2 Corinthians 11

Monday, 23 November 2015

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. 2 Corinthians 11:3

Following Paul’s words to the Corinthians that he had “betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ,” come almost anguished words. He begins with, “But I fear…” It is a future fear, meaning that what he is afraid of has not happened yet, but it looks like things are heading in that direction.

The words “lest somehow” give the idea that any possible means would be used to effect what Paul worries might come about. It may be a direct attack, or it might be a subtle flanking maneuver, or by some other means. However, what he is fearful about could come to pass. And the fear is that “as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted.”

This is Paul’s only direct allusion to the story of the serpent in Eden. It comes from Genesis 3 and he undoubtedly understood the serpent to be the devil, just as John so poignantly reveals in his writings. There in the garden, the serpent deceived Eve. She was prepared as a bride for Adam and yet she was corrupted through the devil’s guile.

The analogy then is that the church is prepared as a bride for Christ, the last Adam (see 1 Corinthians 15:45). But just as Eve was corrupted by the serpent, so the church could be “corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”

Adam and Eve were given one command, and yet through the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life, they were drawn away into disobedience. In Christ we have also been given a means of remaining faithful which is simplicity itself. We are to believe the gospel. We are, in fact, saved by grace through faith in Jesus.

However, that simple message is so easily corrupted through the same three pressure points – the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. Any of these, or a combination of them, will draw us away from the truth. Paul will continue to explain this in the verses ahead. He also explains it in a myriad of ways in his other letters. We are not to add to the gospel in any way. Instead, we are to understand that salvation is by grace through faith.

How easily our minds can be corrupted from this message though! Faith becomes a stumbling block because it seems too easy. And so we add in works, we add in precepts, we add in a false Jesus…. whatever! The devil deceives us and pulls us away from Christ Jesus, misdirecting us to a false gospel, which is no gospel at all.

Life application: How silly we are to add to what being a true Christian is! Some say that if we don’t support the nation of Israel, we are false Christians. That may be a point of sound doctrine, but it is not a point of salvation. Some say that we must observe the Sabbath or we are false Christians. That is reintroducing the law which was fulfilled in Christ. Thus it sets aside the work of Christ. Whatever someone adds in to the gospel, reject it. We are saved by grace through faith in the completed work of Christ – period!

Glorious God, Almighty Father, help us to be sound in our understanding of the gospel. Your word tells us that we are saved by grace through faith without any works added. Help us to trust this and not to get sidetracked by silly arguments which can only corrupt our minds and draw us away from the simplicity of the gospel that is in Christ. Right doctrine is important, but it is a follow-up to salvation by grace through faith. Help us to understand this. To Your glory we pray. Amen.

Sunday, 22 November 2015

 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. 2 Corinthians 11:2

The “little folly” that Paul spoke of in the preceding verse begins to be revealed here. He tells his beloved church at Corinth that he is “jealous for you with godly jealousy.” The word “jealous” is zelo. It is derived from the word zeo which means “to boil or be fervent.” The action comes from the sound. When water boils, it makes the sound zeo zeo zeo. Likewise, the boiling water is fervent. This then corresponds to the emotion.

In this case, it is a positive fervency which he feels, even to the point that he stresses it with the words Theo zelo, or literally, “with a jealousy of God.” There was nothing earthy and sensual in his jealousy, rather it was a heavenly, spiritual feeling which surpassed any earthy state. And he says his zeal is because “I have betrothed you to one husband.”

The word for “betrothed” is found only here in the New Testament. It is harmozó. It gives the idea of betrothing a daughter to another. The word, though not found elsewhere in the NT, is found in Greek literature when speaking of the carpenter’s work of joining boards together. It is also used in a musical sense, such as arranging music, tuning instruments, and even fitting together clothes or armor.

There is a harmony being brought together, one thing to another. In this case, it is to be as a bride to her bridegroom. Paul looked at himself as a father in their faith, having told them about Christ Jesus and having been there when they received Him. He is calling to remembrance his words of 1 Corinthians 4:15 –

“For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.”

It is he who will present his daughters in the faith to Christ. But more than just giving away a daughter, he desires her to be one who is pure and undefiled. His words show us this. He wanted their lives to be holy and their doctrine to be pure. As he says, “…so that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” Albert Barnes, citing another scholar, explains the concept here –

“The allusion here, according to Doddridge, is, to the custom among the Greeks ‘of having an officer whose business it was to educate and form young women, especially those of rank and figure, designed for marriage, and then to present them to those who were to be their husbands, and if this officer through negligence permitted them to be corrupted between the espousals and the consummation of the marriage, great blame would fall upon him.’ Such a responsibility Paul felt. So anxious was he for the entire purity of that church which was to constitute ‘the bride, the Lamb’s wife;’ so anxious that all who were connected with that church should be presented pure in heaven.”

Paul felt the burden of ensuring that those in Corinth were properly trained in doctrine and that they would carry through with that training so that their lives would be dedicated to Christ and not to the things of the world. He uses similar terminology toward those in Ephesus as well –

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, ²⁶ that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, ²⁷ that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:25-27

Life application: From a biblical perspective, it is not enough to simply get people saved and on the path to heaven, but to mold them into purity as they continue on that path. Doctrine matters and its application matters as well. Let us consider where we will spend our time. Will it be in God’s word or in pulp fiction? Will we go to a church that excludes doctrine in order to please, or to a church that hold’s the word of God in the highest esteem? It all matters and it bears on what our presentation to Christ will be like.

 Lord God Almighty, I can see quite plainly in Your word that it isn’t enough to simply get saved and start on a rambling path to Your presence. Instead, I can see that doctrine matters to You and that You would have us pursue Your superior word to the fullest and then apply its precepts to our lives. Help us not to get caught up in catchy-Christianity which has no substance, but instead to revel in pleasing You through the hard work of study and application of this precious gift. With this, I know You will be pleased. Amen.

Saturday, 21 November 2015

Oh, that you would bear with me in a little folly—and indeed you do bear with me. 2 Corinthians 11:1

Charles Ellicott’s commentary on this verse is very insightful. He notes that –

“There are two catch-words, as it were, which characterise the section of the Epistle on which we are now entering: one is of ‘bearing with,’ or ‘tolerating,’ which occurs five times … and ‘folly,’ which, with its kindred ‘fool,” is repeated not less than eight times. … It is impossible to resist the inference that here also we have the echo of something which Titus had reported to him as said by his opponents at Corinth. Their words, we must believe, had taken some such form as this: ‘We really can bear with him no longer; his folly is becoming altogether intolerable.'”

This makes great sense because Paul seems to have been under great duress concerning his relationship with the Corinthians. By using their own words back at them, he places the responsibility for their belligerence back on them where it belongs, but by doing it this way he cannot be accused of speaking inappropriately towards them as he is using their own words.

Whether this analysis is correct or not, it still sums up the content of this verse very well. Paul is asking for them to bear with him in a little folly as he writes, knowing that there is already a sort of wall between them which necessitated his words.

Life application: Human interaction, either verbally or in writing, is a learned skill. Refining this skill so that one can anticipate the words of another and then using their words to redefine the interaction is a brilliant way of maintaining the upper hand while keeping harmony within the conversation. It is most difficult to argue against one’s own words without looking like the belligerent in the conversation.

Lord, help us to carefully choose our words when we speak to others, especially during tense times where feelings could get hurt or anger could arise. Grant us the ability to stop and carefully evaluate the situation and then to open our mouths in a courteous and respectful way. May our words be used for edification and building up others, not for tearing them down. Thank You for being with us in this. Amen.