Disguises
2 Corinthians • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Paul wanted to compare the pseudo-apostles to his apostolic ministry so they could discern the difference and know the truth.
1. Paul Was Jealous for Them (1-2)
1. Paul Was Jealous for Them (1-2)
2. Paul Was Concerned for Them (3-4)
2. Paul Was Concerned for Them (3-4)
3. Paul Shared the Truth with Them (5-6)
3. Paul Shared the Truth with Them (5-6)
4. Paul Was Not a Burden to Them (7-9)
4. Paul Was Not a Burden to Them (7-9)
A. He didn’t Charge Them
A. He didn’t Charge Them
7 Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you without charge?
The goal of Paul’s ministry was to exalt the Corinthians by bringing them from the darkness to light through the gospel.
The means of exalting them was to not charge them while preaching the gospel. This was Paul’s ministry policy. When he went into a new area who had never heard the gospel, he chose to preach free of charge.
9 For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing.” God is not concerned about oxen, is He?
10 Or is He speaking altogether for our sake? Yes, for our sake it was written, because the plowman ought to plow in hope, and the thresher to thresh in hope of sharing the crops.
11 If we sowed spiritual things in you, is it too much if we reap material things from you?
12 If others share the right over you, do we not more? Nevertheless, we did not use this right, but we endure all things so that we will cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ.
The false apostles, who were plaguing the church in Corinth, twisted Paul’s policy to try and prove that he was not a true apostle. From what we know of the culture of that day, the more respected you were as a speaker, the more money you could charge. So, what they were probably saying about Paul was, “all the well known and serious teachers have enough self respect to charge money for their speaking. Because Paul doesn’t charge anything, he knows that his teaching isn’t worth anything. He set the price tag of his own teaching, so why do you listen to him? That is twisting the apostle’s actions! They were trying to use the humility of a servant of Jesus Christ as an accusation against him. and the Corinthians fell for it!
In Greek culture, a skilled orator was considered a professional, one who made his living from the fees he charged. By ministering free of charge, they maintained, the apostle labeled himself an amateur who lacked their credentials and hence was not qualified to be heard by the Corinthians. Further, they insinuated, how could what Paul had to say be of any value if he did not charge for it? He himself had set the price tag on his teaching: He would not take any money for it because it was worthless. Amazingly, many of the Corinthians fell for that outrageous lie.
He asks the Corinthians, was that a sin?
B. He Used Gifts from other Churches
B. He Used Gifts from other Churches
8 I robbed other churches by taking wages from them to serve you;
9 and when I was present with you and was in need, I was not a burden to anyone; for when the brethren came from Macedonia they fully supplied my need, and in everything I kept myself from being a burden to you, and will continue to do so.
Philippi, Berea, Thessalonica, maybe more?
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Ten: Father Knows Best (2 Corinthians 11)
In the Greek, it literally means “to grow numb.” The word comes from the image of the electric eel numbing its victim with its shock. A numbed part of the body would be a burden to the victim.
5. Paul Loved Them (10-12)
5. Paul Loved Them (10-12)
10 As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be stopped in the regions of Achaia.
Boasting refers back to chapter 10…
8 For even if I boast somewhat further about our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be put to shame,
13 But we will not boast beyond our measure, but within the measure of the sphere which God apportioned to us as a measure, to reach even as far as you.
Paul was consistent in his policy and his preaching and he wasn’t going to stop telling everyone about how the church in Corinth was established. How he didn’t charge them but worked as a tent maker (leather worker) until financial support was delivered by Silas and Timothy from Philippi.
11 Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!
It is as if they were saying, “If Paul really loved us, he would have charged us.” “He not only doesn’t love us but is bragging about not loving us all over the area.”
The church in Corinth should have appreciated the dedication and service that Paul demonstrated to them. Even if they didn’t see his actions as love, God knew that Paul loved them.
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Ten: Father Knows Best (2 Corinthians 11)
Dr. W.A. Criswell tell about the faithful missionary couple who returned to the United States on the same ship that brought Teddy Roosevelt home from a safari in Africa. Many reporters and photographers were on the dock, waiting to see Roosevelt and interview him and take pictures; but nobody was on hand to welcome home the veteran missionaries who had spent their lives serving Christ in Africa.
That evening, in their modest hotel room, the couple reviewed their arrival in New York City; and the husband was somewhat bitter.
“It isn’t fair,” he said to his wife. “Mr. Roosevelt comes home from a hunting trip, and the whole country is out to meet him. We get home after years of service, and nobody was there to greet us.”
But his wife had the right answer: “Honey, we aren’t home yet.”
We should to follow Paul’s example here. We need to love people even when they don’t appreciate us, even when they falsely accuse us, even when they listen to everyone else around them but us. That doesn’t mean that we don’t call them out about it (Paul did), but we consistently, faithful, love the people around us.
12 But what I am doing I will continue to do, so that I may cut off opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the matter about which they are boasting.
They want to be regarded as on the same level of authority as Paul and the rest of the true apostles. If they that is what they want, I dare them to do what I am doing!
6. Paul Warns Them (13-15)
6. Paul Warns Them (13-15)
Tone shift. Paul leaves the folly and becomes very serious.
13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.
false apostles - pseudo sent ones. They are contrary to what really exists.
deceitful workers - dishonest working people. Even the nice things that they do are deceptive and hide what their real motives are.
Like…Faith healers who put on a show to feed their own egos and pad their pockets rather than pray for God to heal according to His will.
disguising - conceal by counterfeit dress. What they present looks like an apostle but that is not who they are in reality.
Like…Homosexual “Christians” who conceal their sinful desires in Christian words like love.
Like…Women who disguise themselves as pastors or apostles and many times teach biblical truth.
Paul is happy not to be on the same level as people like these.
Why so serious and sharp in this description? Because they didn’t like Paul? No. Because they were leading people astray from the truth.
15 “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
Brethren, they are everywhere on the internet! Beware!
14 No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
red, horned creature with a pointy tale and horns? No!
Satan is most effective in the church when he comes not as an open enemy, but as a false friend; not when he persecutes the church, but when he joins it; not when he attacks the pulpit, but when he stands in it.
15 Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.
Young, healthy looking people with perfect smiles, $3000 tailored suit, carrying a Bible and saying biblical stuff that sounds spiritual and uplifting. Satan and his followers look good and sound righteous!
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.
22 “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’
23 “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’
Their end along with Satan
10 And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
Jesus wins! Until then, be careful!
