2 Corinthians 11:12-21 Bible Teaching

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2nd Corinthians 11:12-21
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February 24th 2019
Okay, so last week Paul explained that out of love he has gone to some extremes to serve the church-bride at Corinth – even going so far as to admit to robbing other churches (and we discussed this) so that the church at Corinth could exist without having the burden to care for him.

In Corinth he labored with his own hands, which he rhetorically posited as though it was a thing of shame, and now
at verse 12 he continues and says:

12 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.
13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
15 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.
16 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.
17 That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.
18 Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.
19 For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.
20 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.
21 I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.

Alright, lets go back to verse 12 where Paul says:

2Co 11:12 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.

In other words, the course of life which I have been pursuing I will continue to pursue. That is, I will continue to preach as I have done without demanding a support. I will labor with my own hands if necessary; I will preach without demanding rigidly what I might be entitled to.

His purpose was that “I may cut off occasion.” That I may give my enemies no chance of accusing me of desiring to grow rich off their support.

Obviously, this charge has been around a long time, that people in the business of sharing and teaching the Word do it for filthy lucre.

Apparently, even back in that day, there were those who made it bad (due to their abuses) for those who were not sharing the gospel to make money, but genuinely shared and taught because they had a call on their lives.

It’s a really fine line and it is easy to cross over on all sides. Paul had embraced a best policy of working with his own hands to earn his keep (at least while in Corinth) so as to avoid all charges.

The full line here is

“that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion;”

Meaning, his enemies eagerly sought opportunities (occasion) to accuse him, and greatly wished for some plausible reason to disgrace him and ruin his character. Perhaps it was they desired an example from Paul to justify themselves in a course that they had taken; that they took wages from the church at Corinth and desired to be able to say that they had his example to follow.

Whatever the cause Paul has been emphatic in clearing his name of all charges – especially there in the Church at Corinth.

“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.”

This is a rough passage in the King James – especially this line:

That wherein they glory they may be found even as we are.

It seems that what he means is

“I will continue on my course as I always have, both to stop the criticisms leveled at me and to try to undermine the claim of those who would like to believe (or get others to believe) that in their “boasted mission” they will work on the same terms as we do.”

Meaning, by laboring with their own hands. Paul was facing some real internal competition it seems, from people who were boasting about their labors in the faith, and their sacrifices, and were comparing themselves to Paul as a means to try and make themselves look superior to Him and His call, power, and ways.

Paul says that he will continue forth as he always has, “that They may be found even as we.”

Taking all of this in we seem to have the following situation there in Corinth: Paul has established the church there – and it is a really tough area due to some extreme external factors.

Like I said, there were like a church on the Vegas strip, surrounded by ports, travelers, commerce, Greek philosophies, Pagan religion, Judaisers, money, and now the infiltration of men who were holding themselves up as equals to Paul.

In establishing that church there, Paul made a decision – due to all the graft and other factors – he would labor with his own hands to remain above board in the eyes of those who both came to faith and those who were observing if from the outside.

Apparently, he had not established this order in every place he visited as he himself admits that he robbed other churches in order to sustain this approach there.

I understand this approach as when we came to Utah – a land of people preyed on by religious charlatans who are really about money and control at the end of the day, chose to never let money or religious control enter into the sharing and teaching of the faith.

That is one main reason we do not take collections or mention finances here at CAMPUS.

Of course, I have other reasons – doctrinal reasons – for approaching church this way. But one factor that really pushed us to take this stance were the circumstances surrounding this culture.

We have let people who tune into other avenues of the ministry to support us financially – but not with pressure or repeated solicitations. In a way I suppose I too could say I robbed other aspects of our ministry (HOTM, our books, etc., at times our savings) in order to keep the study and sharing of the Word at CAMPUS free.

Should we have gone the other very much accepted route, we would have been constantly confronted with the accusations of being in the ministry for filthy lucre.

Along the way we have personally seen, however, without exception, that when you step back in faith and let God work,
He comes through – always – and he does it through other people move by Him.

In direct opposition to this approach, in every way possible were Paul’s enemies.

And in direct opposition to the approach we take here, I mean in DIRECT opposition, stand the LDS Apostles:

So, after explaining the manner in which he has approached sharing the faith, Paul, goes after his enemies. So far, Paul has merely presented his defense (for the most part) but now he launches into a full attack on these critics and religious posers and says at verse 13:

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

All over that world, the Apostles were dealing with some real pieces of work – and that makes sense as Satan was roaring, the end was coming and actual apostles were alive and doing work – therefore there would be false apostles.

Luke wrote in Acts, citing Paul, and says:

Acts 15:24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:

Then Paul wrote in Romans 16:17

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

Here in 2nd Corinthians 2:17 we read:

For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.

Of course in Galatians, where a false gospel had consumed them, Paul writes:

Galatians 1:7 . . . but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

And adds at Galatians 6:12 As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.

Then in Philippians 1:15 Paul wrote:

“Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:
16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:”

And added in chapter 3:2

“Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.”

In Titus 1:10-11 we read
“For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.

Then, as the end draws close, Peter gets in the act and says

2nd Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
1st John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

But the real humdinger is when Jesus comes back in voice through the Book of Revelation and says to the church at Ephesus:

Revelation 2:2 I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:

Remembering that the word Apostle means, one sent, the constant threat and question lies in the fact of who has been sent by God, and who claims to have been sent, but has not?

In describing the false apostles in his day, Paul says

That they are… “deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.”

They pretend to be apostles; but they have no Divine commission from the Redeemer.

It is certain, from 2nd Corinthians 11:22, that these men were Jews; but why they had engaged in the work of preaching, or why they had gone to Corinth, we cannot say. Sticking to the words of Paul, all we can say is that he says that they were:

“Deceitful workers.” Impostors. Men who practise various arts that are crafty, and fraudulent, and hypocritical.

Taking the whole of all we have read, it appears that money – getting it – was at the core of the whole deal.

It seems probable that they were men who saw that a great opportunity lay ahead of them in this new religious expression.

That they could capitalize on fresh converts and bring them into captivity of some sort (financial, social, and the captivity that comes with religious Law and demands) and they seem to have presented themselves as “ones sent “ –
apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Wwe remember in the earliest days of the church that all things were gathered together communally and given to the Apostles so perhaps they were attempting the same thing – but with the booty going to them.

But when Paul calls them deceitful workers, that Greek term means ” full of tricks, and cunning, and of plausible arts to impose on others.

They did this, Paul says by “transforming themselves into apostles of Jesus Christ.”

In the end, this is a direct charge of hypocrisy – because they knew that they were not sent by Christ. Paul adds at verse 14

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

No marvel best means, “And this is not so wonderful since Satan himself is capable of appearing to be an angel of light,”

It is interesting that Paul presents this as an indisputable truth, and he does not attempting to either prove it or refer to any particular instances in scripture to support it.

Whether this literally means as an ANGEL of LIGHT, you know, like:

Ahhhhhhhhhhh!

Or whether it means that he has the capacity to appear sincere, good, right and possessing eternal truths as an emissary of God is up to debate.

In other words “an angel of light” could mean exactly that, or “ an angle of light” could refer to him appearing as though he was holy, good, pure and therefore from the presence of God.

He probably was describing how Satan is able to put on false and delusive appearances for the purpose of deceiving, or where he assumed the appearance of great sanctity and reverence for the authority of God.

In other words, instead of appearing with horns and a tail in flames of fire with roaring speech like thunder, maybe he showed up illuminated with reason, and calculated language meant to persuage, like he did in the Garden to Eve and in the wilderness to Christ.

Because angels from heaven are holy and from the light, we have to consider that this was the exact meaning, but we also must consider the fact that angellos simple means messenger, not angel, and therefore a messenger of light could be referring to anyone with a message from God.

So that’s Satan. But listen to what Paul says next

15 Therefore . . . (or since Satan has this ability) it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

The line, it is no great thing, could be restated to mean, “it shouldn’t be surprising.”

And this is where it gets both interesting and unsettling because it shouldn’t be surprising that the most vile, black-hearted characters would have the capacity to appearance, as Paul says, “as ministers of righteousness.”

I cannot help but think back to a book written by M Scott Peck called, People of the Lie – a Study in Evil.

And its all about examining the most evil souls on earth and their ways.

In that book Peck says, and I paraphrase from years ago, that the most evil people are not found in our prison populations
(TYPICALLY) – its not that they are innocent and good but they are usually the impetuous ones who go off the rails and find themselves both guilty and caught.

Peck maintains that the most evil hate detection, hate the light, and do everything they can to avoid being revealed. And he says that as a result we often find them hiding in churches – what better cover, right?

And so when we learn about some of the behaviors and lifestyles of some of our worst perpetrators of evil –

In recent times, BTK – who was a faithful deacon in his local church, or Ted Bundy, who was raised a Christian, and then after killing five women in Washington State came to Utah and joined the Mormon church – we see that Peck has a point.

I have spent no small amount of time exposing myself to this unique way humans perceive others as bad or righteous – based on appearances.

It has been a side study in my life which I enjoy for some reasons. And so I purposely alter my appearance, and then engage with the public to see exactly how society works relative to appearances.

I have done this for decades. And of course I have learned straight up few exceptions, that this world rejects those who appear

Poor, unkept, overweight, bearded, tattooed and unattractive

And this world respects

Well dressed, well groomed, fit individuals.

In the past, when I have chosen to look presentable, I have shown Mary how I can get a restaurant to give me free meals on the basis of looking nice.

Later on in life I have proven the reverse – that society will reject, question and treat a person with prejudice if they do not conform to societal norms.

For a number of years I lived a double life – truly. I would come to Salt Lake for half the week and do a television program where publicly I was greeted and treated like a real local celebrity. I mean, autographs, pictures, buying my meals, handing me money in the market – you name it.

Then I would go home and assume the job of a ticket taker in a parking lot at a state park where I would be treated with complete disrespect.

I actually had a big SUV come through one summer day with Utah plates and the driver, and his wife, full of airs, took the ticket, asked me some questions, and not liking the answers treated me with some indifference. No big deal.

They pulled away and at about 20 feet I watched the brake light light up, and after sitting for a second or two backed up to where I was standing.

The driver asked me, “Are you the guy who does that show up in salt lake?”

And when I said I was, his wife hit his shoulder saying, “I knew it! I knew it. And suddenly, I was a hero.”

Understanding this as a reality, it makes the best sense – overall – for the MOST diabolical souls on earth, because they are aware of these facts, to appear the most sparkling . . . because its calculated, and understood, and with their fear of being exposed, they hide deeply in the recesses of appearances.

This is NOT to say that respectable looking people are diabolical, nor that unkept people are good or virtuous (hardly) but I would generally and strongly suggest that the MOST diabolical souls on earth – I am talking those who possess the minds and hearts of Satan himself, are those who will always appear clean, good, and even righteous.

This is Paul’s point about the false apostles in his day. And he says, don’t be surprised.

And it is the reason where Jesus says in
John 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

Our human prejudices don’t typically allow for this, and so predators, the MOST diabolical, will strive to transform themselves into “ministers of righteousness.”

I do not think it is a mistake that John the Baptist came looking like he looked, nor Jesus, nor the fact that they didn’t wash their hands before eating, nor that they were considered unclean by the religious rulers, who paraded themselves about in outer robes of righteousness.

Nor do I think for a second that it is a surprise the self-proclaimed apostles up on North temple – and all of their whited sepulcher cronies – are ALWAYS in their suits of deception.

At the Downtown Salt Lake Harmons Grocery store, which is right next to LDS church office building, LDS church office employees from the lowly to the top flow in to take advantage of their salad and food bars.

I work on the Translation of the Bible, sermons, shows and books there every afternoon of the week.

I wear my double torn shirts, my beard, my tattoos and watch as they pass through.

Complete derision. Utter revulsion. They are appalled and fascinated. But in the end, they are looking at a person utterly sold out for the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

It is of interest that if they saw one of their false apostles arrayed in their finest, they would genuflect in reverence, not realizing for a second that such are not one whit less a false apostle than those in Paul’s day.

Paul adds a line about these sorts, and says

“whose end shall be according to their works.”

Whose final destiny in the eternities will not be according to their fair professions and pretenses – God cannot be fooled.

Instead they will, according to Paul, will experience an end according to the works that have been produced by their true character.

Since they are deceivers, they will be judged as deceivers. End of story.

Their would be a day of judgment when impostors are unmasked, and when all hypocrites and deceivers will be seen in their true colors!

At this point Paul returns to this nagging topic of boasting, and he says at verse 16-21:

16 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.
17 That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.
18 Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.
19 For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.
20 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.
21 I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.

And after this six verses of rambling around, he take the time to boast as promised beginning with saying:

“Are they Hebrews, so am I.”

Which we will cover next week. But let’s wrap up our time discussing these six preamble verses to his boasting – verses 16-21.

16 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.

“I have said much respecting myself which may seem to be foolish. I admit that to boast is folly but circumstances compel me to it. So I invite you to look at those circumstances, and not regard me as a fool for boasting again. If you must see me in this negative light, I’ll accept it so I can once more boast of what I think are necessary things.

He adds:

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

Here Paul is either saying, “I do not speak this by inspiration, or claiming to be inspired by the Lord” but according to the better Greek commentators it seems he is saying,

“I do not speak this imitating the example of the Lord Jesus,” who was eminently modest, but I speak “as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.” And then in a justification of sorts he says (verse 18)

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

I also will boast of my endowments, which, though somewhat different, yet pertain in the main to the flesh, or what Paul endured in the flesh as an apostle.
At verse 19 Paul writes what some commentators (like Bloomfield) suggest is the most sarcastic words Paul has ever written as he says:

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

Seeing you are all so wise and you have chosen to tolerate or endure fools gladly I will be like a fool and boast as they do.
(verse 20)

20 For (he adds) ye suffer (and he provides five things that they either actually do suffer or Paul is suggesting that they suffer, including:

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.

In other words, you have been willing to patiently bear with men who impose on you in every way, and who are constantly defrauding you, though you profess to be so wise; perhaps you will bear with me a little, though I have no such intention of doing the same to you.

if a man bring you into bondage,

Which was the intention of the false apostles.

if a man devour you,

This is a very sarcastic phrase because it means if a man eat you up completely.

if a man take of you,

All your possessions

if a man exalt himself,

If he sets himself up as your ruler and king

if a man smite you on the face

The word means to skin or flay and in the New Testament it better means to scourge.

It seems the idea means that they allow someone to bring them under scorn constantly – so much so that the very skin comes off their bodies. The next verse helps support this interpretation as he says, and we end with

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

We can’t be sure if Paul is saying that he speaks OF their reproach and disgrace OR of general weakness found in all of them.

In the end, he seems to be saying here, that there is shame for the weakness displayed and mentioned above. However, when anyone wants to boldly profess through boasting, he will too. And he again adds (I am being foolish here).

We are gonna stop here, take a breather and then next week step directly into Pauls boasting.

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