2 Corinthians 11

Paul expresses a godly jealousy for the Corinthians, fearing they might be corrupted by false apostles preaching a different gospel, much like Eve was deceived. He defends his apostolic authority and integrity, particularly his refusal to accept financial support from them to distinguish himself from deceitful workers. To counter those who boast, Paul reluctantly engages in his own "foolish" boasting, detailing his immense sufferings and perils endured for Christ, asserting his superior credentials as a minister. He concludes that if he must glory, he will glory in his infirmities.

Paul begins by expressing his deep concern, a "godly jealousy," that the Corinthian church might be corrupted from the "simplicity that is in Christ" by those preaching "another Jesus" or "another gospel," akin to Eve's deception. He asserts his apostolic authority, claiming he is "not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles," despite his humble demeanor. Paul explains his practice of preaching freely and not being a financial burden to the Corinthians, even receiving support from other churches, to "cut off occasion" from "false apostles" who are "deceitful workers" and transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, just as Satan appears as an angel of light. He then reluctantly engages in boasting, acknowledging it as "folly," to demonstrate his true credentials. He enumerates a long list of his sufferings and perils, including beatings, imprisonments, shipwrecks, and constant dangers, all endured for the gospel, culminating in his daily care for all the churches. He concludes that if he must boast, he will boast in his infirmities, citing his escape from Damascus as an example.

Paul opens the chapter by appealing to the Corinthians to bear with his "folly," driven by a "godly jealousy" for them. He likens their spiritual purity to a chaste virgin espoused to Christ and fears they might be corrupted from the "simplicity that is in Christ" by the subtilty of false teachers, just as Eve was beguiled by the serpent. He warns against accepting "another Jesus," "another spirit," or "another gospel" from these newcomers. Paul then defends his own apostolic standing, asserting that he is in no way inferior to the "chiefest apostles," despite his perceived rudeness in speech, for his knowledge and ministry have been fully manifest among them. He justifies his practice of preaching the gospel freely without being a financial burden to the Corinthians, even "robbing other churches" by accepting wages from them to serve Corinth. This practice, he explains, is not due to a lack of love, but strategically implemented to "cut off occasion" from "false apostles" and "deceitful workers" who transform themselves into ministers of Christ, much like Satan disguises himself as an "angel of light." Paul states that the end of these false ministers will be according to their works. He then reluctantly embraces the act of boasting, admitting it is "foolish," but necessary because the Corinthians readily tolerate those who exploit and abuse them. He challenges the false apostles' claims by comparing his own Jewish heritage and, more significantly, his immense sufferings and labours as a minister of Christ. He recounts numerous trials: more abundant labours, countless stripes, frequent imprisonments, near-death experiences, five times receiving forty stripes save one, thrice beaten with rods, once stoned, thrice shipwrecked, a night and a day in the deep. His perils were constant, spanning journeys, waters, robbers, countrymen, heathen, cities, wilderness, and even among false brethren. He endured weariness, painfulness, watchings, hunger, thirst, fastings, cold, and nakedness. Beyond these external hardships, he bore the daily "care of all the churches." Paul concludes that if he must glory, he will glory in his infirmities, affirming the truth of his words by God as his witness, and recounting his escape from Damascus in a basket as a testament to his weakness.