Journey Through The Bible
     Old Testament Reading: 1 Samuel 1-3
     New Testament Reading: 2 Corinthians 11

But I fear that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your minds may be seduced from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 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! (2 Corinthians 11:3-4).

False teachers and apostles came into the Corinthian church, just as Satan did in the Garden. Paul, in no uncertain words, warned these gullible Greeks that the same Satan that deceived Eve was behind these false apostles. For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan disguises himself as an angel of light (v13-14). Then, to drive his point home, he adds a touch of sarcasm that they put up with it splendidly! (v4b).

Despite their vicious attacks on him, Paul’s quarrel with the false apostles was not personal, but doctrinal. He could tolerate those who were hostile to him if they preached the gospel of Jesus Christ (Phil. 1:15–18). Those who distorted the true gospel, however, received Paul’s strongest condemnation (Gal. 1:6–9).

Paul’s concern is for the minds of the Corinthian Believers, for Satan is a liar and tries to get us to listen to his lies, ponder them, and then believe them. This is what he did with Eve. First, he questioned God’s Word, Did God really say. Then, he denied God’s Word No! You will certainly not die. Finally, he substituted his lie. You will be like God, knowing good and evil (Gen 3:1,4,5).

Satan is an imitator. He copies what God does and then tries to convince us that his offer is better than God’s. He does so by using counterfeit ministers who pretend to serve God, but who are actually servants of Satan.

Paul contrast the true and false apostles, showing the Corinthians three ways to know the difference.

First, false teachers proclaim a different Jesus and a different Gospel. 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 (v4).

A false teacher may talk about Jesus. He may sound biblical, even quoting scripture (usually out of context), but he is fooling you. Their spirit is opposite the Spirit of Christ. Their gospel is not the Gospel of Salvation, but a prosperity gospel, a social gospel, or some other gospel drawing you away from the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

Second, false teachers have a lot of charisma without godly knowledge. Paul said, Even if I am untrained in public speaking, I am certainly not untrained in knowledge (v6a). He argues others may be more eloquent, but what he lacks in eloquence he more than compensates for in knowledge. He taught them what God taught him.

False teachers draw you in by their mesmerizing speech and lead you astray. Certainly, godly preachers can be eloquent in speech, but they stand firm on the basic truths of the Gospel of Christ. Their speech is filled with a knowledge of Scripture. An understanding that only comes from devoted, prayerful time studying the Bible and God-given wisdom to handle Scripture.

Third, false teachers are greedy. Apparently, some of these false apostles were telling the Corinthians that Paul’s words were not worth hearing because he didn’t charge an admission fee. After all, isn’t the importance of a teacher measured by the fee he commands? Paul addressed that accusation by saying, did I commit a sin by humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge?(v7).

False teachers peddle the Gospel for personal profit. However, Godly teachers, like the Apostle Paul, are more concerned about the well-being of those they teach than they are about themselves.

The Corinthians had left their first love and were no longer giving single-hearted devotion to Jesus Christ. It was not only that they had turned against Paul, but they had turned away from Christ, and that was far more serious. May we learn the lesson Paul preached to the Corinthians and always stay true to the saving grace of the Gospel of Christ!