2 Corinthians 11:1-15
Paul and Those Who Pretend to Be Apostles
I hope you will put up with me in a little foolish bragging. Yes, please put up with me! My jealousy for you comes from God himself. I promised to give you to only one husband. That husband is Christ. I wanted to be able to give you to him as if you were a pure virgin. But Eve’s mind was tricked by the snake’s clever lies. And here’s what I’m afraid of. Your minds will also somehow be led astray. They will be led away from your true and pure love for Christ. Suppose someone comes to you and preaches about a Jesus different from the Jesus we preached about. Or suppose you receive a spirit different from the Spirit you received before. Or suppose you receive a different message of good news. Suppose it was different from the one you accepted earlier. You put up with those kinds of things easily enough.
I don’t think I’m in any way less important than those “super-apostles.” It’s true that I haven’t been trained as a speaker. But I do have knowledge. I’ve made that very clear to you in every way. I preached God’s good news to you free of charge. When I did that, I was putting myself down in order to lift you up. Was this a sin? I received help from other churches so I could serve you. This was almost like robbing them. When I was with you and needed something, I didn’t cause you any expense. The believers who came from Macedonia gave me what I needed. I haven’t caused you any expense at all. And I won’t ever do it. I’m sure that the truth of Christ is in me. And I’m just as sure that nobody in Achaia will keep me from bragging. Why? Because I don’t love you? No! God knows I do!
And I will keep on doing what I’m doing. That will stop those who claim they have things to brag about. They think they have a chance to be considered equal with us. People like that are false apostles. They are workers who tell lies. They only pretend to be apostles of Christ. That comes as no surprise. Even Satan himself pretends to be an angel of light. So it doesn’t surprise us that Satan’s servants also pretend to be serving God. They will finally get exactly what they deserve.
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