2 Corinthians 11:12-21a

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.
13: For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.
14: No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
15: Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.

16: Again I say, let no one think me foolish; but if you do, receive me even as foolish, so that I also may boast a little.
17: What I am saying, I am not saying as the Lord would, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting.
18: Since many boast according to the flesh, I will boast also.
19: For you, being so wise, tolerate the foolish gladly.
20: For you tolerate it if anyone enslaves you, anyone devours you, anyone takes advantage of you, anyone exalts himself, anyone hits you in the face.
21: To my shame I must say that we have been weak by comparison…

*** 

Paul said he would continue to preach the gospel to the Corinthians free of charge, not using his apostolic authority to require any sort of salary from them. In so doing, he hoped to cut off opportunity to those who were trying to act like true apostles when they were not—those who presented themselves as ministers of the gospel when they were not. They were in it for the money and prestige. He called them false apostles and deceitful workers.

Paul said it was not surprising that these deceitful ones appeared to be righteous because even Satan presents himself as an angel of light. So, it’s not beyond comprehension that his servants would also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. By saying this, he was calling these false apostles servants of Satan whose end would be according to their deeds. All that glitters is not gold.

Paul said he was going to boast in the flesh, speak foolishly to them, since they so easily tolerated the foolish, or anyone who would enslave or devour them, take advantage of them or basically abuse them in any way. He said compared to these abusers he had been weak. If that was the kind of treatment they wanted, he hadn’t done very well to accommodate them. 

Of course, he was speaking foolishly, sarcastically, to be sure they understood he did not agree with the concept of self-boasting even though he was going to do it. It would show them that by their own standards Paul did not fall short. He only fell short in abusing them. Now that he had taken great care to make the point that he didn’t believe in judging by man’s standard, only God’s, he would begin his boasting in the flesh.


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