2 Corinthians 11-12: God is Strong in Our Weakness
All Scripture is God-breathed and useful, but there are some Scriptures that we can consider the Himalayan mountaintops of the Bible. In the next few months, we will be looking at a series of great texts that inspire and move us - the "Himalayan Heights" of God's Word.
Today's Reading: 2 Corinthians 11:1-4
The Corinthians were Paul's problem church. In chapters 11-12, he defended his apostleship and shows us the value of weakness and humility.
Through the Bible Readings: 2 Chronicles 15-16, Acts 4:23–37, Psalm78:19–25, Proverbs 16:10–11
If you wish to read through the Bible in a year, follow these readings.
Devotional: A Different Gospel
Oscar Wilde said, "Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit." That may be so, but Paul opens 2 Corinthians 11 with a heaping helping of it, demonstrating that can be an appropriate form of holy writ. He employed sarcasm liberally in Galatians as well, for much the same reason. The Corinthians were, to Paul's amazement, turning aside from their true loyalty to Christ and embraced those who preached a false gospel about a false Jesus.
Verse 4 spells it out clearly. "
For if a person comes and preaches another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or you receive a different spirit, which you had not received, or a different gospel, which you had not accepted, you put up with it splendidly!"
One of the frustrations of any pastor is how easily people will accept false teachings and how they sometimes struggle against the truth of God's word. Paul was amazed and disheartened at the way the Corinthians embraced falsehood.
In these next two chapters, Paul will assert the validity of his own apostleship and warn the Corinthians about those who would lead them astray. He also gives us some powerful insights about true ministry. But as we read these first few verses, as we see Paul express his astonishment at how prone the Corinthians are to being led astray, let us remember this important truth.
Jesus warned us, Paul warned us - just about every book of the New Testament warns us that the church would have wolves among the sheep, deceivers seeking to lead astray the people of God. There would be false Christs, false apostles, false prophets, false teachers, and false brethren. These would be inside the church, claiming to be true believers, claiming to preach the true gospel, but their hearts would be false and their intent would be to lead believers astray and to prey on them.
Too many Christians refuse to believe these Scriptures. If someone claims to be a believer, they refuse to believe anything else. They refuse to hold them up to the light of biblical truth and discern whether they are true or false.
Consider this. We are described often as sheep. Sheep live in a world of spiritual predators who seek to make a meal of them. If sheep refuse to be on guard for the wolves, to stay under the protection of the shepherd, they become prey. They are meals for predators. Christians who do not ground themselves in the word of God and keep a watchful eye for those who are false are in danger of becoming prey for the spiritual predators who are all around us.
As we work our way this week through 2 Corinthians 11-12, we will learn more about how to spot those who are false and those who are true.
In these next two chapters, Paul will assert the validity of his own apostleship and warn the Corinthians about those who would lead them astray. He also gives us some powerful insights about true ministry. But as we read these first few verses, as we see Paul express his astonishment at how prone the Corinthians are to being led astray, let us remember this important truth.
Jesus warned us, Paul warned us - just about every book of the New Testament warns us that the church would have wolves among the sheep, deceivers seeking to lead astray the people of God. There would be false Christs, false apostles, false prophets, false teachers, and false brethren. These would be inside the church, claiming to be true believers, claiming to preach the true gospel, but their hearts would be false and their intent would be to lead believers astray and to prey on them.
Too many Christians refuse to believe these Scriptures. If someone claims to be a believer, they refuse to believe anything else. They refuse to hold them up to the light of biblical truth and discern whether they are true or false.
Consider this. We are described often as sheep. Sheep live in a world of spiritual predators who seek to make a meal of them. If sheep refuse to be on guard for the wolves, to stay under the protection of the shepherd, they become prey. They are meals for predators. Christians who do not ground themselves in the word of God and keep a watchful eye for those who are false are in danger of becoming prey for the spiritual predators who are all around us.
As we work our way this week through 2 Corinthians 11-12, we will learn more about how to spot those who are false and those who are true.
Father, guide us in the way of truth and protect us from those who are evil.
Think and Pray:
Are you a faithful student of God's word so that you can identify those who are false?
Do you have a grasp on discerning true and false teachers?
Do you have a grasp on discerning true and false teachers?
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