2 Corinthians Paul Compared to The False Apostles

Review

How They Corrupt, 2 Corinthians 11:4

Bringing another Jesus, a different Spirit, and another gospel

Those Claiming to be Apostles, 2 Corinthians 11:5-6

Cutting off an Occasion for Anyone to Boast, 2 Corinthians 11:7-12

The False Apostles Are Deceitful Workers, 2 Corinthians 11:13-15

Sons of Satan

Transforming themselves into ministers of righteousness

In foolishness, Since Many Boast in the Flesh, 2 Corinthians 11:16-21

Paul asks them to bear with him for a bit longer, even those who think he is a fool, 2 Corinthians 11:16

2 Corinthians 11:16

Again I say to you, some should not think me to be a fool, but if otherwise, also as a fool receive me in order that also I should boast a little something.

Paul is going to speak of things, but not according to the Lord, 2 Corinthians 11:17

2 Corinthians 11:17

That which I speak, I do not speak according to the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this the substance of boasting.

Since many are boasting according to the flesh so will Paul, 2 Corinthians 11:18

2 Corinthians 11:18

Since many boast according to the flesh, I also boast.

Even Though they are wise, they put up with fools, 2 Corinthians 11:19

2 Corinthians 11:19

For you gladly tolerate concerning foolishness, being wise.

Tolerating those enslaving them and using them as merchandise, 2 Corinthians 11:20

2 Corinthians 11:20

For you tolerate if someone enslaves you, if someone devours, if someone takes, if someone lifts himself, if someone strikes in your presence.

Enslaving by law, Galatians 2:4

Galatians 2:4 ESV

Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery—

Devouring you

Those who devour window’s homes, Matthew 23:14

Matthew 23:14 NKJV

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.

Devouring one another, Galatians 5:15

Galatians 5:15 ESV

But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

Taking from you

Taking an opportunity against you, such as the sin nature does, Romans 7:8

Romans 7:8 ESV

But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead.

Being taking by a temptation, 1 Corinthians 10:13

1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Lifting himself up

High logic lifted up against the knowledge of God, 2 Corinthians 10:5

2 Corinthians 10:5 ESV

We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

They lift themselves up over the Corinthian saints

Paul was weak in speaking foolishness before them, as some are speaking, 2 Corinthians 11:21

2 Corinthians 11:21

According to dishonor I speak as that we were weak in which indeed someone dares, I speak in foolishness, I also dare.

The Boasting Paul Could Claim According to the Flesh, 2 Corinthians 11:22-33

Paul Linage, 2 Corinthians 11:22

2 Corinthians 11:22

Are they Hebrews? I also. Are they Israelites? I also, Are they a seed of Abraham? I also.

Those who came down from Judea teaching the Gentiles must be circumcised - based upon them being Jews, Acts 15:1

Acts 15:1 ESV

But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”

These false apostles were making claims of superiority based upon their linage

Paul’s Service to Christ - He speaks as being insane for boasting of such things, 2 Corinthians 11:23-33

His labors, stripes, imprisonments, and facing death, 2 Corinthians 11:23

2 Corinthians 11:23

Are they ministers of Christ? I speak while being insane. I more, in labors abundantly, in stripes above measure, in imprisonments abundantly, in deaths often.

Five times receiving 40 lashes, 2 Corinthians 11:24

2 Corinthians 11:24

From Jews, five times forty from one I received.

Beaten with a rod ( in Philippi), stoned, shipwrecked, 2 Corinthians 11:25

2 Corinthians 11:25

Three times beaten with a rod, once stoned, three times shipwrecked, I have done a day and night in the deep,

Often in danger, 2 Corinthians 11:26

2 Corinthians 11:26

often in walking, in dangers from rivers, in dangers from robbers, in dangers out from countrymen, in dangers out from Gentiles, in dangers by a city, in dangers in a wilderness, in dangers at sea, in dangers by false brethren,

Hard labor and sleepless nights, 2 Corinthians 11:27

2 Corinthians 11:27

in hard labor and toil, in often sleeplessness, in hunger and thirst, in often fasting, in cold and exposed.

His daily concerns for the Assemblies, 2 Corinthians 11:28

2 Corinthians 11:28

Apart from the other things, the combining against me according to the day, the anxiety concerning all of the assemblies.

His care for the saints, 2 Corinthians 11:29

2 Corinthians 11:29

Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is scandalized, and I am not set on fire?

He boasts of the things of his weakness, 2 Corinthians 11:30

2 Corinthians 11:30

If it is necessary to boast, I will boast of the things of my weakness.

Paul is not speaking a lie concerning his troubles, 2 Corinthians 11:31

2 Corinthians 11:31

The God even Father of the Lord Jesus intuitively knows, the One well-spoken of into the ages, because I do not lie.

Government officials seeking to kill him, 2 Corinthians 11:32-33

2 Corinthians 11:32–33

In Damascus, the deputy governor of the King Aretas was protecting the city of the Damascenes while desired to seize me. 11.33 And through a window in a basket I was let down through the wall and I fled from his hands.

Paul’s Visions and Revelations, 2 Corinthians 12:1-9

In boasting, he comes to the visions and revelations he received, 2 Corinthians 12:1

2 Corinthians 12:1

Indeed it is not profitable for me to boast, for I will come unto visions and revelations from the Lord.

Caught Up to the edge of the third heaven

Was about fourteen years before writing to the Corinthians, 2 Corinthians 12:2

2 Corinthians 12:2

I intuitively knew a man in Christ fourteen years ago, whether in the body I do not know, whether aside from the body I do not intuitively know, God intuitively knows, after such a one was seized up to the edge of the third heaven.

Paul does not know if it was in or out of the body, 2 Corinthians 12:3

2 Corinthians 12:3

And I intuitively knew such a man – whether in the body, whether aside from the body I do not intuitively know, God intuitively knows,

What he heard, he is not permitted to speak of, 2 Corinthians 12:4

2 Corinthians 12:4

that he was seized into the Paradise and he heard inexpressible utterances, which are not permissible for a man to speak.

Paul is not boasting except in his weakness, 2 Corinthians 12:5

2 Corinthians 12:5

On behalf of such a one I boast. And behalf of myself I do not boast, except in my weaknesses.

Paul will not be foolish in his boasting to make others think more highly of him, 2 Corinthians 12:6

2 Corinthians 12:6

For if, perhaps, I should desire to boast, I will not be foolish. For I will speak truth, but I spare, lest someone reckons unto me above which he sees me or what he hears out from me.

The surpassing revelation Paul received, 2 Corinthians 12:7-9

Given a thorn in the flesh to keep him humble, 2 Corinthians 12:7

2 Corinthians 12:7

And by the surpassing of the revelations, in order that I should not be exalted, He gave me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger from Satan in order that he should strike me in order that I should not be exalted.

Paul asked to have it removed, three times, 2 Corinthians 12:8

2 Corinthians 12:8

On behalf of this, three times I implored in order that it should depart from me.

The sufficiency of God’s grace towards us, 2 Corinthians 12:9

2 Corinthians 12:9

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you. For My inherent ability in weakness is brought to maturity.” Therefore, I gladly boast in my weaknesses in order that the inherent ability of Christ should dwell upon me.

Scripture Reading

In foolishness, Since Many Boast in the Flesh, 2 Corinthians 11:16-21

2 Corinthians 11:16–21

Again I say to you, some should not think me to be a fool, but if otherwise, also as a fool receive me in order that also I should boast a little something. That which I speak, I do not speak according to the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this the substance of boasting. Since many boast according to the flesh, I also boast. For you gladly tolerate concerning foolishness, being wise. For you tolerate if someone enslaves you, if someone devours, if someone takes, if someone lifts himself, if someone strikes in your presence. According to dishonor I speak as that we were weak in which indeed someone dares, I speak in foolishness, I also dare.

The Boasting Paul Could Claim According to the Flesh, 2 Corinthians 11:22-33

2 Corinthians 11:22–33

Are they Hebrews? I also. Are they Israelites? I also, Are they a seed of Abraham? I also. Are they ministers of Christ? I speak while being insane. I more, in labors abundantly, in stripes above measure, in imprisonments abundantly, in deaths often. From Jews, five times forty from one I received. Three times beaten with a rod, once stoned, three times shipwrecked, I have done a day and night in the deep, often in walking, in dangers from rivers, in dangers from robbers, in dangers out from countrymen, in dangers out from Gentiles, in dangers by a city, in dangers in a wilderness, in dangers at sea, in dangers by false brethren, in hard labor and toil, in often sleeplessness, in hunger and thirst, in often fasting, in cold and exposed. Apart from the other things, the combining against me according to the day, the anxiety concerning all of the assemblies. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is scandalized, and I am not set on fire? If it is necessary to boast, I will boast of the things of my weakness. The God even Father of the Lord Jesus intuitively knows, the One well-spoken of into the ages, because I do not lie. In Damascus, the deputy governor of the King Aretas was protecting the city of the Damascenes while desired to seize me. And through a window in a basket I was let down through the wall and I fled from his hands.

Paul’s Visions and Revelations, 2 Corinthians 12:1-9

2 Corinthians 12:1–9

Indeed it is not profitable for me to boast, for I will come unto visions and revelations from the Lord. I intuitively knew a man in Christ fourteen years ago, whether in the body I do not know, whether aside from the body I do not intuitively know, God intuitively knows, after such a one was seized up to the edge of the third heaven. And I intuitively knew such a man – whether in the body, whether aside from the body I do not intuitively know, God intuitively knows, that he was seized into the Paradise and he heard inexpressible utterances, which are not permissible for a man to speak. On behalf of such a one I boast. And behalf of myself I do not boast, except in my weaknesses. For if, perhaps, I should desire to boast, I will not be foolish. For I will speak truth, but I spare, lest someone reckons unto me above which he sees me or what he hears out from me. And by the surpassing of the revelations, in order that I should not be exalted, He gave me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger from Satan in order that he should strike me in order that I should not be exalted. On behalf of this, three times I implored in order that it should depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you. For My inherent ability in weakness is brought to maturity.” Therefore, I gladly boast in my weaknesses in order that the inherent ability of Christ should dwell upon me.