2 Corinthians 11:1 Oh, that you would bear with me in a little folly—and indeed you do bear with me. 2 For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!
5 For I consider that I am not at all inferior to the most eminent apostles. 6 Even though I am untrained in speech, yet I am not in knowledge. But we have thoroughly manifested among you in all things.
"Even if Paul does not have the skilled speech and persuasive style of the false apostles, he is not inferior to them. At least he teaches the truth, and that is what is important (5-6)," (Bridge Bible Commentary)
7 Did I commit sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge? 8 I robbed other churches, taking wages from them to minister to you. 9 And when I was present with you, and in need, I was a burden to no one, for what I lacked the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied. And in everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so I will keep myself.
They offered no love offering to Paul, but he did not push the issue. It is biblical in the Old Testament, but it is a free will offering to the Lord. So, he went to'"the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks' (Acts 18:4). And during the week, he made tents with Aquila and Priscilla, fellow 'tentmakers' (Acts 18:3). And he vowed to support himself thus while in Corinth, while his enemies took it as another occasion to slander him. They said: "that he was a rascal, and lived by the labour of his own hands. But in this, the apostle says, what can you lay against me, except that I was content to take any pains for your sakes? For when I lacked, I travailed for my living with my own hands. And also when poverty forced me, I chose rather to seek my sustenance than to be any burden to you, even though I preached the Gospel to you." (Geneva Bible)
10 As the truth of Christ is in me, no one shall stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia.
"Lest any one should suspect, that Paul’s words were designed to induce the Corinthians to be more liberal to him in future, and endeavor to make amends for their error in the past, he affirms with an oath, that he would take nothing from them, or from others in Achaia, though it were offered to him. For this manner of expression — the truth of Christ is in me, is in the form of oath. Let me not be thought to have the truth of Christ in me if I do not retain this glorying among the inhabitants of Achaia.
Now Corinth was in Achaia." (John Calvin)
11 Why? Because I do not love you? God knows!
"‘Why am I so firmly resolved never to accept maintenance from you?’ Is it because I care too little about you to wish to be under any obligation to you, or dislike you too much to accept anything of yours?’ This had very possibly been insinuated... God knoweth whether he loves them or not, and what the true reason for his refusal is. He wishes to prove to them and to all, that he ministers to them for love and not for gain." (Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges)
12 But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast. 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.
They wanted Paul to give in on this vow--they wanted him to be like them. "There were those that waited for it, as earnestly as a dog doth for a bone...They, likely, had feathered their nests, and so might well afford to preach gratis. Paul, though not so well underlaid, would not come behind them in that either." (John Trapp)
13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.
For such are the false apostles.
They were the ones motivated by money, as well as the opinions of man. “For Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.—The present tense of the original excludes the thought that reference is made to any special incident (such as the appearance of Satan among 'the sons of God,' of Job 1:6) recorded in the Old Testament, or in tradition. The thought is rather that Satan is ever so transforming himself.” (Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers) "Such instances occurred in the temptation of our first parents Genesis 3:1-6, and in the temptation of the Saviour, Matthew 4." (Barnes Notes) But, in my eyes, a more perfect example is found in Absolom, the son of David. He waited at the gate of the city to judge the cases of the children of Israel. And rather that rendering true judgments, he kissed their hands and stole their hearts with flatteries and lies. (2 Sam 15)
"The phrase 'an angel of light,' means a pure and holy angel, light being the emblem of purity and holiness. Such are all the angels that dwell in heaven; and the idea is, that Satan assumes such a form as to appear to be such an angel... He never shows himself openly to be a spirit of pure wickedness; or black and abominable in his character; or full of evil and hateful. He would thus defeat himself. It is for this reason that wicked people do not believe that there is such a being as Satan. Though continually under his influence and 'led captive by him at his will,' yet they neither see him nor the chains which lead them, nor are they willing to believe in the existence of the one or the other.” (Barnes Notes on the Bible)
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.
"Therefore, it is no great thing — Nothing extraordinary; if his ministers also, under his influence, be transformed — That is, make themselves to appear; as ministers of righteousness — False teachers are justly called ministers of Satan, because they are employed in disseminating error, whereby Satan’s kingdom is supported in the world. And, on the other hand, with equal propriety are the teachers of true doctrine called ministers of righteousness, because of the efficacy of true doctrine to promote righteousness in them who receive it: whose end — Notwithstanding all their disguises; shall be according to their works... ” (Benson Commentary)
"The test is always that of complete fidelity to Scripture and only Scripture as determinative for Christian faith and practice. Note also Isaiah 8:20; II Timothy 3:15-17; and II Peter 3:3,15-18." (Institution of Creation Research) Search the Scriptures for in them you will find life, for they testify of Jesus
2 Corinthians 11:11 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I.
Are they-- the false teachers-- "Hebrews … Israelites … the seed of Abraham—A climax. 'Hebrews,' referring to the language and nationality; 'Israelites,' to the theocracy and descent from Israel, the 'prince who prevailed with God' (Ro 9:4); 'the seed of Abraham,' to the claim to a share in the Messiah (Ro 11:1; 9:7)..." (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown)
23 Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often.
"St Paul here cannot be content with the simple ‘so am I.’ These men (see ch. 2 Cor 10:7; 1 Cor 1:10) claimed to be in some special sense Christ’s ministers. But when the Apostle thinks of the singleness of his devotion to Christ’s cause, of which he had so frequently boasted (ch. 2 Cor 2:17, 2 Cor 4:5, 2 Cor 6:4-10, 2 Cor 7:2, &c.), and of the nature of his services as compared with theirs, his spirit rises within him. ‘I may speak like a madman,’ he cries, ‘but I cannot contain myself at such a charge. What have they done for the cause of Him whose name they falsely arrogate to themselves, compared to the services I have rendered? I use no mere words of vaunting, but appeal to the devotion of a life to His Gospel.’" (Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges)
24 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness— 28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?
30 If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity. 31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. 32 In Damascus the governor, under Aretas the king, was guarding the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desiring to arrest me; 33 but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands.
"The church of God is under very great obligation to those false apostles for bringing the worth and excellence of St. Paul to light; it is their calumnies that brought these illustrious instances of his heroic faith, and the divine preservation of his life, to the knowledge of the church... Oh my soul, when thou art weak and ready to faint, read this catalogue of sufferings, and hold thy peace about thy crosses." (Joseph Sutcliffe Commentary) "Our utmost diligence and services appear unworthy of notice when compared with his, and our difficulties and trials scarcely can be perceived. It may well lead us to inquire whether or not we really are followers of Christ. Here we may study patience, courage, and firm trust in God. Here we may learn to think less of ourselves; and we should ever strictly keep to truth, as in God's presence; and should refer all to his glory, as the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed for evermore." (Matthew Henry)