2 Corinthians 11:1-11

1: I wish that you would bear with me in a little foolishness; but indeed you are bearing with me.
2: For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin.
3: But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.
4: For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully.
5: For I consider myself not in the least inferior to the most eminent apostles.
6: But even if I am unskilled in speech, yet I am not so in knowledge; in fact, in every way we have made this evident to you in all things.

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?
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.
10: As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be stopped in the regions of Achaia.
11: Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!

*** 

Paul, out of concern for the Corinthians, asked them to bear with him while he boasted a bit. He was doing so because he was concerned that they would fall prey to the false "teachers" and "apostles." He was jealous, or protective, of them and longed to see them presented to Christ in purity. Yet that same purity and simplicity could cause the crafty serpent to deceive their unsuspecting minds. One could come and preach "another Jesus." Which of course is impossible, but one could present a false gospel with an erroneous spirit and lead them astray.

Paul’s boast was that he was not inferior to any of the apostles, and even if he was not the most eloquent speaker, he was not inferior in knowledge. Some people judge a person by their pleasant speech rather than the content of what they are saying. It’s important to beware not to be taken in by a smooth talker or interesting speaker who tickles our ears but has no substance or truth to what they say.

Paul asked, was it wrong for him to humble themselves for their sake—and preach the gospel to them free of charge? He worked making tents (Acts 18:1-3) and took support from the Macedonians so he would not be a burden to them. Even when he was in need while with them the Corinthians did not contribute to his support. He said he would continue to do this—to not be a burden to them—because of his love for them, and God knew this to be true.


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