The Living Word

KING JAMES VERSION

"The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever."

— Isaiah 40:8

2 Corinthians 11

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Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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5

For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.

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6

But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things.

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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?

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8

I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.

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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.

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10

As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.

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11

Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth.

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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.

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13

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

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14

And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

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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.

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16

I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little.

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17

That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.

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18

Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.

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19

For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.

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20

For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face.

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21

I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.

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22

Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.

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23

Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.

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24

Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.

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25

Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

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26

In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

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27

In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

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28

Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

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29

Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?

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30

If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.

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31

The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.

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32

In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:

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33

And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.

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Chapter Study & Analysis

Overview

2 Corinthians 11 features Paul’s "godly jealousy" for the church’s purity. He warns against "false apostles" and provides a harrowing list of his own sufferings for Christ—not to boast in his strength, but to show his absolute commitment to the Gospel.

CONTEMPORARY APPLICATIONS

1. Simplicity in Christ: Paul feared the church would be corrupted from the "simplicity that is in Christ" (v. 3). We must guard against complex "new" doctrines that distract us from the pure Gospel of Jesus.
2. Discerning False Teachers: Satan himself is transformed into an "angel of light" (v. 14). We must be discerning, as false teaching often arrives in a beautiful or seemingly righteous package.
3. The Cost of Discipleship: Paul’s list of shipwrecks, beatings, and perils (v. 23-27) reminds us that following Christ involves real cost. True ministry is marked by endurance through hardship, not just comfort.

Practical Lessons

FORMAL PRAYER

Lord Jesus, keep us faithful to the simplicity of Thy Truth. Deliver us from the craftiness of the adversary and grant us the endurance to serve Thee through every peril, for the sake of Thy Name and Thy Church. Amen.

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