2 Corinthians 12:1–6

¹ It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord: ² I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven. ³ And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—⁴ how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. ⁵ Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities. ⁶ For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me.

Commentary

Vs. 1 "It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord:"

Carrying on from all that the Apostle Paul had previously stated that the Lord had brought him through as an Apostle of Christ, Paul now says that he will continue on in his "boasting." Here though a turn takes place in that what Paul reveals about his Apostleship does not entail external endurance, but rather a very profound experience given him by God that brought him into revelations and visions of the Lord. But first Paul acknowledges that there is nothing profitable (for himself) in his doing so, that is in his retelling these events, thus his doing so now is not for his sake, but ours. 

Vs. 2 "I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven."

In order to not be wrongly identified with the bragging and boasting of the false apostles, the Apostle Paul will now in retelling these events refrain from directly identifying himself as the man in Christ. And so unlike the false apostles and prophets and such who are always quick to identify themselves as having had visions, (without even discerning the source of them). The Apostle Paul had for fourteen years not told anyone. To begin then Paul says that whether or not these things occurred while in the body, or out of the body, he himself does not know, God knows. Here the reference to being in the body, or out of the body, is a reference to either Paul's body and spirit, or just Paul's spirit which as Paul states was caught up to the third heaven. Now Paul's stating that it was the third heaven was so that no one would confuse this with being either the earthly sky (the first heaven), or the planets and stars and galaxies and such (the second heaven), but rather Paul, whether in body or out of it, was caught up to the third heaven, which is the realm and place of Almighty God Himself. 

Vs. 3 "And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—"

Again so profound was this occurrence that Paul does not know if his whole person was taken there or just his spirit. 

Vs. 4 "how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter."

The Apostle Paul now identifies the third heaven as Paradise (gr. παράδεισος), using the same word the Lord Jesus Christ used to described heaven, His eternal dwelling place, (see Luke 23:43). And so Paul's using this specific word here was so that there would be no confusion as to just where God had taken him to give him these visions and Revelations of the Lord. Now it was while there that Paul heard what he calls, "inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter." That is what the Apostle heard there was not to be expressed by him down here. Later the Apostle John would experience something similar but would be commanded to write down and declare all that he heard. 

Vs. 5 "Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities." 

Unlike the false apostles, Paul did not directly apply this revelation to himself, (since that was the tactic of the false apostles and such to claim all kinds of fantastic "spiritual" experiences to try make themselves appear apostles). Neither then would Paul readily boast of himself, (again something the false apostles loved to do), rather Paul would only boast in his infirmities, the very thing which his detractors were using to turn others against him. Because it was in his weaknesses that Christ made Paul strong (2 Cor 12:10). And so of a man having such a revelation Paul would boast, but of himself, Paul would never boast. 

Vs. 6 "For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me."

In light of such things the Apostle Paul could easily boast (and given the carnal nature of the Corinthians they might even think him being "spiritual" if he did). Yet Paul says he will refrain from such foolishness and leave that to others. For Paul does not want to become the center of people's faith for having experienced such things. Nor does Paul want to be exalted above others, or "honored" because of having experienced these things (consider Acts 14:8-18), rather Paul wants Christ crucified to always be the front and center of our faith, and for Him alone to be exalted in the church. 

Now there are many things that are spiritual in nature, and yet the Lord does not want us to taken with them, or anyone associated with them (consider Rev. 19:1-10), because the most important thing is not having these, or hearing of someone who has had experienced these. The most important and most crucial and critical thing is that you (and I) have our personal faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. For He alone can and will save us from not only our sins and transgressions, but also the wrath of God that is coming on this unbelieving and unrepentant world. For the Lord has come to stand in the gap to give salvation to one and to all who believe in Him crucified and Risen from the dead. Therefore seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near, so that you too may also freely drink of the cup of His consolation and salvation and regeneration that is being freely poured out and into all who repent and believe in Him (Isaiah 55:6-7; Rev. 21:6-8; 22:12-17). Therefore receive the Lord Jesus Christ today! (John 1:12; Rev 3:20)

Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.

2 Corinthians 11:22-33

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.

Commentary

Vs. 22 "Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I." 

Apparently some of the false apostles, (likely taking note that all the Apostles of Christ had a Jewish pedigree) began using their own Jewish pedigrees to establish themselves over the Corinthians. Now the Apostle Paul reminds the Corinthians that just as these had a Jewish pedigree so did he. Yet neither the Apostle Paul, nor any of the Other Apostles called by Christ ever claimed these things as having any bearing on whether or not one was called as an Apostle of Christ or indeed granted an inheritance with God through Christ. Indeed the Apostle Paul in order to refute all such things as qualifying anyone, or revealing anything about anyone, completely renounced his own Jewish pedigree, along with all of his own good works and or righteousness through the Law, as having any effect on bringing him into salvation with God through the Lord Jesus Christ (see Philippians 3:2-11). Instead Paul stood firmly on the solid ground of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ crucified and raised from the dead as the only thing that first brought him into a personal and eternally redeemed relationship with God through Christ, and then by the Holy Spirit, Paul was chosen and equipped by Him for Christs service as an Apostle to the Gentiles (see Acts 9:1-25; 13:1-2; 26:1-23; Rom 11:13). None of which can be said to be true of any of the false apostles, prophets and teachers, then or now. And so whatever external things the Corinthians were looking at, and being captivated with about the the false apostles, they really needed to get a truly Godly perspective, and some holy discernment before they anymore received and submitted too such individuals based solely on what they were according to the flesh. For whatever anyone is according to flesh reveals nothing about what they are according to the Spirit, or if even they have the Spirit, and thus if they are a child of God, and just how they have been Spirit equipped by God for Christ's service. 

Vs. 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."

Seeing how the Corinthians received the false apostles based on their boasting in themselves in all their achievements, the Apostle Paul will also boast, but not in himself, nor even in his true Divine service and Holy Spirit power, but rather only in all that the Lord had brought him through. For in no way was the Apostle Paul a "self-made man" whose confidence and boast originated in himself and what he could do, or he himself had done. No, the Apostle Paul did not stand on his own strengths and abilities, rather Paul only stood by the awesome power of the Lord who continually and faithfully upheld him and delivered him from so many severe and extreme situations, circumstances, and people, that in no way could Paul or anyone else ever claim this as being anything but the Good hand of the Lord upon him, who was watching over him, so that He could work through him, His Will both for him, and the church, He was establishing and ministering too, through him. Therefore if the Corinthians judged the false apostles as being ministers of Christ, based solely on their pedigrees, or their boasting in their own achievements, and whatever else was known of them according to the flesh, how much more should they judge the Apostle Paul as a true minister of Christ, who not only first brought the Gospel to them, and through whom the Lord was ministering to them. But what was true of Paul when it came to his enduring hardships and tribulations and persecutions for the Gospels sake was not true of any of them. Therefore Paul says that he will now speak as a fool, because he has been forced to declare all that he wilfully endures for the Gospel and their sake. Therefore in light of the Corinthians receiving the false apostles based on the externals. Paul now lays forth his own resume of just what proves he was an Apostle of Christ. For in contrast to the false apostles whose lives and ministries were only marked by their pursuing their own ease and gain. The Apostle Paul says of his ministry and service for Christ that it was one marked by his enduring many hardships for Christ (consider Acts 14:21-22). And so to give them evidence of this to them, Paul begins laying forth a catalogue of all kinds of hardships he had endured and was enduring for both them and it. Now looking at these individually, Paul's statement "in labors more abundant" should not be narrowed down to just his own labors in and for the Gospel, for though these were the focus of everything he did, Paul was somewhat unique in that he was pretty much a self supporting Apostle. And so unlike the other Apostles who were all initially located in and around Jerusalem, and whose ministries were primarily rooted in the prayer and the Word of God (see Acts 6:1-4). Paul's ministry by God's will and design was one centered in evangelism, of taking the Gospel to regions and peoples it had never been told (Acts 13:46-48). And so this required Paul be self-supporting, since to receive aid from anyone could take months. As well the early church and the believers within it, were enduring their own hardships, poverty, and persecutions, and in no way was Paul going to add to their burdens by requesting ongoing support from them. Finally the urgency of the Gospel required that Paul be both mobile and self supporting, if the momentum God planted at Jerusalem was going to continue on elsewhere (Acts 18:1-4). And so though Paul sometimes received support from the assemblies he later established, or that he helped to establish in the faith, Paul always refrained from making any demands on anyone as an Apostle of Christ (see 1 Cor 9:1-18, vs. 11-12). 
Which again is not something that can be said of the false apostles who only use the Gospel as a means to an easy life for themselves. Now since Paul was not preaching for how it benefited him, but rather how it would truly profits us all who receive and believe the truth. Neither than was Paul preaching because this made him to be well liked and received by either his Jewish countrymen, or the unbelieving Gentiles (consider Acts 13:44-51; 14:1-7). For as Paul says in his ministering the Gospel he was "in stripes above measure"; stripes meaning being whipped or flogged for merely preaching the Gospel. Later the Apostle Paul will state that five times he received the full sentence of 40 lashes minus one from the Jews, who only terribly misused the law to do this to him (vs. 24), something that is not unique to them. Thus Paul bore in his body the scars of believing in the Lord Jesus Christ and being faithful to Him (see Gal. 6:17). Now along with suffering such things, (which neither made Paul bitter, nor made him recant), Paul also says he was "in prisons more frequently." Though some of the false apostles may have been rounded up and placed in chains with the true brethren for a time, it is extremely doubtful after going through such an experience that they ever again went back to ministering the Gospel as apostles. In contrast the Apostle Paul never lost his faith or his calling when he was placed in chains (see Acts 16:16-40). Now it's hard to calculate just how much time Paul spent in custody, but it can be unequivocally stated that Paul's later years were largely spent in custody, and yet instead of hindering the Apostle's great Gospel work as one might suppose, it became just another means through which the Lord Jesus forwarded the Gospel and ministered His word to us all. For it was while in custody that Paul had much time to contemplate and consider the many wonders and mysteries of the Gospel, which the Lord has now brought forth and preserved for us all through Paul's writing ministry in his Epistles. Thus whatever negative things God allows in our lives, these must not be wasted by us, but we must squeeze out of them the most good that we can, while we can. 
"In death's often." Paul's statement here is not hyperbole, for Paul's journeys for the Gospel often brought him into some very perilous places, situations, and even people (see 2 Cor 11:26). In fact we know Paul was literally once thought dead by the brethren when he was stoned by an angry mob outside of Lystra (see Acts 14:8-28). Not too mention what also happened to him at Jerusalem (Acts 21:26-23:35). And so just as the Lord Jesus Christ had to face death in His bringing His Glorious Gospel to light and life (see Luke 4:16-29, vs. 28-29; Luke 22:52-53), so like Christ, the Apostle Paul was no stranger to having to face death; whether by angry mobs, or by robbers, or by authorities, or by being in perilous places and having to face perilous circumstances. Paul endured such things in order to take the Gospel to regions where the Gospel had not been preached, or where it was currently being ministered. For whatever is true of the Lord Jesus Christ and His experiences on earth will also become true, in varying degrees and in various ways, also of ourselves (consider John 15:18-25). 

Vs. 24 "From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one." 

Previously the Apostle' Paul's stated that he was "in stripes above measure." Here Paul gives evidence of just what that meant, saying that five times from the Jews he received forty stripes minus one. It is clear then that the unbelieving Jewish authorities were most zealous in not not only their opposition to the Gospel, but also in their persecuting those Jews who "converted" to it from them. Now God, in the Law permitted a sentence of 40 lashes for serious offenses not deserving of death (see Deut. 25:3). The fact that five times the Jews misused and wrongly applied this severe sentence from the Law on the Apostle Paul, and for severe crimes and such, but only because Paul was a faithfully preaching Christ, indicates just how much the darkness can overtake anyone who rejects the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God (John 12:35-36). Now we know that there is a time, that seems not that far off, when the Israel of God will go into a national repentance for what they have done, and will whole heartily embrace their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And so let no one think that God is done with His people for what they have done to Christ and His own, there will be time when they will all mourn for Him as for an only Son (see Zechariah 12:10-14). 

Vs. 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"

If being whipped five times at the hands of the Jews was not evidence enough of Paul's committed to Christ. The Apostle Paul also says that three times he was beaten with rods, one such incident occurred in Philippi (see Acts 16:22). Now unlike being whipped or flogged which left permanent scars, being beaten with rods (though no less severe in the pain one experienced) caused deep and long lasting bruising, which if inflicted on the legs would leave one incapacitated, often for an extended period of time. "once I was stoned",  the stoning which Paul endured and miraculously survived was again at Lystra (see Acts 14:8-28). "Three times I was shipwrecked". We know of the ship wreck that occurred while Paul was on his journey to Rome (see Acts 27), but there were three others as well which occurred before this then yet future incident that Paul mentions here. "A night and a day I have been in the deep." The reference here is to having to tread water in the open sea after suffering a ship wreck. And yet through it all the Apostle Paul neither lost his faith in Christ, nor his zeal for the Gospel, for as the Apostle Paul will boldly say to Timothy, "the Lord delivered me out of them all" (see 2 Timothy 3:10-13). And so what is being stated here in all of these things is not the endurance of a man in his own strength, or his own ability or resolve to endure, but rather what is being stated here is the power of God In Christ sustaining the Apostle Paul, without which it would have been impossible for him to endure and survive these things on his own. Now it is that very same power that kept Paul, which also keeps and sustains everyone one of us who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, even as we face daily an ever increasing, and at times, seemingly overwhelming opposition for holding fast to the truth, and not submitting ourselves to the lies, and father of them in this world. 

Vs. 26-27 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—

"In journeys often," Paul's ministry and life was one marked by many travels, whether on land or on the sea by ship, the Apostle Paul's life was one marked by his many travels which the Lord had appointed for him. Now if journeys to foreign lands marked the Apostle's ministry and service for Christ so did one other aspect, and that was his being in perils. Eight times Paul will state that his life as an Apostle of Christ was marked by being in perils. Now these are not just threats and such hurled his way by his detractors, but these were Paul having to face some very real life threatening persons, situations, and circumstances, in all kinds of places. "In perils of waters," Paul already mentioned some of his perils in the sea, here is he is referring to those inland bodies of water that he had to travel down or go through (like lakes or raging river crossings and such) in order to get to his next destination. "In perils of robbers," in ancient times "roadways" were often prime targets for bands of robbers who would land upon unsuspecting and lightly armed or defended travelers. The Apostle on more than one occasion had to face such things. "In perils of my own countrymen," Even a causal reading of the Book of Acts quickly reveals just how zealous the Jews who did not believe were in their opposition to the Gospel, and specifically their opposition to the Apostle Paul (consider Acts 13:49-52; 14:1-7; 17:13; 21:26-26:32), and yet the Apostle Paul's heartfelt desire was for them all to come into a saving knowledge of God through Christ (Rom. 10:1). "In perils of the Gentiles", it wasn't just the unbelieving Jews who opposed Paul's preaching the Gospel, but the unbelieving Gentiles as well. "In perils in the city," (consider 2 Tim. 3:11). "In perils in the wilderness," whether in the city amongst the multitudes, or in the wilderness amongst the wild beasts, the Apostle Paul knew that trials, tribulations, great troubles awaited him, and yet none of those things kept him from fulfilling his ministry and Christ's purposes for his life (Acts 20:22-24). 
In perils in the sea, after being delivered from the mobs at Jerusalem and an assignation plot there on his life by the same, the Apostle was sent to stand trial in Rome. Now it was on that journey there that we have recorded for us in the Book of Acts one of Paul's "perils in sea" (see Acts 27-28). "In perils among false brethren," If there is a greater peril for any true believer to go through I do not know of one. And yet we all will at some point have our faith and beliefs challenged by them, and still somehow by God's amazing grace, love, and life given us all who believe in Him, we will carry on with Christ in spite of them. Now verse twenty seven marks a transition from passing through perils to enduring personal hardships. "In weariness and toil," the Apostle Paul unlike the false apostles who often have an aversion to work, labored night and day to provide for himself so that he could continue on in the work, and not burden the already impoverished brethren. As well Paul did so so as to set a Godly example to all brethren everywhere as to what is good and right and sound in the sight of our Lord and Savior (1 Thess. 2:9; 2 Thess 3:8-10). "In sleeplessness often", if being well rested, well fed, and well clothed marked the false Apostles, the Apostle Paul was certainly not any of those things, because sleeplessness and deep need often marked his own life as a servant of Lord, as he will now state. "In hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness—" The Apostle Paul was no stranger to having to endure all kinds of deprivations for the Gospels sake and ours. Now these things have not been stated to shame anyone, or make anyone think that they must go and do likewise in order to follow Christ, (though we all must enter the Kingdom of God by many tribulations, just as the Lord appoints for each one of us, see Acts 14:22), they were only stated here by the Apostle Paul to bring an end to his detractors calling his faith in and service for Christ into question. And so for us we can draw from his many experiences encouragement to carry on with Christ even when the narrow road likewise gets difficult for us. 

Vs. 28 "besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches." 

If all of those things weren't evidence enough of Paul's love for Christ, and his being an Apostle of Christ, who was empowering and enabling him to carry on as His Apostle during these things, then there were all the daily needs and circumstances and situations which the Apostle Paul faced, while carrying in his heart and on his shoulders, a deep concern for all the churches. For the assemblies of the Lord were still in their infancy and naivety, and the Apostle Paul understood all to well that he was battling not just for his own survival, but theirs. 

Vs. 29 "Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?" 

The Apostle Paul's concern for all the churches was not just one which only considered the assemblies as a whole, but not the individuals within. No the Apostle Paul's concern was for all the individual believers within them. And so peoples plights often weighed heavily on Paul as their circumstances and situations became known to him. Thus if someone was weak, then Paul too felt their weakness, and was empathizing with them. Or if someone was made to stumble, then Paul felt a holy and just indignation. And so here the Apostle Paul not only reflects the heart of the Lord Jesus towards all His people, but also what is to be the heart of us all (see 1 Cor. 12:26).

Vs. 30 "If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity."

The Apostle having laid forth his resume of his service as an Apostle Christ does not want to boast in it, or have anyone else boast in it. Indeed the Apostle did not boast in anything that was of himself, instead Paul's boast was only in his infirmity. That is what made him "weak" in the sight of men, was what made him strong by the hand of the Lord (see 2 Cor 12:10).

Vs. 31-33 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.

The Apostle Paul having presented to us the many types of hardships and troubles that he endured as an Apostle of Christ, now gives us one specific example which occurred at the beginning of his ministry and new life In Christ. The reason for doing so is that Paul's person and reputation had been so undermined by his detractors, that all that Paul had previously stated having gone through might be dismissed by them as Paul exaggerating or even lying. And so the Apostle Paul now unequivocally states, "The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying."  Thus the Apostle Paul now retells a very intense situation that might have ended his ministry before it ever even got off the ground. It took place in Damascus sometime after Paul's salvation on the Damascus road, where Paul (then Saul) the former persecutor of the church, after his personal encounter with the Lord after he recovered soon began to publicly preach and declare the very Gospel he once so vehemently opposed. And so it was that the Apostle Paul's preaching was so effective in bringing others to Christ (and thus was likely viewed as a threat by both the ruling Romans, and the Jewish hierarchy which collaborated with them) that the very governor of the region, placed the whole city under guard in the hopes of seizing Paul, and ending his doing so. Nonetheless Paul managed to escape after some brethren hid him in a basket, and let him down from a window in the wall, and so Paul escape from their hands and began what would become an epic journey and new life, full of such occurrences, as he faithfully followed Christ (see Acts 9:1-25). All which begs the question have you yourself received the Lord Jesus Christ and are you faithfully following Him? Because to seek to save ones life is only to lose it, but to lose ones life for Christ's sake and Gospels is to keep it for eternity (Matt 10:39; Luke 9:24-26; 17:33; John 12:25). And no doubt if asked if he would do it all again, lost it all again, the Apostle Paul would say, (as would I), yes I would. So rather than trying to hold onto what will not last, nor satisfy, first receive eternal life by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and then begin your own journey with Christ, and in the end write your own eternal memoirs about all the epic journeys that Lord took you on, and delivered you through. 

Scripture Quotation
The New King James Version. (1982). Nashville: Thomas Nelson

2 Corinthians 11:16–21

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.

Commentary

Vs. 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."

Since the Corinthians were so confident in their "wisdom" in receiving the false apostles and putting up with all of their foolish boasting and counsel through which they exalted themselves while putting the Apostle Paul and His Holy Spirit given Word down. The Apostle Paul now says let no one think him a fool if he should also boast a little, for his boasting was not the self aggrandizement of the false apostles, but was only being done to show the Corinthians their folly in their receiving these people according to their own self boasting (consider Psalm 5:5). For it was by the false apostles carnal words and counsel that the Corinthians also started judging the Apostle Paul according to the flesh. 

Vs. 17-18 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.

But first the Apostle Paul wants the Corinthians to know that his "boasting" is not coming from the Lord. For Paul's doing so was only to bring an end to the false apostles boasting which began and ended with themselves. And thus was not based on what the Lord had done with them, or through them. Therefore since their boasting according to the flesh was being done to make themselves appear qualified in the Corinthians sight and the Apostle Paul disqualified. Paul was now going to entertain a little folly and also boast according to some of his own natural qualifications, but only to show the Corinthians just how foolish it is to look at ones outward appearance as qualifying or disqualifying anyone for the Lord Jesus Christ's service (consider 1 Samuel 16:7; 1 Cor 1:26-31). 

Vs. 19  "For you put up with fools gladly, since you yourselves are wise!" 

The Corinthians thought they were so wise in receiving and listening to the false apostles, prophets and teachers amongst them, and yet all they were doing was putting up with these unregenerate fools sent to them from Satan to deceive and mislead them; who when they weren't being abusive towards them, were only taking advantage of them. 

Vs. 20-21 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.

The Apostle Paul now chides the Corinthians for their lack of wisdom and discernment in allowing such people to not only "minister" amongst them, but also in allowing them too lord their own authority over them all. For though they themselves declared themselves being as apostles of Christ, in reality they were only slaves of their own sins corruption. And so it was through their rule over them they were only bringing the Corinthians into bondage to themselves (see 2 Peter 2:18-19). Very similar to what the Apostle had to contend with in Acts 15 where some of the Pharisees who "converted" outwardly, yet inwardly their hearts and agenda was still with making disciples of the Moses and the law.  And so believers must not allow themselves to be brought into anyone's bondage by listening too those who either turn the Gospel into licentiousness, or at the other end of the spectrum into legalism, commanding that believers observe their doctrines and commandments, all which only leads to spiritual bondage, not liberty and life (see John 8:34-35; Matt 15:1-9; 16:5-12; Gal. 4:9-11; Col 2:20-22 etc.). Finally there is a third kind of spiritual bondage that can overtake one which comes by observing the doctrines (and or worship practises) of demons (see 1 Tim 4:1-3; Hebrews 13:9-10). And so the Corinthians needed to be both diligent and discerning about what was being taught to them; and thus compare it to what the Apostle Paul had taught them. As well they needed to be vigilant in just who it was that they were letting lead them, and thus who it was, and what they were preaching and teaching to them, because as the Apostle Paul goes onto to say there had crept in amongst them some very unscrupulous people who were also devouring them; literally this means they were taking complete advantage of them, whether this was financially or in other ways (see 2 Peter 2:1-3). Now Jesus fully condemned these kinds of people, saying they are those who devour widows houses, and on a pretense make long prayers, therefore they will receive greater condemnation (Matt. 23:14, 23-32). Now if that weren't enough the Apostle Paul lists three more things that were readily apparent to him that were being done to the Corinthians by the false apostles and teachers amongst them. The first one stated is that they were taking from them, the Believers Bible Commentary says of this; "The expression, one takes from you, is a metaphor for fishing or hunting. The false teacher tried to make these people his prey, leading them about as he desired." And so whatever else they had done to the Corinthians in bringing them into their spiritual bondage, they were also manipulating and exploiting their faith and beliefs so as to take complete advantage of them. All which marks the works of Satan, who only kills, steals, and destroys as opposed to a true Godly leader who is a fragrance of Christ's Person and life, and thus brings reconciliation and abundant life freely to all through Christ. Similarly the false apostles were marked by exalting themselves, and yet the Corinthians tolerated their doing so. The Apostle Paul on the other hand never felt the need to exalt himself in the presence of others, nor would he dare strike someone in the face, the reference here being not to the fist, but an open hand, which was only to cause someone to suffer a great indignity in ancient culture. And yet the Corinthians were putting up with being treating in such a horrible manner. And so the Apostle Paul says in verse twenty one, "To our shame I say that we were too weak for that!" Paul's words here have a touch of sarcasm since the Corinthians thought they were so wise in receiving and listening to the false apostles, who after they had turned the Corinthians against the Apostle Paul by belittling his person through his weak bodily presence, only began treating them in such a horrible manner. Now the Apostle Paul having concluded his exposing the false apostles and teachers works and ways, says that in whatever else they, or anyone else is bold in, he is bold in also. That is whatever they held up to the Corinthians as evidence as their being apostles, the Apostle Paul, though reluctantly, will now declare all that marked him as being not only their equal in regards to all these things, but also their superior in regards to his service for Christ. All which we will look at in the next blog posting starting at verse twenty two.

Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.

Word Studies 
Vs. 20 devour, κατεσθίω, Str 2719; GK 2983; LN 88.145

Additional Resources Consulted 
Swanson, J. (1997). Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) (electronic ed.). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. (A. Farstad, Ed.) (p. 1861). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Walvoord, John F., and Roy B. Zuck, Dallas Theological Seminary. The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985.

2 Corinthians 11:5–15

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.

Commentary

Vs. 5 "For I consider that I am not at all inferior to the most eminent apostles."

The Apostle Paul's reference here to the so called "eminent" apostles is a sarcasm, and thus is not referring to the 12 twelve Apostles, or the other genuine Apostles, who like himself were also later eye witnesses to Christ's Resurrection and were chosen and Spirit gifted by Christ to serve Him in that capacity. No the reference here is to the false apostles who had infiltrated the Corinthian assembly, and had presented themselves as being superior to even the genuine Apostles! Therefore if the Corinthians could bear with them and their folly in doing so, surely they could be patient with the Apostle Paul as he begins to expound why the Corinthians should not be listening to any of them. 

Vs. 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." 

Apparently some of the false Apostles were great orators. The Apostle Paul (like the twelve) on the other hand was not trained in speech, he had no formal training in regards to this. And so this became a point that the false apostles seized upon, and again used to discredit Paul in the Corinthians sight. That said, the Apostle Paul was not without knowledge. Indeed some of the greatest revelations and truths found in, and born out of the Gospel, God by His Holy Spirit has brought to light through the Apostle Paul's preaching and writing ministry (consider 2 Peter 3:15-16 and the Apostle Peter's assessment of Paul's Spirit given understanding). And so though Paul was not a trained or eloquent speaker, Paul was most definitely Spirit endowed with some great knowledge and deep understanding in regards to the Gospel. Knowledge which had been thoroughly manifested towards, and shared freely with all the Corinthians. This alone then should have made them reconsider any false assessments of Paul and his qualifications and or abilities. For it was through Paul, and not through them, that the Corinthians came into a saving knowledge of God through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Vs. 7-9 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. 

The Apostle Paul now wittingly asks them if his presenting the Gospel to them free of charge was sin in their sight. Now Paul does this because it was the false apostles, prophets, and teachers amongst them (consider 2 Peter 2:1-3) who were peddling the Word of God to them (2 Cor 2:11-12), and who had even gone so far as to call into question the validity of the Apostle's Paul's ministry because Paul preached the Gospel free of charge to them all. Imagine it then being criticized and spoken against for not exploiting the Holy Word of God for ones own gain, or not being a financial burden on those one is seeking to share the love the Christ freely with! And so the Apostle Paul instead of making demands as a Apostle of Christ, (see 1 Cor. 9:1-18; 1 Tim 5:17-18), humbled himself amongst the Corinthians, taking nothing from them so as not to hinder the Gospel of Christ. Indeed Paul says' that he "robbed" other churches taking wages from them, so that he could minister to them. Here Paul means that other Christian assemblies that he established, or helped establish, who knowing his proven character and Godly work willingly provided for him so that he could continue ministering to them. Something that missionaries have done down through the ages, when they enter a new region or realm to bring the Gospel there, they generally don't burden those they are trying to reach by first seeking financial support from them. Instead they are supported by us on the "home front" so that they may go out and do God's work unencumbered. And so Paul goes on to say that even when he was present amongst them and in need "I was a burden to no one." For as Paul says what he lack the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied. And so in stark contrast to the false apostles, prophets, teachers and endless "speakers" who when they were not making demands as such, were only seeking more for themselves from them. The Apostle Paul says, "And in everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so I will keep myself." For that was the Apostle Paul's desire not to needlessly burden those whom he loves, because the heart and love of Christ is always manifested in giving, not taking. And so the Apostle Paul wanted no one to make his boasting void in regards to this, that he conducted himself in godly simplicity and sincerity, with charity towards all. 

Vs. 10 ¹⁰ As the truth of Christ is in me, no one shall stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia.

Seeing all that the Apostle Paul had done to conduct himself honorably amongst them all, and thus had done to distinguish himself as a true Apostle of Christ, Paul was not going to let his "boasting" in the regions of Achaia (i.e. the Roman territory where the Corinthians dwelt) be nullified by his detractors endless slandering and assailing his person. For as the Apostle Paul says, "As the truth of Christ is in me," so was his conduct, which was bringing the truth of Christ's resurrected life and power to light by it being clearly manifested through the person and life of this most noble apostle.

Vs. 11-12 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. 

If the Corinthians thought (or more than likely had taken to heart what Paul's detractors were saying about him), that Paul's refusing to make demands on them as an Apostle of Christ was showing a lack of commitment or love by him towards them. Then they all should really consider that Paul's reason for not doing so was because of his great love and concern for them all. And so the Apostle Paul says that he will continue to conduct himself in such a manner, not only because he was fully committed to them and their well being, but also so as to keep the false apostles from being able to draw any sort of parallels between themselves, and Paul and his ministry to them, so as to try to validate themselves.

Vs. 13-15 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. 

The Apostle Paul now declares just what these people are who had creep into the Corinthians assembly while he was away from them, calling them false apostles, deceitful workers, who transform themselves into apostles of Christ (consider Acts 20:28-31). For they are masters of guise and disguise who only "talk the talk" and "walk the walk" when they need to make a good showing, but in reality such individuals have nothing from Christ, nor have they been sent by Him, but they have only been sent by Satan. Make no mistake about it, this is the reality of the visible church then and now. Therefore I want you to be aware of them because as the Apostle says, Satan himself always appears an angel of light to deceive and mislead people. Therefore this is very important for us all to understand because Satan has and continues to manifest himself as an angel of light. Therefore be extremely leery of anyone who claims to have seen a vision of Jesus, because the Lord Jesus Christ has already appeared to all of the Apostles He has commissioned for His service, indeed to the Apostle Paul the Lord Jesus Christ appeared last to commission him as the last of the Biblical Apostles (1 Cor. 15:3-8). Therefore Jesus will not appear again until He comes in His glory with all His Holy angels to redeem the elect, and then make war on the unbelieving world who receives the mark of the beast. Therefore no one who now has a vision of Jesus is having a visitation from the Lord Jesus Christ, but is only being deceived by the devil appearing to them to deceive them, or others through them. Therefore if you want to know who they are, or where they are from, then as Jesus said look at their works and the kind of fruit that their persons, ministries, and lives bear (see Matt. 7:15-20). Because the fragrance of Christ inside us all who believe is self evident to all, and is also being manifested through the fruits of the Holy Spirit when we are led by the Spirit and not by flesh or the devil, and thus always reveals what is of Christ and what is not (2 Cor. 2:15-17).

Scripture Quotation
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.

2 Corinthians 11:1–4

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!

Commentary

Vs. 1-2 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.

Since the Corinthians were giving the false apostles an audience, the Apostle Paul now requests their patience with him, as he is jealous for them (and not because of what he can get from them, as is the nature of the false apostles) but rather Paul's jealousy for them was born out of his Godly concern for them all. Therefore Paul wants them all to bear with him as he will exemplify some "folly", that is since the Corinthians were receiving the false apostles according to their boasting of their qualifications according to the flesh, Paul will also boast of some of his own qualifications according to the flesh (now this Paul will do in versus 5-6, 16-31). But first he wants to expose the false apostles for what they are, and from whom they have come. And so Paul's later "boasting" in this chapter will only be done to show the Corinthians that whatever the false apostles commended themselves in, he himself also had, or by the good hand of the Lord upon him had done, endured, or excelled them all in the same (vs. 22-33). 

Vs. 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." 

If the Apostle Paul was going to engage in a little folly through self commendation to show the Corinthians the folly of judging anyone who seeks to be approved according to the flesh, he was only going to do so after warning them (and us all) about the dangers of the false gospel that the false apostles were seeking to sow amongst the Corinthians.  For just as the serpent (i.e. the devil) deceived Eve by his craftiness, that is his craftily using logic and reason to make her disobey the Lord's expressed will for them, so the Apostle Paul wanted them to see that the same tactics were now being used on them by his own to try to lead them away from the simplicity that is in Christ. 

Vs. 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!"

Right away then the Apostle Paul wants the Corinthians, and us all, to beware of those who preach either another Jesus, or another bring a different spirit, or teach a different gospel. The first then is those who preach another Jesus. For the Name Jesus Christ only has God's saving grace, everlasting life, and Holy Spirit regeneration and life transforming power when it is applied to the Right Person of Jesus Christ who is the Lord of the Holy Scripture. For the Lord Jesus Christ is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, (of all that is God, and of all that has come from God to redeem humanity), and thus anyone who comes after Him, claiming to be from God, is not come from God (John 3:35-36, 5:22-23, 14:6, 17:2; Acts 4:12, 17:31; Rev. 1:8) but of devil, or of themselves (Matt 24:11-13; 23-27; ; 2 Thess. 2:9-12; 2 Peter 2:1 etc.).  
Thus the Mormons Jesus is not the Jesus of the Bible. Just as the Jehovah Witnesses God is not the God of the Bible. For though they have taken Jesus Christ's Name from the Holy Scripture, they like all other cults, (who came before them, or will come after them) only distort the Nature of God's Person (whether this is the Father, the Son, or the Spirit), and or the distort the Gospel, and thus the means to salvation, and thus our eternal reconciliation with God. And so the Jesus that they preach is not the Jesus of the Bible, because they have not only distorted the Person of God the Father, but they have added to His Finial Revelation given through His only Son the Lord Jesus Christ, which Christ Himself has given as the finial Revelation of God for us all. Indeed the Mormons even without their distorting the Nature of God's Person, and seeking to add to His Word through with their own, have like all other false religions in this world, only made either ones own works, or righteousness, essential to ones salvation. And so they not only teach another Jesus, but also an entirely different Gospel! For Satan has down through the centuries denied, distorted, and even tried to alter Biblical truths through his own, by not only denying the Lord Jesus Christ as the Alpha and Omega, (and thus the Lord Jesus Christ's exlcusive Position as the One through whom God has created all things, will Judge all things, and has redeemed and will redeem all who believe in Him), in an effort to keep people from a true knowledge of God which is exclusively found In the Lord Jesus Christ of the Scripture. And so if anyone comes to you preaching another Jesus, either adding to His Gospel, or taking anything away from it, or from His Person (either His Perfect Divinity or Jesus Christ's Full and Sinless Humanity), and what He alone has done in fulfilling all that is required by God for each and every persons salvation and eternal redemption when they repent and believe in Him (see Col 1:19-20; 2:8-10; Hebrews 10:14 etc.), then utterly and completely reject them and what they say. For altering the the Lord's Person, Nature, or Position with God, and or adding too, or detracting from what Jesus Christ the Lord alone has done in fulfilling all that is required by God the Father for each and every persons salvation is preaching another Jesus. Therefore put out all such people who do so. For it is incumbent upon us all who know and believe the truth to contend earnestly for the faith, and not give such people an audience, or any place to propagate their lies amongst us. For the Christian faith has been delivered once and for all, to us all, who believe (Jude 4).  

Now a different Gospel may not always be a clear distortion of the Gospel, as is the case with the Mormons, but more than likely it will deny that salvation is by God's grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ alone (Eph. 2:8-9). And thus it will try to combine ones own righteousness or good works with what Christ has already done to bring about our eternal salvation. For such is human pride that people always want to put their own works or righteousness before God's. And so we have the Book of Romans and Galatians to correct and refute all such notions (consider Rom 3:19-28; 4:4-5; 10:3-4; 11:5-6; Gal 2:16, 19-21, 3:1-25; 4:21-31; 5:1, 4-5 etc.). Finally there is the danger of receiving another spirit that is not the Holy Spirit, which is now propagated by the modern day false apostles and prophets whose gospel "preaching" is rooted in their false prophesying and coaching people in how to "speak in tongues"; not Biblical Spirit tongues which no one can be coached in doing, or is to be coached to do; but tongues speaking that comes out of their own lying mouths in trying to look spiritual and make others look or feel the same. And so it is through these individuals that the devil propagates unclean spirits into peoples lives by their practicing and prophesying the same. For neither their tongues speaking, or their prophecies are not from God, because they exalt their tongues speaking above every other Spiritual gift as the "be all" of Christian faith and life. And yet none of their tongues speaking and prophecies turn people from their sins and transgressions, and thus from the power of Satan to God. Instead Satan''s power is manifest through them! And will be manifest even more through them in the last days when Satan will show all kinds of lying signs and wonders through them (Matt 24:24; 2 Thess. 2:9-11). Therefore people need to be aware of them, because "experience" without Spiritual discernment only leads to deception and bondage. Again they are not concerned with either our salvation, or our sanctification, and thus they do not encourage and strengthen people in the truth, to believe and obey the same. Instead their ministering their gospel is only to go around and lay their hands on people to fill them with demon spirits, for they have not come from God, and thus people have these non-Biblical fall-down experiences, (which they call being "slain in the spirit", which is not the Holy Spirit but another spirit) and so they manifest all kinds of bizarre and unsound behavior, none of which is of the Holy Spirit, but of another spirit, because the fruits of the Holy Spirit is not seen in any of their spiritual outworkings. And so people need to be aware of them, because they do not preach the Gospel of Christ that brings the Holy Spirit by faith (Gal 3:2-3), and thus His regeneration and transformation of our persons and lives, and His filling us and empowering us with the fruits of the Holy Spirit when we believe. Therefore by their false prophesying and practicing lies, they refuse to know the Lord in grace and truth (consider Jeremiah 9:6; 23:9-40; Matt 7:15-20; John 1:16-17; Col 2:8-10; 2 Peter 2; 1 John 4:1-3; Jude; Revelation 22:15 etc.).  

The simplicity of Christ then, believing in Him and trusting Him alone, and what He has done for us all is paramount to keeping them and their evil ways at bay. For we who believe do not need to have any of their "spiritual experiences" to have salvation from God, or to be complete as Christians. All any of us need to do is keep our complete faith and trust in what the Lord Jesus Christ alone has done for us all. And then in accord with His Word and His Holy Spirit let His Person and life (that is the defining qualities of His Person and Life by His Holy Spirit) be manifest through us all. For the faith given by God through His Son is complete and finial. Nothing can be added to it, or taken from it. Thus the simplicity of Christ, trusting Him alone, and what He has done for us all, is paramount for us all. 

Scripture Quotations

The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.