- 2 Corinthians 11:11-15
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- 2 Cor 11:11 (KJB)
- Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth.
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- Paul’s real intentions toward the church at Corinth was love and not
personal gain. The critics probably had stated that if Paul really loved the
Corinthians he would have treated them more kindly but Paul always stated
his case straightforwardly. He states that God knows his love for the
Corinthians and Paul also had a method of building a church and that was not
placing any financial burden on the church which he was trying to build, in
fact, in prior time Paul labored as a tentmaker so he would not be a burden
to anyone. This shows a true spirit of love for the people he was trying to
reach. The false teachers were only in it for the money and for recognition.
The very ones who accused Paul were the ones who were performing their own
accusations.
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- 2 Cor 11:12 (KJB)
- 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.
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- I may cut off - Removing as in an amputation
- Occasion - Opportunity
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- Paul is stating that he will continue conducting ministry as he always
has done because he was doing it God’s way and had no hidden or false agenda
in performing ministry. Those who had accused Paul in Corinth would now be
on the defensive because Paul stated that he was going to remove their
opportunity because they were always looking for opportunities to preach
their false teachings and slander Paul. Their boast was in their abilities
but now Paul is going to make sure that those false teachers were as he was,
that is, instead of them riding high with their wealth, he would make them
to become as poor as he was, that is, so poor that his own ministry could
not support him. They would be abased to the point of not having a ministry
and not being in demand as speakers.
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- 2 Cor 11:13 (KJB)
- For such are false apostles, deceitful workers,
transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
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- Deceitful - Adulteration of the truth
- Transforming - To change the outward figure or fashion
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- Here Paul is laying it right on the line. First, he states that these
false teachers are nothing but false Apostles. As the Lord Jesus Christ had
His Apostles, these false teachers are false apostles. The definition of the
word “apostle” means one that is sent.” The one who sends them is the Lord
Jesus Christ and the Lord never sends out false Apostles like these. Then
Paul labels them as “deceitful workers.” A deceitful worker is one who
adulterates the truth, that is, they twist the Scriptures to make it say
what they want. This is why there are so many cults today and why there are
so many denominations of churches, because each denomination was founded on
the teachings of one man, if they weren’t, then there would be one universal
church with the same doctrines. Unfortunately, today with all the false
bible versions and those who have appointed themselves to church offices, we
have a plethora of false teachings pervading Christianity.
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- Paul then goes on to state that these deceiving workers are transforming
themselves into Apostles of Christ. Now the word in the Greek for
“transforming” means only the outward fashion has changed, this means that
the inward man with all its greed and avarice and false teachings are still
there. They are just covered by a new facade. We see this in the cults when
they “love bomb” somebody with the outward appearance of love but the inner
man has not changed, it is still reprobate. This partial transformation has
only one goal in mind that is “deception.” These false teachers desire to be
lauded as great Christians but they are nothing more than unsaved deceivers.
Any teacher or anyone who claims to be a Christian who adulterates the truth
must be thought of as an unbeliever. Now a Christian may hold to a wrong
doctrine but if they are true, they will see their error in the Bible and
will change. What is in view in this verse are those who are willfully
deceiving the Church.
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- 2 Cor 11:14 (KJB)
- And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an
angel of light.
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- Marvel - Regarding with astonishment or wonder
- Transformed - To change the outward figure or fashion
- Angel - Messenger
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- Here is Satan’s method in these last days. Movies like The Exorcist
muddies the waters of understanding concerning Satan’s procedures in these
last days. The Bible is very clear here that Satan transforms himself into a
messenger of light. The word “transform” is the same word used in verse 13.
Satan comes as a friend with a gospel that is very “irenic” and cannot save
anyone. Irenic theology is the theology of peace through conciliation and
compromise. We would know this as the ecumenical, compromising gospel which
has no more power than a dead flashlight battery. So Satan comes in the last
days through his emissaries, the false teachers and we see them everywhere,
in the churches, in the seminaries, in ministries, anywhere the true Gospel
is being preached, there will be a false teacher to refute it. Satan
transforms himself as an angel of light while retaining all the hatred and
bitterness for the true Gospel. No false teacher is ever serving the Lord
Jesus Christ, they are all serving Satan.
(1 John 2:21 KJV) I have not written unto you
because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of
the truth. So the next time you hear someone
twisting the Scriptures, you will know that it is another satanic
transformation and you must flee and not accept what they say.
(1 Tim 6:3-5 KJV) If any man teach otherwise,
and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus
Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; {4} He
is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words,
whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, {5} Perverse
disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing
that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
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- 2 Cor 11:15 (KJB)
- 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.
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- Ministers - Servants
- Be transformed - To change the outward figure or fashion
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- Paul continues his thread with a “therefore” which means based on the
information in the previous verse that Satan outwardly transforms himself as
an angel of light, therefore it is no great thing that his followers would
do the same thing. All through the history of the church it has been
plagued, both inside and outside, by those who are unsaved and have
attempted to quash true Christianity. One only need look at the Roman
Catholic Church, this institution looks like it is Christian with all the
bells and whistles, but when you look deep down by comparing their doctrines
and actions to Scripture, it is only a prima facie organization. It’s
doctrines have caused the deaths of millions of true Christians throughout
the ages, so we can safely say that here is an organization loaded with
transformed servants of Satan. You can look the modern charismatic movement
with all its signs and wonders plus all the satanic teachers it has with
their howling like dogs, uncontrollable laughing, obsession with money,
millionaire preachers who just harp on money, fake prophecies to deceive,
and many other deceits. This movement is definitely loaded with transformed
servants of Satan. Everybody loves Joel Osteen but he is helping people go
to Hell with confidence. Did you ever hear on his “show” anybody becoming
saved? Did you ever hear the true Gospel being preached on his show? I am
picking on Joel because he is a hot bookseller but he is only one of the
many out there who are transformed servants of Satan. Please keep the
following statement in mind and you will not get snared. No preacher is true
who does not preach the true Gospel.
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