"THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS"
Chapter Eleven
OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER
1) To understand why Paul felt it necessary to engage in "foolish
boasting"
2) To see how one might be misled by "false apostles" and "deceitful
workers"
3) To appreciate the great amount of suffering Paul endured as a
minister of Christ
SUMMARY
As Paul continues defending his apostolic authority, he finds it
necessary to engage in "a little folly." He does so out of concern for
their faithfulness to Christ and his fear that others may have
corrupted their minds from the simplicity that is in Christ (1-4). He
also finds himself having to explain why he did not accept support from
them. Evidently this was the basis for charges against him by those
who considered themselves "the most eminent apostles". But Paul, who
had good reasons for not accepting their support, recognizes these
detractors as they really were: "false apostles" and "deceitful
workers" (5-15).
While not desiring to act foolishly, he finds it necessary since it
seems that the Corinthians are so willing to accept those who do
(16-21). With some foolish boldness, then, Paul claims equal footing
with his detractors as it pertains to physical heritage. But when it
comes to service as a minister of Christ, he far surpasses them as is
evident in the things he suffered. After listing many examples of
suffering, he concludes that if he must boast it will be in the things
which concern his infirmity, giving his escape from Damascus as an
illustration (22-33).
OUTLINE
I. THE NECESSITY FOR SOME "FOOLISH BOASTING" (1-21)
A. OUT OF CONCERN FOR THEIR FAITHFULNESS (1-4)
1. He resorts to a little folly, because with godly jealousy he
seeks to present them as a chaste virgin to Christ (1-2)
2. Because of their seeming willingness to receive those who
offer a different Jesus, spirit, and gospel, he fears that
their minds may be corrupted (3-4)
B. BECAUSE OF COMPARISON WITH FALSE APOSTLES (5-15)
1. Though untrained in speech, it is not the case with knowledge,
and Paul has demonstrated that he is not inferior to the "most
eminent apostles" (5-6)
2. The reasons he refused to accept support from them (7-12)
a. While with them, he received support from other churches
(7-9a)
b. He is determined to continue this practice of not being a
burden to them (9b-10)
c. Not because he does not love them, but to cut off
opportunity for those who wish to be regarded as Paul in
matters of which they boast (11-12)
3. These boasters are "false apostles" (13-15)
a. As deceitful workers, they transform themselves into
apostles of Christ (13)
b. This is no great marvel, for if Satan transforms himself
into an angel of light, similar tactics can be expected of
his ministers (14-15)
C. WITH GREAT RELUCTANCE (16-21)
1. Paul is no fool, but for those who think otherwise, then
receive him as a fool as he begins to boast (16)
2. Boasting is foolish and not of the Lord, but seeing that many
boast and they seem to put up with them gladly in their
wisdom, then Paul will boast too (17-19)
3. Since they seem willing to endure those who abuse them, Paul
will be bold and boast a little as well (20-21)
II. THE GROUNDS FOR HIS "FOOLISH BOASTING" (22-33)
A. HIS PHYSICAL HERITAGE (22)
1. Like his opponents, He is a Hebrew
2. Like his opponents, He is an Israelite
3. Like his opponents, He is of the seed of Abraham
B. HIS SACRIFICIAL SERVICE AS A MINISTER OF CHRIST (23-33)
1. It is foolish to speak of his opponents as ministers of
Christ, but if so, Paul is one much more (23a)
2. He has labored more, and suffered more, than they (23b)
3. A list of the suffering Paul endured as a minister of Christ
(24-29)
a. Five times he was beaten with 39 stripes by the Jews (24)
b. Three times he was been with rods (25a)
c. Once he was stoned (25b)
d. Three times he was shipwrecked (25c)
e. A night and a day in the deep (25d)
f. Miscellaneous perils on his many journeys (26)
g. Miscellaneous discomforts (27)
h. His daily concern for the condition of churches (28-29)
4. If he must boast, then let it be concerning his infirmity
(30-33)
a. His "infirmity" (possibly his "thorn in the flesh" of
11:7-10) was the persecution he endured in service to
Christ
b. As an example, having to flee Damascus (31-33)
REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER
1) What are the main points of this chapter?
- The necessity for some "foolish boasting" (1-21)
- The grounds for his "foolish boasting" (22-33)
2) How did Paul desire to present the Corinthians to Christ? (2)
- As a chaste virgin
3) What was Paul fearful of concerning the Corinthians? (3)
- That their minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in
Christ
4) What were they seemingly willing to put up with? (4)
- Those who preach a different Jesus, offer a different spirit, and
a different gospel
5) In what area did Paul concede that he was untrained? In what area
was this not so? (6)
- In speech; in knowledge
6) What practice of Paul evidently was used as a charge against him?
(7)
- Preaching of the gospel of God free of charge
7) While at Corinth, from whom did Paul receive support? (8-9)
- Other churches, brethren from Macedonia
8) Why would Paul continue the practice of not accepting support from
the Corinthians? (12)
- To cut off opportunity for those who wish to boast that they are
just like Paul
9) How does Paul describe these opponents of his? (13)
- False apostles, deceitful workers
10) How does Satan often transform himself? And his ministers?
(14-15)
- As an angel of light; as ministers of righteousness
11) How did Paul view the confidence of boasting? (17)
- Not according to the Lord; as foolishness
12) Then why does Paul engage in such boasting? (18-19)
- Because many others were doing it, and the Corinthians seem to
gladly accept them
13) In what three ways was Paul equal to his opponents? (22)
- He was a Hebrew, an Israelite, and of the seed of Abraham
14) List five things endured by Paul as a minister of Christ (24-25)
- Five times he was beaten with 39 stripes
- Three times he was beaten with rods
- Once he was stoned
- Three times he was shipwrecked
- A night and a day he spent in the deep
15) If Paul must boast, in what would he boast? (30)
- In the things that concern his infirmity
16) What event does he relate as an example of his infirmity? (31-33)
- The escape from the governor of Damascus
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