2 Corinthians 11:4

he that cometh This shews that the false teachers came from elsewhere, whence they brought their corruptions. Chrysostom. Cf. Acts 15:1; Acts 15:24; Galatians 2:4; Galatians 2:12. Otherwise, says Olshausen, they would have been excommunicated.

another Jesus The word is not the same as that translated anotherbelow. In this case it means the same Jesus("the historical Jesus," Stanley), but preached in such a way as to produce a different impression. Cf. the Greek in Galatians 1:6-7.

or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received Literally, whom (or which) ye did not receive. The preaching of Jesus after quite another fashion, that of bondage to law (Acts 15:1; Galatians 4:21), would involve the communication of a differentspirit (see last note) to the spirit of liberty made known by St Paul (Romans 8:2; Romans 8:15). For the nature of the false teaching at Corinth, see Introduction to the First Epistle, p. 11, and 2 Corinthians 11:22.

another gospel i.e. a differentGospel. See last note.

ye might well bear with him(or it)] These words have generally been regarded as ironical, nobly would ye bear with him(Alford, Plumptre), and explained of the ready reception which the false teachers had met with. But a comparison with Galatians 1:7, difficult as that passage is, makes it probable that no irony whatever is intended. "Had they preached another Gospel altogether, there would have been some reason in listening to them." But they do notdo this. They profess to preach the sameLord and the sameGospel, only they depreciate the authority of him from whom you first received it. Such men have no raison d"être, no standing-ground among you. They have none in my position in the Church, for it is equal to that of any of the Apostles (2 Corinthians 11:5). They have none in my disregard of the technical rules of oratory, for I am not lacking in knowledge. They have none, in fact, in any way, for I challenge the closest investigation into my conduct (2 Corinthians 11:6). In one point, I admit (2 Corinthians 11:7), they have an apparent advantage. But even that vanishes on investigation. See notes below.