what I do, I also will do, that I may cut off the
occasion of those wishing an occasion, that in that which they boast they may
be found according as we also;”
Meaning of Words: “cut off”: cut down, hinder; “opportunity”: occasion, a starting-point;
Literal
Meaning: “but what I do, I will also
continue to do”, “what
I do”, it means that they preach the gospel to
the Corinthians free of charge (see v.7).
“That I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire
an opportunity”, “those who desire an
opportunity”: the false
apostles, who are always seeking the evidence or excuse to entrap Paul.
Therefore, Paul’s refusal of the supply of believers in
“To be regarded just as we are in the things of which they
boast.” In order to enable
believers in
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The principle of Christians’ walking is to
keep the testimony of Christ. All that is for the testimony can be done in
rest. However, all that is against the testimony should be prohibited.
2) We should take heed of our walking without
leaving any handle or opportunity to the evil one for fear of humiliating the
name of the Lord.
2Cor. 11:13 “For such are false
apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.”
YLT: “for those such false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming
themselves into apostles of Christ,”
Meaning of Words: “transform”: transfer,
transfigure;
Literal
Meaning: “for such are false apostles”, “such”: those who desire an opportunity (see v.12), namely, those who seek the
handle of Paul; “false apostles”: they may call themselves apostles sent by the
church in
“Deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles
of Christ”, “deceitful workers”, it means that their inner reality is
deceitful; “transform”: their external actions are not true; “apostles of Christ”, they are the same with the apostles of
Christ apparently.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) We shall discern whether a preacher is true
according to his nature, not his appearance and walking.
2) The affectations in spiritual things are
difficult to be discerned from the appearance. Therefore, the children of God
ought to have a sober spirit (see 2Tim. 1:7) to discern them.
2Cor. 11:14 “And no wonder! For Satan
himself transforms himself into an angel of light.”
YLT: “and no wonder -- for even the Adversary doth transform
himself into a messenger of light;”
Meaning of Words: “no wonder”: not marvelous,
wonderful; “Satan”: the adversary, accuser, the devil; “light”: luminous, fire;
Literal
Meaning: “and no wonder”! ---- It means that
if we know that it is Satan that manipulates the situation secret, it will be
of no wonder.
“For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of
light”, “Satan”, it is another name of the devil, who was originally the
archangel created by God. However, he rebelled against God because of pride and
led one third angels to distract their positions, becoming the adversary of
God, Satan (see Is. 14:12-14; Rev. 12:4). He often transforms himself into an
angel of light in order to mislead and deceive the people of God so that men
will be trapped into his devices
unconsciously.
2Cor. 11:15 “Therefore it is no great
thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of
righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.”
YLT: “no great thing, then, if also his ministrants do
transform themselves as ministrants of righteousness -- whose end shall be
according to their works.”
Meaning of Words: “ministers”: deacon, servant;
“righteousness”: equity, justification;
Literal
Meaning: “therefore his ministers”, “his”: that of Satan (see v.14); “his ministers”, here Paul points that the false apostles
are ministers of Satan. They are apparently apostles sent by the church in
“It is no great thing if … also
transform themselves into ministers of righteousness”,
it is not surprising that their good works
may cause that misconception they are “ministers of righteousness”.
“Whose end will be
according to their works”, any imitated “works” cannot deceive God, who will render to each according to his
works (Rom.2:6). Therefore, their end must be bad.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Falsehood is the principle of Satan, for “Satan himself transforms
himself into an angel of light” (v.14). “His ministers” also “transform themselves into ministers
of righteousness”. However, the
final judgment of Christ will manifest their end “according to their works”. May the righteous
Christ judge all the falsehood out of Satan in the church!
2) It is difficult for the common believers to
discern the workers. Therefore, the elders of the church should take the
responsibility of discerning the workers (see Rev. 2:2; Acts 20:28-29) so as
not to lead the flock of the Lord into the mouth of the wolves.
2Cor. 11:16 “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.”
YLT: “Again I say, may no one think me to be a fool; and if
otherwise, even as a fool receive me, that I also a little may boast.”
Literal
Meaning: “I say again, let no one
think me a fool”, “fool”, the one who studies nothing and knows
nothing; though Paul seems as a fool (see v.1) for he defends for himself by
boasting, he is not foolish in fact. Believers in
“If otherwise”, if they really treat Paul as a fool;
“At least receive me as a fool, that I also may boast a
little”, believers in
2Cor. 11:17 “What I speak, I speak not
according to the Lord, but as it were, foolishly, in this confidence of
boasting.”
YLT: “That which I speak, I speak not according to the Lord,
but as in foolishness, in this the confidence of boasting;”
Literal
Meaning: “what I speak, I speak not
according to the Lord”, the words of
“But as it were, foolishly, in this confidence of boasting”, Paul denies boasting previously and
regards it foolish (see 10:17-11:1). However, he has to boast of himself, so he
just seems as a fool in the “confidence” of boasting.
Enlightenment
in the Word: even Paul himself
confesses that the boasting is “foolish”. However, he is forced to do so to
help the Corinthians for the sake of the love to them. It teaches us that: 1)
Paul is willing to sacrifice his personal integrity in order to help brothers,
just like that the widow remarries for the sake of raising her children,
manifesting the great love of Christ who sacrifices himself. 2) If we take
boasting as glory, we are exceedingly foolish.
2Cor. 11:18 “Seeing that many boast
according to the flesh, I also will boast.”
YLT: “since many boast according to the flesh, I also will
boast:”
Literal
Meaning: “seeing that many boast
according to the flesh”, “many”: the false apostles that creep into the
church in
“I also will boast”. Since you have received their boasting, you may
also not blame me for my boasting. Therefore, I will also boast, so that you
can distinguish between right and wrong.
2Cor. 11:19 “For you put up with fools
gladly, since you yourselves are wise!”
YLT: “for gladly do ye bear with the fools -- being wise,”
Meaning of Words: “wise”: thoughtful, sagacious, discreet;
“gladly”: sweetly, with pleasure; “put up with”: hold oneself up against,
endure, forbear, suffer;
Literal
Meaning: “since you yourselves are
wise!” “You” refers to
believers in
“For you put up with fools gladly”,
“put up with
… gladly”, endure or bear …
calmly; since believers in
2Cor. 11:20 “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.”
YLT: “for ye bear, if any one is bringing you under bondage,
if any one doth devour, if any one doth take away, if any one doth exalt
himself, if any one on the face doth smite you;”
Meaning of Words: “brings you into bondage”: enslave utterly; “devour”: eat down; “take”: hold, obtain;
Literal
Meaning: “for you put up with it if
one brings you into bondage”, “if one”, though it is conditional, it can still be
inferred that it refers to the Jewish believers who called them apostles (see
v.22-23). Some Bible exegetes hold that they dare not act so boldly and
recklessly in the church, so it may refer to the condition of believers in
“Brings
you into bondage”, force others to submit with vain words and make
them serve gladly;
“If one devours you, if one takes from you”, “devour” and “take”: make men present money or substance gladly with
lawless words for one’s own use; it is just like devouring believers and taking
in the eyes of God;
“If one exalts himself, if one strikes you on the face”, “exalt himself” and “strike”, it means that one subdues men’s will and dignity
by wrong teachings. Thus, though they are evilly treated, they are still happy.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The Lord teaches us that there should be no
man who exercises authority over believers. Whoever will be great among you,
shall be the servant of all (see Matt. 25-26). However, in the church, there
are actually many those who set them in a prominent position and lord over the
flock entrusted to them. The Lord will judge them in the future.
2) Today, there are many preachers who make
believers present their money readily through crafty means. Apparently, they
use the money in the Lord’s works, but however, most of it is spent for their
personal need. Such actions are just like devouring believers and taking from
believers.
2Cor. 11:21 “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.”
YLT: “in reference to dishonour I speak, how that we were
weak, and in whatever any one is bold -- in foolishness I say -- I also am
bold.”
Meaning of Words: “shame”: dishonor,
disgrace; “weak”: strengthless, feeble; “bold”: dare, venture;
Literal
Meaning: “to our shame I say that we
were too weak for that!” “That”, it is what is mentioned in the previous
verse that someone brings
believers in Corinth into bondage boldly; when Paul mentions it, he has to
disgracefully confess that I am not as strong as those false apostles and yet I
am weak and dare not treat believers in Corinth like this.
“But in whatever anyone is bold--I speak foolishly--I am
bold also”, “bold”: be bold to boast; Paul means that he
dares not treat believers evil as the false apostles, but he dares to boast
like a fool like them so as to foster the discernment of the Corinthians.
2Cor. 11:22 “Are they Hebrews? So am I.
Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I.”
YLT: “Hebrews are they? I also! Israelites are they? I also!
seed of Abraham are they? I also!”
Meaning of Words: “seed”: something sown;
Literal
Meaning: “are they Hebrews? So am I”. “Hebrews”: the Jews
those who can speak Arabic and read the Hebrew Bible; they are different from
the Jews who speak Greek (see Acts 6:1). Paul was born a Hebrew (Phil. 3:5).
“Are they Israelites? So am I”.
“Israelites”, it relates to the pure-blooded Jewish race, who is distinct from
the Samarians (see John 1:47; 4:9). Paul is also an Israelite (
“Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I.” “The seed of Abraham”, it points out their position before God.
The Jews are proud of being the seeds of Abraham (see Matt.3:9). Paul is also
the seed of Abraham (
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Today, in the Christianity, reputation is
rather paid attention to, e.g. the one graduated from the so-and-so theological
seminary, the so-and-so clergy, the so-and-so famous preacher ---- they have
drawn many to follow them, and yet most of the followers end in despair, for
what they focus on is the appearance.
2) He a Jew inwardly; and circumcision, of the
heart, in spirit, not in letter; whose praise not of men, but of God (
2Cor. 11:23 “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.”
YLT: “ministrants of Christ are they? -- as beside myself I
speak -- I more; in labours more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in
prisons more frequently, in deaths many times;”
Meaning of Words: “more abundant”: more superabundantly, exceedingly, more
frequent;
Literal
Meaning: “are they ministers of
Christ?--I speak as a fool--I am more:”
“they” refer to the false apostles; since they transform themselves into apostles of
Christ (see v.13), they
call them ministers of Christ. “Fool”, one overestimates himself; “more”,
it shows that if others can call themselves ministers of Christ, Paul will be
more able to boast.
“In labors more abundant, in prisons more frequently”,
“in labors more abundant”, it means that Paul works for the Lord
laboriously (see Acts 20:35; 1Thess. 2:9; 2Thess. 3:8); “in stripes above measure”, though here it mentions that Paul has
been imprisoned frequently, it is only clearly recorded once in
Phillip before this book (Acts 16:19-29). And other occasions in prisons are
written after this book (Acts 21:30-36; 23:11, 31-35; 24:27; 25:4-5; 28:16;
2Tim. 1:17).
“In stripes above measure,
in deaths often”, Paul was stripped
by the Jews at least five times before this book (see v.24; 6:5), but it was
not clearly recorded in the Scriptures. As for the “deaths”, we can find the
clue from the various perils he had experienced in the following verses (see
v.25-26).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) What a faithful servant of Paul is. He
sacrificed his individual pleasure and was willing to suffer for the Lord and
to be put into prisons and to be stripped and to be at the risk of death. Dear
brothers and sisters, we may have just believed the Lord, but we shall also be
encouraged and be willing to sacrifice for the Lord more and walk in the
heavenly way.
2) He who is more entrusted will suffer more.
He who has suffered more will provide more. When we have read the various
tribulations that Paul has suffered (see v.24-33), we will not be astonished at
the rich and abundant provision of Paul. The more one suffers, then the more
true love can he bestows.
3) Some leaders of Christianity measure their
individual achievements by counting men’s glory. However, the true workers of
the Lord estimate their works by the brands of the cross.
4) There is no shortcut in spiritual things.
Any knowledge, talent or other things can not replace the experience of the
cross. Only the way of the cross can bring men into the riches of the glory of
God.
2Cor. 11:24 “From the Jews five times I
received forty stripes minus one.”
YLT: “from Jews five times forty save one I did receive;”
Literal
Meaning: “from the Jews five times”, the Scriptures have not clearly recorded
the reason why Paul is stripped by the Jews. Possibly, when he had firstly
believed the Lord, had gone against the traditional customs of the Jews, e.g.
to eat with the Gentiles together, which is prohibited among the Jews (see Gal.
2:12-13).
“I received forty stripes minus one”, it is
recorded in the Pentateuch that the beat shall not exceed forty (Deut. 25:3).
Therefore, the Jews will traditionally beat thirty-nine every time so as not
exceed forty.
2Cor. 11:25 “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;”
YLT: “thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned,
thrice was I shipwrecked, a night and a day in the deep I have passed;”
Literal
Meaning: “three times I was beaten
with rods”; “be beaten with rods”:
it was the punishment of Romans. Once it was in Phillip (Acts 16:22).
“Once I was stoned”; it was in Lystra that Paul was stoned to death
(Acts 14:19).
“Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have
been in the deep”, it was once in
the way to
2Cor. 11:26 “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;”
YLT: “journeyings many times, perils of rivers, perils of
robbers, perils from kindred, perils from nations, perils in city, perils in
wilderness, perils in sea, perils among false brethren;”
Literal
Meaning: “in journeys often, in
perils of waters, in perils of robbers”, both of the perils are easily met in long journeys
“In perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles”, these two perils
relate to the religious and political persecutions at that time.
“In perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in
perils in the sea”: the threat of life caused by different elements in
the environment;
“In perils among false brethren”, there are even the perils of being betrayed by
the false brethren in the church that is supposed to let believers have rest.
2Cor. 11:27 “in weariness and toil, in
sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and
nakedness--”
YLT: “in laboriousness and painfulness, in watchings many
times, in hunger and thirst, in fastings many times, in cold and nakedness;”
Meaning of Words: “weariness”: be forced to
labor; “toil”: be fatigue because of excessive labor; “hunger”: lack of bread;
Literal
Meaning: “in weariness and toil”, “weariness”: the laborious works; “toil”: the excessive fatigue;
“In sleeplessness often”: to work or hurry on one’s journey over night;
“In hunger and thirst, in
fastings often”: suffer hunger or
forget to eat because of the shortage of food or one’s voluntary desire;
“In cold and nakedness--”: the clothes were insufficient to cover them all,
or their clothes were robbed;
2Cor. 11:28 “besides the other things,
what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.”
YLT: “apart from the things without -- the crowding upon me
that is daily -- the care of all the assemblies.”
Meaning of Words: “concern”: care;
Literal
Meaning: “besides the other things”, “the other things”: the physical troubles
they have suffered;
“What comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the
churches”, “concern”: be
concerned about others; “come upon”: the accumulated burdens press upon him; “comes upon me daily”, it means that the heavy burdens have
never loaded off his mind, for one is gone and another comes.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Paul not only suffers from various external
tribulations but also cares for the saints in the church and is concerned about
their spiritual condition before the Lord. Such faithful service is really a
good example.
2) The apostle Paul is just like the great
priest in the Old Testament who bears the judgment upon his heart to inquire of
God (see Ex. 28:29-30). He puts the churches of God in his shoulder and bears
the children of God in his heart. He is so concerned about the churches and
children of God that the Father of lights enlightens him, so he can understand
the will and way of God in the church and write the epistles that meet the need
of all the churches in the past. All the faithful workers of God should have
such bowel of Paul.
2Cor. 11:29 “Who is weak, and I am not
weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?”
YLT: “Who is infirm, and I am not infirm? who is stumbled,
and I am not fired;”
Meaning of Words: “stumble”: offend, entice; “burn”: kindle,
be on fire, be ignited;
Literal
Meaning: “who is weak, and I am not
weak?” “Weak”, it especially refers to the bondage in the
flesh in the paragraph (11:29-12:20) that one cannot do according to what he
desires. The burden that we can bear in the flesh is limited, so everyone is
weak (see Matt. 26:41). Not only Paul is weak, even the Lord Jesus is without
exception (see Heb. 5:2).
“Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with
indignation?” “Stumble”: be offended in the truth of faith,
especially those who are young in spiritual life are easily stumbled (see Matt.
18:6). Paul here does not say he is offended but that he burns with such
condition. All those who serve the Lord should have such solicitude for the
members.
Controversial Clarification: the “weakness” in this verse is not the
weakness in faith (see
However, probably, Paul here emphasizes his concern about the weakness
of other believers and sympathizes their weakness (see 1Cor. 9:22).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The weakness in the flesh may not be sin.
However, if one is ignorant of his weakness or is reconciled to his weakness
and is unwilling to overcome it by the Lord, it will be his fault.
2) “Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with
indignation?” It should be the
feeling that Christians should have towards one another, for we are members in
one body (see 1Cor. 12:24-27)
2Cor. 11:30 “If I must boast, I will
boast in the things which concern my infirmity.”
YLT: “if to boast it behoveth , of the things of my infirmity
I will boast;”
Literal
Meaning: “if I must boast”, it suggests that
Paul is forced to boast of himself.
“I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity”, when we boast of our weakness in the
flesh (see v.29 the commentary) ---- confess our limitation and corruption in
the flesh, we will turn to seek the Lord’s grace, thus experiencing the power
of Christ (see 12:9).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Man likes to boast of himself by nature.
However, the work of the cross makes man dare not boast of himself.
2) The difficulty is not the cross, but the
cross leads us to the cross so that we will know our infirmity and our
nothingness and that we are only worthy of crucifixion.
3) He who has experienced the dealing with of
the cross will not dare to boast of who he is. He who boasts of himself does
not know the cross nor walks on the way of the cross.
2Cor. 11:31 “The God and Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.”
YLT: “the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ -- who is
blessed to the ages -- hath known that I do not lie! --”
Literal
Meaning: “the God and Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever”,
Paul has just mentioned his experience of
his suffering (see v.23-27). Someone may think he exaggerates in his words.
Paul also refers to his mind in the suffering (see v.28-29), which transcend
the knowledge of the common people. Therefore, He asks for God to be his
witness, for God is true (see 1:18) and our thoughts and intents are naked and
opened unto his eyes (see Heb. 4:12-13).
“Knows that I am not lying”, there are two meanings: 1) Paul says the
previous paragraph before believers in Corinth as well as before the omniscient
God; 2) the omniscient and omnipresent God testifies that Paul’s words are
true.
2Cor. 11:32 “In
YLT: “In
Literal
Meaning: “in
“Was guarding the city of the Damascenes with a garrison,
desiring to arrest me”, Aretas the king answered the request of the Jews and sent
his governor guard the gate of the city of the Damascenes to seize and kill
Paul (see Acts 9:23-24).
2Cor. 11:33 “but I was let down in a
basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands.”
YLT: “and through a window in a rope basket I was let down,
through the wall, and fled out of his hands.”
Literal
Meaning: “through a window”, in the ancient times, some houses of the
people were built upon the city walls, so the open ground out of the city was
just down in front of the windows (see Jos. 2:15).
“But I was let down in a basket … in
the wall”, “basket”: the basket that is big enough to hold a
man (see Acts 9:25);
“And escaped from his hands”, it happened just soon after Paul was saved, in
about 38-39 AD.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) When man desired to arrest Paul, he was let down in a basket
through a window in the wall. When the Lord Jesus was persecuted, he passed
through the midst of them and went his way (see Luke 4:28-30). The way of the
servant is the same as that of the Lord, but can not be above that of the Lord.
The experience of the disciple is the same as that of the teacher, but is
always lower than that of the teacher. Praise Christ! He transcends all!
2) Though the door on the earth is closed, but
God always opens a window to the heaven for the one whom He pleases. God is faithful,
who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the
temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it
(1Cor. 10:13).
III.
Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons
Things that the
Workers of the Lord Should Be Concerned About the Churches
A. The fear that the hearts of believers are
deceived that their minds are corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ
(v.3);
B. The fear that one comes to preach another Jesus
and let believers receive
a different spirit (v.4);
C. The fear that believers can only distinguish
by speech, not the truth (v.5-6);
D. The fear that believers cannot recognize who
is the worker that really cares for the church (v.7-12);
E. The fear that believers cannot recognize the
deceitful false apostles (v.13-15);
F. The fear that believers are misled by their
wisdom and are willing to be bounded, devoured and held by others (v.16-20);
G. The fear that believers can only know men
according to appearance and fame (v.21
H. The fear that believers do not realize the
importance of the suffering of the cross (v.23b-33);
How to Distinguish
the Good Workers of the Lord?
A. The good worker leads the hearts of
believers to Christ, not to himself (v.2-4).
B. The good worker preaches the right gospel
faithfully (v.5).
C. Though his speech is simple, the knowledge
is not simple (v
D. The good worker teaches by words, but not by
examples (v.6b).
E. The good worker considers for believers’
profit so as not to be a burden to them (v.7-9).
F. The good worker has the truth of Christ in
him (v.10-11).
G. The good worker does not fear to sin against
the false worker to help believers
distinguish between right and wrong (v.12-15).
H. The good worker does not lord over
believers, but beseeches them to receive him (v.16-21).
I. The good worker does not fear to be compared
with others (v.22
J. The good worker should have many experiences
of the cross (v.23b-27).
K. The good worker is concerned about things of
the church and believers (v.28-29).
L. The good worker does not conceal his
weakness from others (v.29-33).
──
Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible
Commentary Series》
Translated by Mary Zhou