II Corinthians 11:1-15
For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough. (v. 4) Paul is troubled that there are other preachers (one or more) who are leading the Corinthians astray (…another Jesus, …a different spirit, …a different gospel) and that they put up with it readily enough! Clearly he is frustrated, disappointed and angry, even to the point of sarcasm: I consider that I am not in the least inferior to these super-apostles. (v. 5) Read “super-apostles” tongue-in-cheek. He sees his detractors as showmen, clearly fluent compared to him, but preaching a misguided message.
Paul talks about “boasting” in verses 7-10. But his boasts have to do with his humility, the fact that he preached the Gospel to the Corinthians without charge. This is in contrast to the false pretenders who preach to raise money. They claim that Paul’s failure to charge for his ministry means that his preaching is worthless. The only proper preaching, in their minds, is preaching for which the preacher gets paid. Paul refuses to take the bait. In verse 10 he closes this argument with his strongest statement: As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be silenced in the regions of Achaia. He will continue to preach the Gospel without remuneration, no matter what others think! Paul will later say in Romans 8:31, If God is for us, who can be against us? We need to claim that for ourselves!
Slava Bohu!
I was particularly struck by the notion of distraction. False teachers distract us from our focus on Jesus and following him. All kinds of things can distract us in this world, but those that we look to for religious guidance can really lead us away. I/we have to question and check everything out by reading scripture and looking for the fruits of the Spirit.