2 Corinthians Week 18

Day 1 

READ 

2 Corinthians 11:14-15 

14 But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no wonder that his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. In the end they will get the punishment their wicked deeds deserve. 

Paul presented how difficult it is sometimes to distinguish righteousness from unrighteousness. One might be deceived in thinking something is right when it is really wrong. Paul wanted his readers to know that those who are servants of the devil will someday receive the full punishment they deserve. This reveals the devil has his servants who seek to deceive people. 

REFLECT 

Are you aware that there are those who represent the devil and not Jesus? 

RESPOND 

Talk with a friend about how to distinguish servants of Jesus from servants of the devil. One way may be by noticing whom they are glorifying: themselves or Jesus. Another way is by asking where a particular teaching is found in the Bible. If it is not found in the Bible it is not of God. 

Day 2 

READ 

2 Corinthians 11:16-18 

16 Again I say, don’t think that I am a fool to talk like this. But even if you do, listen to me, as you would to a foolish person, while I also boast a little. 17 Such boasting is not from the Lord, but I am acting like a fool. 18 And since others boast about their human achievements, I will, too. 

Because the servants of the devil were boasting about their achievements, Paul saw the need to point out what his accomplishments were. He admitted such boasting didn’t honor the Lord but he needed to do so as the Corinthians seemed to be impressed by what the false teachers were boasting about themselves.  

REFLECT 

Do you feel like Paul about it not being good to boast about yourself? 

RESPOND 

Perhaps Paul was thinking of Proverbs 27:2 about not praising oneself. Some have even used the expression, “Self-praise stinks.” Although Paul did not want to praise himself, he felt the need to do so because the Corinthians were impressed with the credentials of the false teachers. 

Day 3 

READ 

2 Corinthians 11:19-21 

19 After all, you think you are so wise, but you enjoy putting up with fools! 20 You put up with it when someone enslaves you, takes everything you have, takes advantage of you, takes control of everything, and slaps you in the face. 21 I’m ashamed to say that we’ve been too “weak” to do that! But whatever they dare to boast about—I’m talking like a fool again—I dare to boast about it, too. 

The false teachers had taken advantage of the Corinthian believers. Paul confessed he had seemed weak to them for not boasting of his accomplishments and what he had been through in serving the Lord Jesus. With that in mind, he now will begin to tell about himself that will seem like boasting.  

REFLECT 

What should be the main focus as you tell about Jesus—the Lord Jesus Christ or yourself? 

RESPOND 

Visit with a friend about the delicate problem of how to tell about Jesus but express gratitude for what He has done through you. Give each other some examples of how you’ve done this in the past—and perhaps some examples when you failed to give the proper balance. 

Day 4 

READ 

2 Corinthians 11:22-23 

22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. 

Paul began to list some of his credentials and qualifications. By comparison with the false teachers with whom the Corinthians were impressed, Paul had far excelled them. He had actually suffered for Christ and false teachers seldom do because the message they preach is not objectionable. Paul’s message was of grace from the resurrected Christ; others preached a message of works without grace. 

REFLECT 

Think of all Paul had experienced as he sought to proclaim the gospel. 

RESPOND 

Not every believer will experience suffering as the apostle Paul did, but some may. Many in the last century have paid with their lives for believing and following Jesus. Pray especially for those in the persecuted Church who suffer for Christ. 

Day 5 

READ 

2 Corinthians 11:24-25 

24 Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. 

Paul continued to write about what he had experienced in preaching the gospel of the resurrected Christ. Before he was a believer in Jesus, Paul had persecuted Christians. Now he was being persecuted as a Christ-follower as he sought to lead others to trust in Jesus as Savior. Deuteronomy 25:3 instructed Jews not to beat someone more than 40 lashes, but Paul was brought to that point five different times. Not all Paul experienced is recorded in the Scriptures. 

REFLECT 

Think of the terrible persecution Paul went through to tell others about Jesus, the Messiah. 

RESPOND 

Read Philippians 3:1-11 to see what Paul had in his background and yet counted it all as worthless in comparison to knowing Christ. Talk with a friend about this passage and think of your lives in this regard.