2 Corinthians 11:1-15

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 whenever he had the opportunity. Was it possible, however, that he had made a mistake in taking no reward for his work? His service to the Corinthians had been gratuitous; the generous support of other churches, especially in Macedonia, had made that possible. But had it led the Christians at Corinth to think lightly of himself and his work? Still, even that shall not change his policy. Not because he had not for the Corinthians that love which takes as gladly as it gives (cf. 2 Corinthians 12:13), but in order that he might not give those who demanded support from the church (cf. 1 Corinthians 9:12) any excuse to plead his example, but might rather compel them to adopt his policy. So will they be exposed in their real character as false apostles, masquerading, even as Satan himself does, as agents of righteousness.