2Cor 11:13-14 | KingComments | STEP | . Paul was blamed of all kinds of evil. All kinds of nasty gossip about him did the rounds. The false apostles brought bad stories into circulation that were well received by the Corinthians. Since their entire Christian life was at stake Paul started his defense. Paul could not let the Corinthians fall prey to the swindlers, for he loved them too much. Therefore he feels compelled to speak about himself and to show the Corinthians the difference between the way he worked among them and the way those abusers lived among them. You realize the irony when he says in that he can very well measure up to those ‘super’ apostles. . Did they say of him that he was not fluent in his exposition? It could have been true although he does not comment on that. But what he possessed was “knowledge” and that they could not dispute but had to admit. Had he not told them? In his first letter he wrote to them that they had been made rich in Christ, in whom they possessed all knowledge ( ). How did they reach that standard in their knowledge? Was he not the means for this? They did not owe it to the intruders who wanted to come in between them and him. . There was another difference between him and those fake apostles. He never accepted even a penny as support from the Corinthians while those others did. His way of expressing this should have touched their hearts. It looks as if they considered it a sin that he kept himself independent of them. His so called sin was that he refused to accept any money from them. He lets them know that in this way he purposely kept himself humble so that they could be exalted. He preached to them free of cost and now they cannot say that he went to them with the intention to earn something. He had in his mind only their wellbeing, namely, that they would be set free from sin and be brought to the heart of God. The false apostles found in his selflessness a new argument to slander him. They said that every servant who had self-respect must take money from the church he served. That Paul accepted no money from them proved that there was something wrong with him. There was certainly something wrong but that was not with Paul but with the Corinthians themselves. If he had taken money they would have had another reason to boast. They could have shown to others how good they were that it was they who helped him do his work. This is what Paul did not want. His concern was that God alone must be glorified. . He accepted money from other churches but these churches, unlike the Corinthians, were spiritually mature. He accepted from them because he was sure of their good motives for their giving. They financially supported the Lord’s work and did not brag about their generosity. These churches gave but they did not lay any claim on Paul. You see, giving is not only an act but it is also an attitude. . However, here the subject is not primarily about the giver but the receiver. Paul was not someone who accepted automatically what is given to him. During his stay with the Corinthians he had some needs but he never mentioned that to them. This is something that you need to learn from Paul. Supposing you are short on cash, do not try to tell it to others. Tell it to the Lord and He will provide. “For your heavenly Father knows that you need of all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” ( ). Quite a lot of begging letters are sent from Christian missions or about Christian works. It’s difficult for me to call such letters ‘ornaments of faith’. Such workers are not bothered from where or from whom they receive the money. As for Paul he didn’t work that way. The wealthy believers among the Corinthians must have been shocked to hear that Paul had suffered need during his stay with them. I imagine that their faces blushed when they read that it was the poor Macedonian believers who supplied his needs. Anyway Paul had deliberately avoided financial support from the Corinthians and would not accept it for now either. . He emphasizes his stand in this matter in strong terms saying: “The truth of Christ is in me.” He knew what he said and what he did. He was not easily brought to another way of acting. First he was waiting for a tangible change in the Corinthians. For him the proclamation of Christ was the focal point. Everything was subject to that. If he accepted money from the Corinthians then the danger would be that “this boasting” – that is the proclamation of Christ and nothing else – of him would have stopped. That again could be misinterpreted. They could say that they in fact were keen to give something but Paul did not allow them, and he certainly did not love them. However, he does not speak about it. A skeptic cannot be convinced of the truth. Paul says that God is the Witness of his love toward them. Incessantly he will yield to his beloved children in the faith and refute every argument of the deceivers. These deceivers will be revealed as false apostles, as he is revealed as a true apostle. . And then he says straight away what kind of people they were who wormed their way into the Corinthian church. They were servants of satan. In appearance they were apostles of Christ but in reality satan was their lord. They could speak beautifully with their sugar-coated tongues, but their words were full of deadly poison. This exactly is what satan does. He presents himself as “an angel of light”, but he leads you into darkness. In the world countless number of young people walk after him with their blind eyes wide open. He promises them a brilliant experience, but he leads them in the way of death. It is not different in Christian territory. He knows how to twist things so that you think you are dealing with something Christian, whereas in reality it is something antichristian. Don’t be fooled. There is a good way to escape his craftiness, and that is by engaging yourself with Christ and with God’s Word. Fake is determined by comparing it with what is real. Those who deal with currency notes easily find out the fake currency by their profound study of the real. They need not study and compare all kinds of fake currencies, for they are many and different. Banknote forgers always try other ways. This is a good comparison to discover whether what is coming to you is counterfeit or real. That is what Paul does here. He shows what a real, true apostle does. This we will see in a clear way when he speaks about his suffering as an apostle. . What satan does is also evident in his servants. You need not wonder about that. They pose as champions of righteousness but pull you from the true goal of life. The true goal is to glorify Christ in all areas of your life. People who conscientiously strive to hinder this goal will have an end in accordance with their deeds. After they have carried out the work of satan to its completion they will share their end result with satan and follow him into hell. Now read 2 Corinthians 11:5-15 again. Reflection: What do you learn from Paul’s attitude to false accusations?

‏ 2 Corinthians 11:13-14

Paul and the False Apostles

2Cor 11:5. Paul was blamed of all kinds of evil. All kinds of nasty gossip about him did the rounds. The false apostles brought bad stories into circulation that were well received by the Corinthians. Since their entire Christian life was at stake Paul started his defense. Paul could not let the Corinthians fall prey to the swindlers, for he loved them too much. Therefore he feels compelled to speak about himself and to show the Corinthians the difference between the way he worked among them and the way those abusers lived among them. You realize the irony when he says in 2Cor 11:5 that he can very well measure up to those ‘super’ apostles.

2Cor 11:6. Did they say of him that he was not fluent in his exposition? It could have been true although he does not comment on that. But what he possessed was “knowledge” and that they could not dispute but had to admit. Had he not told them? In his first letter he wrote to them that they had been made rich in Christ, in whom they possessed all knowledge (1Cor 1:5). How did they reach that standard in their knowledge? Was he not the means for this? They did not owe it to the intruders who wanted to come in between them and him.

2Cor 11:7. There was another difference between him and those fake apostles. He never accepted even a penny as support from the Corinthians while those others did. His way of expressing this should have touched their hearts. It looks as if they considered it a sin that he kept himself independent of them. His so called sin was that he refused to accept any money from them.

He lets them know that in this way he purposely kept himself humble so that they could be exalted. He preached to them free of cost and now they cannot say that he went to them with the intention to earn something. He had in his mind only their wellbeing, namely, that they would be set free from sin and be brought to the heart of God.

The false apostles found in his selflessness a new argument to slander him. They said that every servant who had self-respect must take money from the church he served. That Paul accepted no money from them proved that there was something wrong with him. There was certainly something wrong but that was not with Paul but with the Corinthians themselves. If he had taken money they would have had another reason to boast. They could have shown to others how good they were that it was they who helped him do his work. This is what Paul did not want. His concern was that God alone must be glorified.

2Cor 11:8. He accepted money from other churches but these churches, unlike the Corinthians, were spiritually mature. He accepted from them because he was sure of their good motives for their giving. They financially supported the Lord’s work and did not brag about their generosity. These churches gave but they did not lay any claim on Paul. You see, giving is not only an act but it is also an attitude.

2Cor 11:9. However, here the subject is not primarily about the giver but the receiver. Paul was not someone who accepted automatically what is given to him. During his stay with the Corinthians he had some needs but he never mentioned that to them. This is something that you need to learn from Paul. Supposing you are short on cash, do not try to tell it to others. Tell it to the Lord and He will provide. “For your heavenly Father knows that you need of all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Mt 6:32-33).

Quite a lot of begging letters are sent from Christian missions or about Christian works. It’s difficult for me to call such letters ‘ornaments of faith’. Such workers are not bothered from where or from whom they receive the money. As for Paul he didn’t work that way.

The wealthy believers among the Corinthians must have been shocked to hear that Paul had suffered need during his stay with them. I imagine that their faces blushed when they read that it was the poor Macedonian believers who supplied his needs. Anyway Paul had deliberately avoided financial support from the Corinthians and would not accept it for now either.

2Cor 11:10. He emphasizes his stand in this matter in strong terms saying: “The truth of Christ is in me.” He knew what he said and what he did. He was not easily brought to another way of acting. First he was waiting for a tangible change in the Corinthians. For him the proclamation of Christ was the focal point. Everything was subject to that. If he accepted money from the Corinthians then the danger would be that “this boasting” – that is the proclamation of Christ and nothing else – of him would have stopped.

2Cor 11:11-12 That again could be misinterpreted. They could say that they in fact were keen to give something but Paul did not allow them, and he certainly did not love them. However, he does not speak about it. A skeptic cannot be convinced of the truth. Paul says that God is the Witness of his love toward them. Incessantly he will yield to his beloved children in the faith and refute every argument of the deceivers. These deceivers will be revealed as false apostles, as he is revealed as a true apostle.

2Cor 11:13-14. And then he says straight away what kind of people they were who wormed their way into the Corinthian church. They were servants of satan. In appearance they were apostles of Christ but in reality satan was their lord. They could speak beautifully with their sugar-coated tongues, but their words were full of deadly poison. This exactly is what satan does. He presents himself as “an angel of light”, but he leads you into darkness.

In the world countless number of young people walk after him with their blind eyes wide open. He promises them a brilliant experience, but he leads them in the way of death. It is not different in Christian territory. He knows how to twist things so that you think you are dealing with something Christian, whereas in reality it is something antichristian. Don’t be fooled.

There is a good way to escape his craftiness, and that is by engaging yourself with Christ and with God’s Word. Fake is determined by comparing it with what is real. Those who deal with currency notes easily find out the fake currency by their profound study of the real. They need not study and compare all kinds of fake currencies, for they are many and different. Banknote forgers always try other ways. This is a good comparison to discover whether what is coming to you is counterfeit or real. That is what Paul does here. He shows what a real, true apostle does. This we will see in a clear way when he speaks about his suffering as an apostle.

2Cor 11:15. What satan does is also evident in his servants. You need not wonder about that. They pose as champions of righteousness but pull you from the true goal of life. The true goal is to glorify Christ in all areas of your life.

People who conscientiously strive to hinder this goal will have an end in accordance with their deeds. After they have carried out the work of satan to its completion they will share their end result with satan and follow him into hell.

Now read 2 Corinthians 11:5-15 again.

Reflection: What do you learn from Paul’s attitude to false accusations?