11:1 a little foolish Paul is being sarcastic: the super-apostles (v. 5) considered Paul’s message and methods to be absurd. See note on 1 Cor 1:18.

11:2 with a godly jealousy Not resentment or envy, but intense devotion—like the devotion God had for His own people (Exod 20:5). Paul planted the church in Corinth, but they rebelled against him; Paul considers it his responsibility to bring them back to genuine faith through his godly jealousy (zeloō in Greek).

promised you in marriage According to Jewish tradition, fathers were to present their daughters as virgins. Paul feels that the church at Corinth has been defiled by following false teachers and presents this analogy to make his point.

11:3 as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness Refers to the events of Gen 3:1–13. Eve believed the lie of the serpent, which convinced her to eat from the tree that God had forbidden.

craftiness By extension of his analogy, this refers to the deceitfulness of Paul’s opponents in Corinth. These people cast doubt on God’s promises and Paul’s apostolic authority.

11:4 Jesus whom we have not proclaimed Paul’s opponents may have downplayed the importance of Jesus’ crucifixion, since Greeks considered crucifixion to be a sign of weakness (see 1 Cor 1:18 and note). By contrast, Paul presented the crucifixion of Christ as the heart of his gospel (1 Cor 2:2; 2 Cor 13:4; Gal 3:1).

different spirit The so-called super-apostles either proclaimed that Christ wasn’t crucified or that His crucifixion degraded Him as Savior (compare note on 2 Cor 11:5; note on v. 1). In doing so, they preached the opposite message of Paul, who only wanted to proclaim Christ crucified (13:4; 1 Cor 1:18). Paul was interested in their relationship with Jesus (compare 2 Cor 11:2), but his opponents were interested in their own gain (compare 1 Cor 4:6–13; 2 Cor 12:11–13). In this regard, the spirit of their teaching was one of arrogance.

different gospel Paul is likely referring to his opponents’ culturally motivated attempts to undermine the importance of Jesus’ sacrificial death as the pivotal component of the gospel (see note on 1 Cor 2:2).

11:5 preeminent apostles A sarcastic reference to Paul’s opponents in Corinth, who were trying to turn the church community against him. These people may have also boasted about the Corinthian church as if they had planted it (2 Cor 10:12–15; compare 1 Cor 4:6–13).

11:6 unskilled in speech Paul’s speaking abilities did not meet the standards of some in Corinth. Many people in the region were trained in professional rhetoric, which was highly valued in Greek culture.

not in knowledge Paul may be saying that he does not primarily possess knowledge, which would make this a parenthetical statement against the Corinthians’ favoring of knowledge over proper understanding of the Spirit and the proper use of spiritual gifts. Alternatively, Paul may have meant that unlike the Corinthian false teachers, he has knowledge, but his knowledge differs from that prized in Greek circles. In 1 Corinthians 2:2, Paul dismisses knowledge as a deciding factor of authority.

11:7 did I commit a sin The Corinthians did not appreciate the purpose of Paul’s work and hardship (Acts 18:1–6; 1 Cor 9:6–12). It is foolish of them to accuse Paul of wrongdoing when he endured much suffering for them.

Suffering

without payment The false teachers’ claim that Paul was motivated by self-interest is absurd. His was motivated only to bring them to Christ and further Jesus’ work in the world (see 1 Cor 9:15; compare note on 1 Cor 9:18).

11:8 I robbed Paul uses hyperbole to emphasize that the super-apostles’ view of him is absurd (compare note on 2 Cor 11:5). He actually raised support from the impoverished Macedonian churches so he could minister in Corinth (see 8:2; Phil 4:15), and he now requests that Corinth provide for churches with less wealth than them (see 2 Cor 8:4 and note).

11:9 not burden anyone While in Corinth, Paul provided for his own needs through manual labor and support from other churches (compare note on v. 7).

Macedonia See note on 1:16.

11:10 this boasting Paul takes satisfaction in preaching the gospel message without any payment. Doing so allows him to maintain the integrity of his ministry (1 Cor 9:18; see note on 2 Cor 2:17).

regions of Achaia See note on 1:1.

11:11 Because I do not love you The so-called super-apostles may have suggested that Paul did not have genuine affection for the Corinthians since he did not allow them to share in his ministry financially (compare note on v. 5). Paul dismisses any charge that he lacks affection for the church in Corinth.

11:12 of those who want an opportunity Paul did not want to accept any payment from the Corinthians, which distinguished him from the super-apostles who maligned him (v. 13; see note on 2:17). Compare note on v. 4, and note on v. 5.

11:13 false apostles Refers to those who exploited the Corinthian church for self-gain (compare note on 10:13). This group is likely synonymous with, or at least similar to, those Paul sarcastically refers to as super-apostles (see note on v. 5).

11:14 Satan See note on 1 Cor 5:5; note on Mark 1:13; compare note on 1 Thess 2:18.

angel of light May refer to the kind of angel who ministers to believers (Heb 1:14) or simply to a good spiritual being aligned with God’s purposes (compare note on John 1:4). This comparison suggests that the false apostles came across as genuine while inwardly desiring to destroy the Church for their own benefit (see 2 Cor 10:8; 12:19; 13:10; compare note on v. 13; note on v. 5). The idea of Satan disguising himself as an angel of light recalls similar descriptions of Satan’s activity in various ancient Jewish writings, though Paul does not seem directly dependent on them (e.g., Life of Adam and Eve 9:1; Apocalypse of Moses 17:1; Testament of Job 6:4; 17:2; 23:1).

11:15 his servants Suggests these servants, who may be the false apostles, actually serve Satan and stand as a threat to the Church (compare 2 Cor 11:13). See note on v. 14; compare note on 6:14).

Diakonos Word Study

servants of righteousness Refers to the “false apostles” who pretend to teach about dikaiosynē, or righteousness (compare 3:9).

11:17 foolishness Paul may be juxtaposing the common Greek idea of the foolish person versus the wise person (a dichotomy that also appears in Proverbs; e.g., Prov 1:7). People who consider themselves wise may actually end up looking foolish if their view is based on false assumptions or self-glorification. The false teachers of Corinth were foolishly ignoring the instruction of Paul, who had planted their church and led them to Christ. Their behavior showed them to be foolish and weak, even though they claimed to be wise and strong. Compare note on 1 Cor 1:18; and note on 2 Cor 11:1.

11:18 human standards Unlike the false teachers, Paul is interested in Christ’s work and His measurement of success. Even so, Paul can prove himself by their own standards (see vv. 22–33 and note).

11:19 because you are wise Paul sarcastically points out how foolish the Corinthians were to believe the false apostles (v. 13; compare v. 5). This is made more ironic by the fact that the Corinthians considered themselves to be wise (compare note on 1 Cor 1:20).

11:20 enslaves Paul means that, metaphorically speaking, the work of the super-apostles enslaves the Corinthian believers to sin by providing them with a false sense of freedom. Compare note on 2 Cor 11:5.

devours The so-called super-apostles are merely using the Corinthian believers for their own benefit (compare note on v. 5).

someone strikes you in the face Paul uses this metaphor to express his disbelief that the Corinthian believers cannot recognize the falsity of the super-apostles’ teaching and work (see note on v. 4; compare note on v. 5).

11:21 to my shame In making this claim, Paul points out the false dichotomy that the Corinthian believers agree with. Although the super-apostles (see note on v. 5) claim that they should be honored, they actually live shameful lives (compare note on 1 Cor 4:14).

Suffering

11:22 Are they Hebrews Paul lists this as one of many credentials for his missionary and apostolic work. He is not suggesting that being Jewish is a necessary qualification of ministers, but that it provides the benefit of knowing the ot and being raised in the same tradition as Jesus. See note on Phil 3:5.

11:24 forty lashes less one Thirty-nine lashes were believed to be the maximum number a person could endure before dying from such a beating. Receiving this number of lashings served as a public warning that suggested that, “if you do this again, you will die for it next time” (compare note on Matt 27:26).

11:25 Three times I was beaten with rods May reference and include Acts 16:22.

11:28 anxiety about all the churches False doctrine and division threatened the churches that Paul planted (Acts 20:30). He also wrote letters to several of these churches to combat the negative influence of other teachers (Gal 1:6–8; Eph 4:14; Phil 3:1–2; 1 Tim 1:6–7). The pressure Paul faced as a minister to these churches caused him to worry constantly about their well-being.

11:30 my weakness Refers to the hardships Paul suffered for the sake of believers (2 Cor 11:23–29).

11:32 Damascus See note on Acts 9:2.

King Aretas Specifically King Aretas IV, one of the Nabatean kings (9 bc–ad 40). Even though he had the title of king, Aretas was actually a governor. He defeated King Herod in a battle over a border dispute between Nabatea and Judaea.

Political Leaders in the New Testament Table

take me into custody See Acts 9:23–24.

11:33 lowered through a window through the wall The Romans awarded their highest honor to the first soldier to scale the enemy’s wall. Ironically—in comparison to the accusations that Paul was a lowly, shameful leader (see 2 Cor 11:5)—Paul was lowered down a wall to escape from Damascus (see Acts 9:23–25).