BOOK 47 OF 66 · PAULINE EPISTLES · KING JAMES BIBLE

2 Corinthians 11

2 Corinthians book home•Chapter 11 of 13•33 verses

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2 Corinthians 11 Overview

Paul fears the Corinthians may be corrupted from simple devotion to Christ, just as Eve was deceived. He warns about another Jesus, another spirit, and another gospel, exposes false apostles who transform themselves as ministers of righteousness, and reluctantly recounts his own sufferings to show how unlike worldly boasting true apostolic ministry can look.

2 CorinthiansBook

11Chapter

33Verses

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Before you read 2 Corinthians 11

Coming from

Paul answers critics who accuse him of being bold in letters but weak in person. He explains that Christian warfare is not carnal; spiritual weapons pull down strongholds, imaginations, and thoughts that oppose the knowledge of God. He refuses self-commendation and insists that true approval comes from the Lord.

In this chapter

Leads into

Paul describes a man caught up to the third heaven and hearing unspeakable words, then quickly shifts from visions to weakness. A thorn in the flesh keeps him from exaltation; after three requests for removal, Christ answers, “My grace is sufficient for thee.” Paul also reminds the Corinthians of apostolic signs and explains his pastoral concern for their spiritual good.

Key understandingExplore deeper

The chapter assumes doctrinal counterfeits can use Christian language while presenting a false Christ or gospel.

Paul’s ‘boasting’ is deliberate irony; he is not teaching that suffering automatically proves truth.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

The church must guard the identity of Jesus and the gospel

Not every message using familiar religious words is faithful.

False ministers may appear righteous

External appearance cannot replace doctrinal testing.

Apostolic ministry was marked by costly endurance

Paul’s credentials include weakness and suffering rather than self-exalting spectacle.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Genesis 3:1–6

Paul explicitly compares Corinth’s danger with Eve’s deception.

Galatians 1:6–9

Paul pronounces a curse on any different gospel, even if presented by an impressive messenger.

Matthew 7:15–23

Jesus warns that false prophets can appear in sheep’s clothing and use His name.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Do not accept a message merely because it says ‘Jesus’

Paul explicitly warns of ‘another Jesus.’

Do not identify every hardship with apostolic authenticity

Truth still requires doctrinal fidelity.

Do not imitate Paul’s ironic boasting as ordinary self-promotion

He uses it reluctantly to answer deceptive rivals.

Read 2 Corinthians 11 watching for…

The Eve/deception analogy.

The phrases another Jesus, another spirit, another gospel.

Paul’s refusal to financially burden Corinth.

The disguise of false apostles.

The long catalog of apostolic sufferings.

Chapter outline4 sections

1-6Paul fears the church may be corrupted from simple devotion to Christ and warns about another Jesus and another gospel 7-15Paul explains why he preached without charge and exposes false apostles as deceitful workers 16-21Paul reluctantly begins comparing his credentials with boastful opponents 22-33Paul recounts his heritage, labors, sufferings, dangers, care for churches, weakness, and escape from Damascus

Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.

For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.

But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things.

Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?

I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.

And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.

As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.

Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth.

But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little.

That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.

Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.

For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.

For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face.

I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.

Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.

Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.

Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.

Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?

If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.

The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.

In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:

And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.