Paul and the False Apostles - Lessons from 2 Corinthians 11:5-15

PAUL AND THE FALSE APOSTLES - A DEFENSE OF HIS CALLING IN CHRIST

By Ezekiel Kimosop

INTRODUCTION

Have you ever been discouraged in ministry to the point of seeking to quit? You are not alone. Many servants of God have walked that path but thankfully, God's sustaining grace kept them.  

Some ministers and Christian workers have been subjected to untold humiliation and suffering, not in the hands of the people of this sinful world but by people who name the name of Christ! 

These are the Sanballats and Tobiases who are overly judgmental of people's calling and service to God - all in their  attempt at either discounting the contribution of God's servants or openly filing unjustified criticism of their calling in Christ. 

Paul faced a group of high ranking Christian leaders who attacked him and discredited his apostolic calling. Their uncharitable acts did not spare the young Corinthian church that was struggling with the basics of Christian faith.

Paul was forced to shove them off in his second letter to the Corinthians. 

This exhortation is drawn from my reflection on the passage of 2 Corinthians 11:5-15.

THE PASSAGE

"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 been thoroughly manifested among you in all things.

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. 10 As the truth of Christ is in me, no one shall stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia. 11 Why? Because I do not love you? God knows!

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. 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. 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."

[2 CORINTHIANS 11:5-15, NKJV]. 

PASSAGE ANALYSIS AND REFLECTION

This passage is part of Paul's exhortation to the Corinthians on false teachers who happen to claim apostolic authority as well. It is also part of Paul's defense of his apostolic authority that he commenced in 2 Corinthians 10:7-18. 

It is apparent that some unnamed church leaders who were part of an opposition group, had attempted to cast seeds of doubt among the Corinthians [and perhaps other Gentile churches] on the validity of Paul's apostolic calling. They were perhaps linked to the radical Jewish group that ejected Paul from Corinth during his previous missionary visit (cf. Acts 18:1-17). 

Paul used this passage to defend himself and to attack his unworthy opponents who had tried to claim space in the hearts of the Corinthian assembly. 

Every servant of God should defend his calling by faithful and sacrificial ministry service that speaks for itself. They should never be motivated by gain or self acclaim but by the burden of ministry and the desire to glorify God.  

In 2 Corinthians 11:1-4, Paul expressed his concern for the doctrinal welfare of the Corinthians. This passage was the subject of my teaching article titled "BEWARE OF ANOTHER JESUS AND A DIFFERENT GOSPEL" whose link was shared on this page last week.

In 2 Corinthians 11:5-15 which is our key text, Paul distinguishes himself from the false apostles using one key virtue that he had embraced in ministry: sacrificial service. While the opposing group attempted to assert themselves and demand material and financial support from their churches, Paul never asked for any support from this young Christian community.

Thankfully, his needs were met by some faithful churches in Macedonia - notably, the Philippians and Thessalonians - who regularly sent support to Paul and his ministry associates [cf. Philippians 4:10-20). 

Paul's opponents were perhaps motivated by religious pride that arose from their privileged church offices. Paul reserved the harshest words for this group, saying, "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ" (2 Corinthians 11:13). 

Pride is a ministry killer. Satan uses it to deceive God's servants in order to elevate themselves beyond God's measure and look down on other servants. 

A second distinction on the false teachers is found in 2 Corinthians 11:5-6. Unlike them, Paul was not trained in speech but he had a superior advantage: he excelled in the knowledge of God's word. 

Paul was a gifted theologian who was raised under Gamaliel, the eminent first century Jewish theologian (see Acts 22:3). To his credit, and to the glory of God, Paul authored 13 New Testament Letters. John wrote 5 while Peter wrote only 2.  

Theological training is indispensable for preparing God's people for the ministry of God's word. There are many preachers today who are gifted with unparalleled eloquence but who in their pride and flamboyance teach error and heresy because they have no theological foundation. They have little knowledge of God's word! 

Despite Paul's mastery of the Scriptures, he humbled himself under Christ so that he would win the hearts of the Corinthians in his simplicity. Humility is key to ministry success. The crave for heavy titles and salutations that is commonplace today is an unnecessary distraction and sideshow that stands in the way of the effectiveness of the gospel effort. 

I once attended a function in a certain church and, unknown to me, a special sitting place was reserved for "Reverends" or ordained ministers, while non-ordained "pastors" sat elsewhere. 

I had apparently received my ordination that year but I never fancied donning clerical collars and frocks. When I was introduced as a "Reverend", a quick attempt was made to change the sitting protocols because I had apparently sat with  pastors! I insisted on remaining with the pastors. 

Ministers by whatever title, office or description, are merely stewards of God's grace (1 Corinthians 4:1-2). They are part of the Christian community.

It is therefore important for every servant of God to take stock of the motivation that drives them in ministry. We should never seek the public gallery for personal acclaim or in order to outshine others. We should preach Christ crucified (1 Corinthians 1:23). 

Yes, Christ must increase as we decrease (John 3:30). 

Shalom

© Ezekiel Kimosop 2022

Beware of Another Jesus and a Different Gospel

BEWARE OF ANOTHER JESUS AND A DIFFERENT GOSPEL 

By Ezekiel Kimosop

This article is based on a reflection on the passage of 2 Corinthians 11:2-4. It is intended to exhort believers to keep away from false religions that purport to stand on the revelation and authority of Scripture but deny its truths. 

TEXT

"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!

[2 Corinthians 11:2-4, NKJV].

CONTEXT

The above passage is part of Paul's exhortation to the Corinthians that can theologically be traced back to 2 Corinthians 10:7-18 where Paul defends and outlines the limits of his apostolic authority. This setting infers that there was a possible challenge to his apostolic authority from certain quarters, possibly radical Jews or sections of the Jerusalem leaders that sought to infiltrate the Corinthian assembly with some syncretism. Paul expresses his concern for the spiritual welfare of the Corinthians in our brief passage of context (2 Corinthians 11:2-4) and proceeds to offer a spirited defense of his ministry and his pastoral and apostolic authority over them (vv.5-15). He closes the chapter by recounting some of the sufferings and afflictions that he had experienced in his missionary work that serve to validate both his calling apostolic office and God's protection for him and his associates (vv.22-33). 

Paul was undoubtedly contending with some level of opposition or criticism as well as a diluted gospel that his apostolic critics appeared to preach among the Gentile churches. Paul's pastoral concern for the Corinthians was uppermost in this context. He sought to defend the purity and the authority of the gospel of Jesus Christ from the enemies of the Christian faith (cf. Jude 1:3). These false teachers were possibly targeting this young Gentile Christian community for isolation. The mention of another Jesus, a different spirt and a different gospel in v.4 is instructive of the depth of the heretical doctrines that was propagated by the false teachers. They perhaps denied or misrepresented the divinity of Jesus Christ and His works of the cross. Paul's warning was timely. 

We shall proceed to contextually examine the three verse section of the passage under a special emphasis on the issue of false teaching. 

REFLECTION

One of the most difficult challenges facing contemporary Christianity is the wide prevalence of false teachers and false doctrines or teachings that are propagated in the name of God. Millions of Christians are daily bombarded with all manner of heretical stuff through social media, Internet and television. 

While the sharing of exhortations through online platforms is a welcome opportunity for millions of online Christians, spiritual discernment is critical for sieving the wheat from the chaff. A Bible believing Christian should mind the quality and substance of the spiritual resources which they daily feed on. The authority of Scripture must remain in constant focus.

The Corinthian experience was a source of great concern for apostle Paul.  This was a young Christian community that was in danger of falling to the craftiness of false teachers who cunningly twisted the Scriptures to suit their false doctrines. Paul used this section of his writings to warn the Corinthians [and us] about this danger. The Corinthians were vulnerable to deception because they had not sufficiently embraced the fundamental truths of God's word. A young Christian community should be protected and nurtured with sound doctrine.

The second reason was perhaps informed by the sociocultural context relating to the location of this city in ancient Greece and the prevailing circumstances. Corinth was a key ancient port city in Greece located in a strategic sea point where traders from Asia and other parts of the world would converge. It was a melting pot of sorts for cultures and religions of the Greco-Roman society. It also boasted of an established Jewish community that embraced Judaism. Besides, a large number of Jews that had been expelled from Rome had apparently settled in Corinth. The Synagogue worship attests to this fact [Acts 18]. 

Paul and his companions endured hostility and violence during their missionary journey to Corinth. They were forced to flee the city under unpleasant circumstances. Among those who were opposed to his ministry were radical Jews. Paul finally left for Ephesus and later traveled to Antioch [Acts 18:1-22].

Paul founded the Corinthian church during this missionary journey but, unlike the case of the church of Ephesus, he was not able to stay with them for long. This could partly explain the doctrinal chasm that existed in Corinth. The Corinthians were not a well instructed Christian community. The spiritual immaturity revealed in the first few chapters of 1 Corinthians is instructive of this fact. Paul adjudged them as spiritual babes. 

Several preachers, including Apollos, were privileged to minister in Corinth on different occasions. It is also possible that apostle Peter briefly passed by Corinth, given his mention in 1 Corinthians 1:12. Peter was a key leader of the Jerusalem Church which was predominantly Jewish. Radical Jewish groups from Jerusalem demanded that Gentiles believers should observe Jewish religious rites including ritual circumcision. This was despite the resolutions of the Jerusalem Council of Acts 15. Paul was vehemently opposed to their demands. 

Paul was deeply concerned about the doctrinal wellbeing of the Corinthians, a concern that should touch the hearts of Bible believing Christian communities today. We must care about the quality and substance of religious instruction that our Christian congregations or communities receive. A well instructed congregation will not be easily swayed by heretical teachings (cf. Ephesians 4:11-14).

In the passage of 2 Corinthians 11:1-4, Paul exhorts the Corinthians to be wary of false teachings that would turn them away from the apostolic foundation that he had laid when he commissioned the church. Notice further that his intention was to present the Corinthians to Christ as a chaste virgin betrothed to her husband. A preacher's task is not complete until he presents to God a community of God's faithful people that he has painstakingly raised through the admonition of Scripture. His congregation is the work of his labor; his stewardship vineyard given to him by Christ. 

Paul relates the danger of spiritual deception with the deception of Eve by the serpent (cf. Genesis 3:1-7). The woman was cunningly enticed by Satan through falsehood, causing her to doubt the integrity of God's command and to believe Satan's lie that her eyes will be opened, and that she will be like God, knowing good and evil! That never happened. She fell into transgression and dragged her husband along.

ANOTHER JESUS AND A DIFFERENT GOSPEL

We now turn our attention to the critical issues that stand out in our study. Paul mentions two features of counterfeit religion in reference to Christian heresy and apostasy - the portrayal of "another Jesus" and the preaching of "a different  gospel".  (see 2 Corinthians 11:4). "Another Jesus" is a deity that is distinct in essence and substance from the Jesus of the Bible. A different Jesus is therefore a misrepresentation of the Biblical Jesus. In most cases, only a keen student of Scripture would discover the deception in the projection of the false Jesus. Many Christians today wallow in false teaching, completely unaware of the deception into which they have been lured!

Authentic Christian doctrine should project Jesus in His divine essence, giving due regard to His incarnate coming, His earthly ministry and the works of the cross that He accomplished for us at Calvary. A false religion does not have the cross of Jesus at the center of its doctrine (cf. Colossians 1:15-18). A biblically centered community should uphold the deity and divinity of Jesus Christ and recognize His divine offices of savior, judge, prophet and priest. 

Finally, the biblical Jesus is not done with His divine mission. He is working among His people by His Spirit and through the preaching of His word. He seeks to advance the kingdom of God by raising a global community of covenant people through His saving grace (cf. Titus 2:11-14; 1 Peter 2:9).

The Biblical Jesus is coming again soon to take away His Church [John 14:1-4; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18]. The redeemed church will reign with Jesus a thousand years before the second resurrection and the judgment of the living and the dead (Revelation 20). 

Have you heard of this Jesus? This is the real Jesus! Embrace ye Him!

We now turn our attention to the second feature of false Christianity mentioned by Paul - a different gospel.

A different gospel misrepresents the Biblical Jesus that we have theologically described above. It goes further to twist the Scriptures in order to present a different religion that is distinct from the one conveyed in Scripture. A different gospel debases and discounts the fundamental truths of God's word and introduces a religion that is distinct and separate from what the Bible contemplates for God's people. It conveys different [and often many] ways and means by which man can reach out to God. 

Under the false gospel, a different deity is often portrayed and the divine standards set out in the Bible for reconciliation with God are either omitted or discounted. It is a religion of convenience, often under the control of men. The Bible is not preeminent under this religion. It is subordinate to it. We should resoundingly reject this religion. Some of prominent features of a difference gospel can be distilled from their faulty theological foundation. They do not consider Scripture as the final revelation of God for His redemption of man. For instance, several Christian cults teach that salvation is conditional to the fulfillment of  certain works and rituals rather than by the operation of God's grace (cf. Ephesians 2:8-9).  

Biblical Christianity on the other hand stands on what God demands. It operates on His terms. In the opening statement of our passage of context [1 Corinthians 11:2], Paul says that the church is the bride of Christ and that he had betrothed the Corinthians to Him. Paul's reference to betrothal is informed by a Jewish portrayal of the proximity of the church to her Master under a covenant relationship of love and trust. She is valued and cherished.

Paul was worried that his ministry effort among the Corinthians would be rendered futile if the community fell to false teachers. His fears were legitimate. 

CONCLUSION

Believers are members of the body of Christ, His Bride for whom He died on the cross to redeem. The church will be married to Him in a ceremony described in Revelation 19:1-10. She must therefore remain chaste and keep her garment unspotted. Christian chastity is observed through a life of spiritual discipline and the submission to the revelation and authority of Scripture. Biblical Christianity rests on this truth.

Revelation 16:15 says "Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame."

Beware of another Jesus and a different gospel...Beware of wolves in sheepskin!

Shalom

© Ezekiel Kimosop 2022