2 Corinthians Week 17

Day 1 

READ 

2 Corinthians 11:3-4 

3 But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent. 4 You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed. 

Paul did not want the Corinthians to be deceived. They should not be quick to believe what they were told, as Eve was. The false teachers were presenting a different kind of Jesus, Holy Spirit and gospel than Paul was. As his custom was, Paul preached a salvation of grace through faith in Jesus at which time a person receives the Holy Spirit. This was the kind of good news the false teachers were not proclaiming.  

REFLECT 

Think about what the Bible teaches about Jesus and the gospel. This will keep you from being deceived when a person presents something not taught in the Bible. 

RESPOND 

Visit with another believer about encouraging new believers to know as much as they can about Jesus by reading the four gospels. Then they can go on to read the book of Acts to see how the Holy Spirit used the apostles and followers of Jesus to spread the gospel.  

Day 2 

READ 

2 Corinthians 11:5-6 

5 But I don’t consider myself inferior in any way to these “super apostles” who teach such things. 6 I may be unskilled as a speaker, but I’m not lacking in knowledge. We have made this clear to you in every possible way. 

Apparently the flowery language of the false teachers seemed persuasive to the Corinthians. Even if Paul did not speak in this manner, what he knew was more important than the manner of his speaking. He had plainly told the Corinthians the gospel and many of them had believed in Jesus. Why should they now think that those who seemed to have fancy language were better than Paul? 

REFLECT 

As you listen to preachers, does the colorful speech of some tend to impress you more than someone who teaches the Bible with simplicity? 

RESPOND 

Read what Paul told believers in 1 Corinthians 2:3-5. Encourage others to speak well but most importantly to present the truth in a way it can be clearly understood. Only the Holy Spirit can bring conviction to hearts; believers can only be faithful witnesses. 

Day 3 

READ 

2 Corinthians 11:7-8 

7 Was I wrong when I humbled myself and honored you by preaching God’s Good News to you without expecting anything in return? 8 I “robbed” other churches by accepting their contributions so I could serve you at no cost. 

Paul said something he was sure the false teachers could not say. He had taken support from other churches so he would not need to receive any money from the Corinthians. False teachers are usually more concerned about what is financially profitable to them. Paul preached the gospel to the Corinthians without expecting anything in return. 

REFLECT 

Paul was not saying it is wrong to support a teacher. His was an unusual situation and he didn’t want people to think he was preaching only for the support he could get from them. 

RESPOND 

With a friend consider some other passages Paul wrote about receiving support. See 1 Corinthians 9:13-15 and 1 Timothy 5:17-18. 

Day 4 

READ 

2 Corinthians 11:9-11 

9 And when I was with you and didn’t have enough to live on, I did not become a financial burden to anyone. For the brothers who came from Macedonia brought me all that I needed. I have never been a burden to you, and I never will be. 10 As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, no one in all of Greece will ever stop me from boasting about this. 11 Why? Because I don’t love you? God knows that I do. 

Paul explained how he had received support from those in northern Greece so he could minister without cost to those in southern Greece. He had never been a burden to the Corinthian believers and promised he would never be. He was able to boast about this because the false teachers could not. He was motivated by his love for them no matter what someone else said about his motives. 

REFLECT 

Have you sometimes done something at no cost to others even though it was a sacrifice for you? 

RESPOND 

Talk with a friend about loving others and doing things for them without cost. Meditate on Philippians 2:5-8 for your chief example. 

Day 5 

READ 

2 Corinthians 11:12-13 

12 But I will continue doing what I have always done. This will undercut those who are looking for an opportunity to boast that their work is just like ours. 13 These people are false apostles. They are deceitful workers who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ. 

Paul contrasted himself with the false teachers who were deceitful and acting like apostles. This means they were pretending to be the official representatives of Jesus Christ rather than just as believers in Him. Paul had an apostle’s credentials; they did not. Paul was ministering to the Corinthians without cost to them. Apparently these false apostles were not doing the same. 

REFLECT 

Be careful to distinguish the true teachers of the Bible from those who are only pretending to be.  

RESPOND 

The Internet makes it possible to check organizations people say they represent. Check on such and especially look for beliefs or Statements of Faith. Do they believe that salvation is by believing in Christ alone by faith alone, or do they think you have to do or believe something in addition to believing in Jesus to become right with God? Adding anything to Christ’s finished work on the cross is contrary to the Scriptures.