Super Apostles

2 Corinthians 11.

As we look further in 2 Corinthians, Paul is continuing to stand against the false teachers.

He is doing so in multiple different ways.

lets start in on chapter 11 vs. 1

The New International Version Chapter 11

I hope you will put up with me in a little foolishness. Yes, please put up with me! 2 I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. 3 But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.

The foolishness Paul speaks of is the boasting.

however, this was the way he felt he had to respond to the foolish boasting these false teachers had been engaged in.

Now I want to look at verse two, and this is going to be more Bible study than it is sermon, because I think it is important that we understand terminology here.

Paul states that he is jealous with a Godly jealousy.

what does that mean?

We often look at jealousy as not only a bad trait but sinful.

This is because it is typically associated with covetous desires that lead to behavior like in James 4:2

The New International Version Chapter 4

You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight

What Paul is mentioning here is a Godly jealousy

Godly Jealousy is when someone takes something that rightly belongs to God and, instead, takes it for themselves or gives it to someone else.

This is shown in exodus through the readings of the 10 commandments.

When Idolatry is mentioned, the Word of God states that He is a jealous God

When we worship idols, we taking the worship that belongs to God and giving it to these false god’s.

The church of Corinth had a habit of embracing false teachings

They had accepted Jesus

they had been filled with the Holy Spirit

Yet they are still led astray like eve was by the serpant.

Paul is saying they are too easy to accept a false version of Jesus

Sadly, there are false versions of Jesus everywhere.

There are false versions of Jesus in the Muslim religion that is trying to convince Christians that they are one in the same.

There are false versions of Jesus in the Mormon church that try to tell Christians that they are just missing part of the truth.

There are false versions of Jesus in politics

There are false versions of Jesus in the so called Christian church that manipulate Scripture to fit their own desires.

This message from Paul was meant for the church of Corinth at the time, but it was also meant for us, or it would not have been preserved for us to see.

as much as I want to see the other letter or letters that Paul wrote to the Corinthians, those were not meant to be carried on for us as God’s holy Word.

This letter was and It rings so true, as we are easily persuaded to fallow the falsehoods that are out there.

vs. 5

The New International Version Chapter 11

I do not think I am in the least inferior to those “super-apostles.” n 6 I may indeed be untrained as a speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way. 7 Was it a sin for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge? 8 I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you. 9 And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so. 10 As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, nobody in the regions of Achaia will stop this boasting of mine. 11 Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!

12 And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about.

I love the terminology used here in this translation “super-apostles”

however, probably the most accurate translation comes in the NKJV and the NASB versions which “most eminent apostles”

These false, self appointed apostles had become famous and highly respected by people

They claimed to be superior to Paul, but he knew that he was not inferior

He lowered his own self in order to preach and teach the Corinthian people.

He expresses deep love for these people.

vs. 13

The New International Version Chapter 11

For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.

Paul does not mince words here

He states clear facts about those who are false apostles of Christ

He shares that they are servants of Satan, and they will receive the judgment that they deserve.

So how do we protect against these types of false teachings?

We put on the full armor of God

Ephesians 6:11Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes

The New International Version. (2011). (Eph 6:11). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

1 Peter 5:9 “Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”

Protect yourself against the Evil one, by clinging to the Holy one

Pray