Very important study today so let’s get started, 2Cor.11 and verse 1 reads.
2Cor.11:1] Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.
Paul is saying “hear me on this”. Knowing this is very important.
2Cor.11:2] For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
Paul is talking about the ten virgins from Matthew 25. Five were wise and had oil for their lamps, five were foolish and did not. This oil is truth. Take time to read Mat.25 if you haven’t yet. But for now I want to go to Rev.19:7-9 and it reads.
Rev.19:7] Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
[8] And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
[9] And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
This marriage to the Lamb is our eternal hope in Jesus Christ. Don’t overlook our fine linens made up from our good works, the only thing we can take with us to heaven. Back to 2Cor.11 and verse 3 reads.
2Cor.11:3] But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
In Revelations we find just a couple of Satan’s names. Let’s read 12:9.
Rev.12:9] And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
That old serpent is Satan. Also, “And his angels were cast out with him”. These are the same angels from Genesis chapter six, the fallen angels who refused to be born of woman but seduced them instead. Now we can check out what this word “beguiled” is. It’s G1818 in the Strongs’ and means “To seduce wholly”. Eve was seduced in the garden. This was the “Sin” in the garden. Paul is warning us not to be deceived by them or Satan. Back to 2Cor.11 and verse 4 reads.
2Cor.11:4] For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
Jesus would say in Mark 13:6 and it reads.
Mark 13:6] For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
This is why we study, to know the truth and the truth is Satan comes before Jesus. The 6th trump comes before the 7th trump. Don’t let anyone tell you that your going to fly away, it is a lie. Back to 2Cor.11 and verse 5 reads.
2Cor.11:5] For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.
Not above any. Paul is being humble here.
2Cor.11:6] But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things.
[7] Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?
Though crude in speech, he made himself known to them of all these things.
2Cor.11:8] I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.
To bring you the truth.
2Cor.11:9] And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.
Nobody had to provide substance for me, I pulled my own weight.
2Cor.11:10] As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.
[11] Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth.
[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.
None can stop him from teaching the truth.
2Cor.11:13] For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
This is a mistranslation that has confused many pastors. This word “transforming” is G3345 in the Strongs’ and means to disguise. Reread the last verse and put disguise in the place of transforming. Important to know this because there are many false teachers preaching from our pulpits. Satan and his angels will also disguise themselves. We will wait for the true Christ, we have the truth.
2Cor.11:14] 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.
You guessed it, same word transformed is disguised. Rev.13:11 the Lamb slain has the voice of the dragon, because he is the dragon. Notice the ministers, these are his angels. Remember from chapter 10 he also warned us of the false preachers.
2Cor.11:16] 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.
Paul is speaking confidently, though the false teachers are boldly incorrect.
2Cor.11:19] 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.
Taken hook line and sinker, you enjoy being deceived.
2Cor.11:21] I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.
Now, let me speak the truth.
2Cor.11:22] Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.
[23] Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
Paul suffered more than anyone for teaching the gospels of Christ. Are they ministers of Christ or false teachers? We know if they bring a different gospel.
2Cor.11:24] Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
It was not legal to beat a man more than 40 times. to save breaking the law they would beat them only 39 times.
2Cor.11:25] Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
[26] In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
[27] In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
[28] Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
Even that he went through all this, his only consideration was for the church.
2Cor.11:29] Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?
[30] If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.
Though I am weak, then am I strong.
2Cor.11:31] The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.
Paul was honest, God knows. Let no man judge you.
2Cor.11:32] In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:
[33] And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.
Even had to escape through a hole in the wall from the governor. Bad enough he had the Kenites after him, but they would conspire with the governments. I say this for an example to you in these end times. Let’s go to his throne.
Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.
KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible