Author: Rev. Lek Aik Wee

2 Corinthians 11:4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

The phrase “ye might well bear with him” was a word of caution to the church in Corinth – “You put up with it well enough.” Now the people are in danger of accepting a different gospel. The changes in doctrine were presented gradually so that the members of the Corinthian church hardly noticed the difference. Paul himself has to call their attention to the spiritual threat in their midst. For this reason, he must be direct in confronting the readers.¹

The Apostle Paul’s concern was the truth must be surrendered to the enemies of the gospel. The stake was high and the impact eternal! If accepted, it would signify the demise of the church and her witness for the Lord. It was as if he was crying out to God for mercy to intervene that the church in Corinth may be awakened to the perils they were facing.

2 Corinthians 11:4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

A gospel that does not save. A message void of divine power to transport a soul bound for hell to alter course to go to heaven. How frightening to find such false teachers masquerading for the truth. The church has been hijacked by spiritual terrorists!

The Apostle Paul now speaks about the reality of someone who has come to Corinth to proclaim another Jesus, a different spirit, and a different gospel.

someone proclaims a Jesus

other than the one we proclaimed

you receive a spirit

different from the one you received

[you accept] a gospel

different from the one you accepted¹

2 Corinthians 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

“Simplicity” means “Singleness”. There is only one gospel of God that saves, through Jesus Christ as revealed in the Scripture – Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

The Apostle Paul had to write down exactly what is the gospel when he defined it without apology and with earnest sincerity. This was the gospel by which he was saved – 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

2 Corinthians 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

The serpent said to Eve, “Ye shall not surely die” (Gen. 3:4). It was contrary to God’s instruction to Eve, “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” Beguile means “to seduce wholly or to deceive completely”. By trickery, in craftiness, the serpent convinced Eve of his lie.

Proverbs 12:19 The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

Proverbs 12:17 He thatspeaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.

Henrik Obsen (1828-1906) observed well, “Lies can be so furbished and disguised in gorgeous wrappings that not a soul would recognizes their skinny carcasses.”

The reality of the serpent’s deception was recorded in the stark reality of Adam and thus Eve’s death in Genesis 5:5, “And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died.”

2 Corinthians 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

Jesus warned His disciples to follow Him and Him only in Matthew 7:13-19 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

“Enter the Strait Gate” is God’s call to men throughout the ages to a life with God. The word “strait” means narrow, restrictive, expressing the difficulty to enter. What is the strait gate? It is the gate of salvation. It is the gate of conversion and regeneration. This entrance through the strait gate describes the beginning of this blessed life.

2 Corinthians 11:1 Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.

The Apostle Paul asked that the church in Corinth will bear with him as he took the unenviable task of authenticating his ministry so that they may not be hoodwinked by the false apostles that has crept into the church. He was not blowing his own trumpet but affirming the truth that his teachings were from Christ!

Martin Luther, the 16th century Reformer understood and explained well the Apostle Paul’s rationale for magnifying his office as an apostle of Jesus Christ when he said in his commentary to the Galatians, “Every minister should make much of his calling and impress upon others the fact that he has been delegated by God to preach the Gospel. As the ambassador of a government is honored for his office and not for his private person, so the minister of Christ should exalt his office in order to gain authority among men. This is not vain glory, but needful glorying. Paul takes pride in his ministry, not to his own praise but to the praise of God. Writing to the Romans, he declares, “Inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office,” i.e., I want to be received not as Paul of Tarsus, but as Paul the apostle and ambassador of Jesus Christ, in order that people might be more eager to hear. Paul exalts his ministry out of the desire to make known the name, the grace, and the mercy of God.”

He sought their understanding as he defended his ministry so that they will affirm in their hearts the Word of God that he has imparted to them. He was not being long-winded, he says, “indeed bear with me”. It is interesting to observe how Job had to defend his integrity before his friends but before God, he dare not speak of any merits. He understood that his clarification with his friends will being honour to God’s Name because he was a true follower of God.

2 Corinthians 10:18 For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.

Matthew Henry observed well, “Of all flattery, self-flattery is the worst, and self-applause is seldom any better than self-flattery and self-deceit. At the best, self-commendation is no praise, and it is oftentimes as foolish and vain as it is proud; therefore, instead of praising or commending ourselves, we should strive to approve ourselves to God, and his approbation will be our best commendation.”

The Apostle Paul had to rest in his Lord for comfort before an unruly band. He sought consolation in God’s approval. He was able to articulate the fact that souls were saved through his preaching of the gospel. The church in Corinth was one such example. It demonstrated the power of God to save souls when he obeyed the gospel call to preach His Word and the church was established (Acts 18).

Job was a man approved of God. He was a man whom the Lord commendeth. Like the Apostle Paul, it was purported by Job’s friend Bildad that Job is a hypocrite, therefore his hope shall perish. He has not been a sincere follower of God. As such, he shall face God’s wrath upon him.

This may be how Bildad sounded, “Job, you are finished. There is no hope for a deserter of God. You have not walked in the counsel of the godly, you have not refrain yourself from sin in your life, you have mocked God by your pretense.”