2 Corinthians 11:14

And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. IS TRANSFORMED - rather, 'transforms himself' (cf. ); habitually: the first occasion was in tempting Eve. So in tempting Jesus. "Himself" is emphatic: If their master himself, the 'prince of darkness,' the most alien to light, does so, it is less marvelous in his servants (; )....

14._And no marvel _It is an argument from the greater to the less. “If Satan, who is the basest of all beings, nay, the head and chief of all wicked persons, transforms himself, what will his ministers do?_” _We have experience of both every day, for when Satan tempts us to evil, he does not profess to be what he really is. For he would lose his object, if we were made aware of his being a mortal enemy, and opposer of our salvation. Hence he always makes use of some cloak for the purpose of insnaring us, and does not immediately _show his horns, _(as the common expression is,) but rather makes it his endeavor to appear as an_angel _Even when he tempts us to gross crimes, he makes use, nevertheless, of some pretext that he may draw us, when we are off our guard, into his nets. What then, if he attacks us under the appearance of good, nay, under the very title of God? His life-guards imita...

5-15 It is far better to be plain in speech, yet walking openly and consistently with the gospel, than to be admired by thousands, and be lifted up in pride, so as to disgrace the gospel by evil tempers and unholy lives. The apostle would not give room for any to accuse him of worldly designs in preaching the gospel, that others who opposed him at Corinth, might not in this respect gain advantage against him. Hypocrisy may be looked for, especially when we consider the great power which Satan, who rules in the hearts of the children of disobedience, has upon the minds of many. And as there are temptations to evil conduct, so there is equal danger on the other side. It serves Satan's purposes as well, to set up good works against the atonement of Christ, and salvation by faith and grace. But the end will discover those who are deceitful workers; their work will end in ruin. Satan will al...

Verse 14. _AND NO MARVEL_] καιουθαυμαστον. And no wonder; it need not surprise you what the _disciples_ do, when you consider the character of the _master_. _SATAN HIMSELF IS TRANSFORMED INTO AN ANGEL OF LIGHT._] As in 2 Corinthians 11:3 the apostle had the history of the _temptation_ and _fall of man_ particularly in view, it is very likely that here he refers to the same thing. In what ever _form_ Satan appeared to our first mother, his pretensions and professions gave him the appearance of a _good_ angel; and by pretending that Eve should get a great increase of _light_, that is, _wisdom_ and _understanding_, he _deceived_ her, and led her to transgress. It is generally said that Satan has _three forms_ under which he tempts men: 1. The _subtle serpent_. 2. The

AND NO MARVEL - And it is not wonderful, 2 Corinthians 11:15. Since Satan himself is capable of appearing to be an angel of light, it is not to be deemed strange that those who are in his service also should resemble him. FOR SATAN HIMSELF IS TRANSFORMED ... - That is, he who is an apostate angel; who is malignant and wicked; who is the prince of evil, assumes the appearance of a holy angel. Paul assumes this as an indisputable and admitted truth, without attempting to prove it, and without referring to any particular instances. Probably he had in his eye cases where Satan put on false and delusive appearances for the purpose of deceiving, or where he assumed the appearance of great sanctity and reverence for the authority of God. Such instances occurred in the temptation of our first parents...

AN APOSTLE DRIVEN AGAINST HIS WILL INTO A SEMBLANCE OF BOASTING. EXPOSITION An apology for the "foolishness" of boasting (2 Corinthians 11:1). He is not afraid of comparisons (2 Corinthians 11:5, 2 Corinthians 11:6). He will not recede from his despised practice of teaching gratuitously (2 Corinthians 11:7). A second apology, drawn from the outrageous conduct of his opponents ...

AND NO MARVEL,.... This need not be wondered at, nor is it any new or strange thing; nor should it be thought to be incredible that there are such persons in being: FOR SATAN HIMSELF IS TRANSFORMED INTO AN ANGEL OF LIGHT; a good angel, one that has his abode in the regions of light; and is possessed of divine and spiritual light and understanding; who is clothed and arrayed with light, this is his form and essence. The apostle speaks agreeably to the notion, of the Jews, who say t, "rwa Mh Mlk Mykalmhv, "that all the angels are light", the clothing of God himself;'' and they have a distinction between מלאכין דיום, "angels of the day", and angels of the night u: now Satan, the enemy of mankind, sometimes appears in the form of one of these; as he did to Eve in the garden, and to Christ in the wilderness; and by such appearances he often imposes on mankind; pretends the greatest friends...

2. ANSWERING HIS ADVERSARIES. HIS BOASTINGS. CHAPTER 11 _ 1. The Danger Through False Teachers. (2 Corinthians 11:1)_ 2. Answering His Adversaries. (2 Corinthians 11:7) 3. His Boastings of Labors and Sufferings. (2 Corinthians 11:16 .) Inasmuch as he did not want to boast, he tells the Corinthians to bear with him a little while he acts foolishly in speaking of himself. It had become necessary to do so in order to answer his adversaries, who were making havoc among the Corinthians, but he looks upon his vindication and boasting as nothing less than folly. He is about to do what he had exposed in others in the previous chapter ...

A TENDER APPEAL TO THE CHURCH AS A WHOLE. This appeal may sound like foolish sentiment. Let them bear with him. _Indeed_ he is sure that they do. What has happened under Paul's guidance and inspiration is nothing less than the betrothal of the Corinthian church as a pure virgin to Christ, a new Eve for the new Adam. But as there was a serpent in the first Eden, so now the tempter is at work. They have been only too complaisant in hearkening to his voice, to those who have preached another Jesus, laying all the emphasis on His earthly life and His observance of the Law. If these Judaizing teachers claimed for their doctrine the support of those who called themselves or were called the superior apostles, such a claim was absurd. There was no superiority. Paul might be unequal to some of them in eloquence, but not in that knowledge of Divine truth, which he communicated in every particular...

THE PERIL OF SEDUCTION (2 Corinthians 11:1-6)...