ll CORINTHIANS LESSON 13


     We will begin this lesson in II Corinthians 11:1 "Would to God ye
could bear with me a little in [my] folly: and indeed bear with me."

     In the latter part of chapter 10, we saw Paul saying, if any one
had anything to boast of, it would be him. Now he is calling that
folly. Whatever it takes for Paul to make them realize he has
authority from God to teach them, is the argument Paul will give. Look
over my boasting and understand what I am trying to tell you, would be
another way of putting it.

     II 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."

     This jealousy is not in the physical sense. Paul is saying, I
have claimed you for the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul wants these
Corinthians, who started out with him, to stay loyal to the Lord Jesus
Christ. Being a "chaste virgin" is saying not to stray away from pure
Christianity. This has to do with the spiritual. God will not take
second place to anything. In fact, He will not share you with any
other God, or any other teaching. Paul loves them as dear children. He
tries to keep them with the simple message of the gospel they had
received through him. We must walk in our salvation, after we have
received it.

     II 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."

     Paul does not want them to receive any other message than the
simple message of the cross. Galatians 1:8 "But though we, or an angel
from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have
preached unto you, let him be accursed."  Galatians 1:9 "As we said
before, so say I now again, If any [man] preach any other gospel unto
you than that ye have received, let him be accursed."  The mind is at
enmity with God. The mind will lead you astray. Christianity is of the
heart. Even today, some of the doctrines {that claim to be of Christ}
are not telling the truth. Many people, looking for something new,
find something very old, a false doctrine. Christianity is simple. It
is not complicated. Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of
Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that
believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."

     II 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]."

     Paul is explaining to them that he had already brought them the
gospel, and had even taught them of the Spirit. If this person is
teaching them a message better than the one Paul gave and one they had
rather believe, then stay with him. If he is not, why break away? Why
are they seeking for something else, when they already have Jesus as
Saviour and Lord? They, also, have been introduced to the Holy Spirit.
There is no need to seek another.

     II Corinthians 11:5 "For I suppose I was not a whit behind the
very chiefest apostles."

     It seems that the Corinthians {led by this new teacher} have
begun to compare Paul with the other apostles. Possibly, because he
was not of the original 12, they have questioned whether he is an
apostle at all, or not.

     II Corinthians 11:6 "But though [I be] rude in speech, yet not in
knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all
things."

     Paul, after he had seen the Light, went into the desert.
Galatians 1:15 "But when it pleased God, who separated me from my
mother's womb, and called [me] by his grace,"  Galatians 1:16 "To
reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen;
immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:" Galatians 1:17
"Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me;
but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus." Galatians
1:18 "Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and
abode with him fifteen days."  It seems from this, that Paul was
taught of the Spirit for three years.  Paul was not necessarily a
great orator, but was a minister of truth. Paul's ministry was
verified over and over by the signs and wonders that followed him.
Paul was an educated man in the ways of the temple, but had no formal
training to be a Christian minister. None of the apostles were
formally trained.  Their training was by the Holy Spirit.

     II Corinthians 11:7 "Have I committed an offence in abasing
myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the
gospel of God freely?"

     When Paul opened the church at Corinth, he asked nothing for
himself. He preached the good news of Jesus Christ to them, free of
charge. Because he did not charge them to preach, does that make him
less a preacher? Being a tent maker was not thought of as a prominent
job. This is, possibly, what he is saying being "abased". The message
of good news from God that Paul brought them free of charge, is the
most precious possession of any of us.

     II Corinthians 11:8 "I robbed other churches, taking wages [of
them], to do you service."

     Paul is probably speaking of the church at Philippi. This is the
only church there is anything recorded of that helped Paul with his
expenses. The workman is worthy of his hire {whether secular work, or
church work}. God established the high priest and his family to live
of the things of the offerings. Everything Paul had ever done for
Corinth had been at no charge.
     II Corinthians 11:9 "And when I was present with you, and wanted,
I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the
brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all [things] I
have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and [so] will I keep
[myself]."

     Paul took great pride in the fact that he did not minister for
the money they would pay him. Mostly he worked as a tent maker to feed
and clothe himself. The church that is mentioned that helped Paul with
funds, was the church at Philippi in Macedonia. Paul says, that is not
all, I will not ask you for anything.

     II Corinthians 11:10 "As the truth of Christ is in me, no man
shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia."

     He is just saying, that he would not take their funds, even if
they offered, because he wanted to prove to them that his gospel
message was with no strings attached. Paul would give them no room for
suspicion of his motives.

     II Corinthians 11:11 "Wherefore? because I love you not? God
knoweth."

     They were of a suspicious nature, and it seemed right to Paul to
not help that suspicion along. He says, God knows that I love you as a
parent would.

     II Corinthians 11:12 "But what I do, that I will do, that I may
cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they
glory, they may be found even as we."

     We see, in this, that the new teachers who have been opposed to
Paul are saying, they are not interested in being paid for their
services. At the same time, they are secretly receiving from the
church at Corinth themselves. Paul is saying, that all who minister in
the church have needs for their own personal care.

     II Corinthians 11:13 "For such [are] false apostles, deceitful
workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ."

     Paul says that these new teachers that have come into the church
are not truly apostles of Christ. These are people who have chosen to
minister as a way of making a living. Paul believes they are not
really called of God. They are pulling Paul down to pull themselves
up.

     II Corinthians 11:14 "And no marvel; for Satan himself is
transformed into an angel of light."

     Not every one in the church proclaiming Christianity is truly of
God. Satan, himself, tries to mimic all the things the Lord does. He
even many times pretends to be of the Light, when he is really
darkness to the utmost. We are told to try the spirits, and see
whether they are of God, or not. The truth is, that Satan is a
counterfeit. He may appear, at a glance to be of God, but a closer
examination will reveal who he is. He counterfeits the gifts of the
Spirit many times.

     II Corinthians 11:15 "Therefore [it is] no great thing if his
ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose
end shall be according to their works."

     The really sad thing about false doctrines is, that at a glance
they appear to be real. A person, who is not well versed in the
Scriptures, would quickly accept the teaching, because it is close to
truth. One quick giveaway is that anything that elevates man up to the
level of God is false. Also, any doctrine that denies that Jesus was
Emmanuel {God with us} is false. Jesus is God the Word who took on the
form of flesh and dwelt among us. Anything less than that, is a false
doctrine. Anything, or anyone, who denies the power of the shed blood
of Jesus is, also, false. The reason so many people, then and now,
fall for this false teaching, is that it usually elevates man and
brings God down to the level of man. Lucifer's sin was in wanting to
be God.  Jesus said, that there would be false teachers, and many
would follow them. Study your Bible carefully, and do not be deceived.
Test every spirit by the Word of God.
































                     ll Corinthians 13 Questions


1.  Boasting is _______.
2.  What is verse 1 saying?
3.  I am jealous over you with _________jealousy.
4.  What is meant by "chaste virgin" in verse 2?
5.  We must _______ in our salvation after we have received it.
6.  Who did the serpent beguile in the Garden of Eden?
7.  What did Paul fear would happen to their minds?
8.  What does Galations chapter 1 verses 8 and 9 say?
9.  Christianity is of the ________.
10. Quote Romans chapter 1 verse 16.
11. In verse 4, what is Paul telling them to do with this new
    minister?
12. These Corinthians, led by this new teacher, have begun to do what?
13. What had Paul charged the church at Corinth when he ministered to
    them?
14. What is he probably speaking of when he uses the term "abased"?
15. What is the most precious possession we have?
16. What church is Paul speaking of, when he says, he robbed other
    churches?
17. What were the high priest and his family to live of?
18. What had Paul taken great pride in about ministering to these
    Corinthians?
19. How did Paul love these Corinthians?
20. What are these new teachers secretly doing?
21. What did Paul call the new teachers in verse 13?
22. Satan, himself, is transformed into an angel of ________.
23. Satan is a __________.
24. What is so sad about false doctrines?
25. How can we defend against false doctrines?