1
Would that you would bear with my little folly. Yes, you do bear with me!

2
For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy, because I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.

3
But I fear, lest your minds should be led astray from your sincere devotion to Christ, as Eve was deceived by the serpent through his craftiness.

4
For you bear with it if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted.

5
For I consider that I am not in the least inferior to those super-apostles.

6
Even if I am unskilled in speech, yet I am not so in knowledge; indeed, in every way and in all things we have made this clear to you.

7
Did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you without charge?

8
I robbed other churches by accepting support from them, so that I might serve you!

9
And when I was in need among you, I burdened no one, for what was lacking to me was supplied by the brothers who came from Macedonia. In everything I kept myself from being a burden to you, and I will continue to do so.

10
As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, I declare that this boasting of mine will not be silenced in the regions of Achaia.

11
Why? Because I do not love you? God knows.

12
But what I do, I will continue to do, in order to deny an opportunity to those who seek one, so that they may be regarded as equal with us in the matter of which they boast.

13
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.

14
And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

15
So it is no great thing if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will be according to their deeds.

16
I say again: let no one think me foolish. But if you do, then receive me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little.

17
What I am saying, I am not saying according to the Lord, but as a fool, in this confidence that I may boast.

18
Because many boast according to the flesh, I too will boast.

19
For you gladly bear with fools, since you are so wise:

20
for you bear it if someone makes slaves of you, if someone devours you, if someone takes advantage of you, if someone exalts himself over you, if someone strikes you on the face.

21
To my shame I must admit that in such matters we were too weak.

But if others dare to boast of something, I too — I speak as a fool — dare to boast!

22
Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I!

23
Are they servants of Christ? — I speak as one beside himself — I am more so! I have labored more abundantly; been in prisons more often; been beaten beyond measure; often in danger of death.

24
Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one,

25
three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I suffered shipwreck, a day and a night I spent adrift at sea.

26
On my journeys I have often been in danger from floods and danger from robbers, danger from my own people and danger from the Gentiles; danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, and danger from false brothers.

27
I have labored and toiled much; often I have gone without sleep; I have been hungry and thirsty; often I have fasted, in cold and without clothing,

28
and, apart from many other things, there is the daily pressure on me, namely, my care for all the churches.

29
If anyone is weak, am I not weak? If anyone stumbles, does not my heart burn with sorrow?

30
If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.

31
The God and Father of our Lord Jesus, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.

32
In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to seize me.

33
But in a basket I was lowered through a window from the city wall, and so I escaped from his hand.

📖 2 Corinthians 11 – Paul Defends His Ministry and Exposes False Teachers

🧾 Summary of Contents

In this chapter, Paul defends himself against the accusations of the “false apostles” who were troubling the Corinthian church. He reveals that the motive of his ministry is sincere love for the church, not seeking gain. He speaks of his sufferings for Christ to show the authenticity and integrity of his ministry.

✨ Explanation by Section

1. Divine Jealousy for the Church (verses 1–6)

“For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy…”

• Paul uses the term “godly jealousy” because he has betrothed the church to Christ as a bride.
• He fears the church may be led astray, as Eve was, by the devil’s deceit.

💡 Meaning: A true leader has a desire to keep the congregation faithful to Christ.

2. Refusing Financial Help Is Not Because of Weakness (verses 7–11)

“Is it because I did not burden you that I sinned?”

• Paul refused to accept help from the Corinthian church so that he would not be thought to preach the Gospel for money.
• He said that this was not because he did not love them, but for the sake of a pure witness.

💡 Lesson: A true servant of God serves not for personal gain, but out of love for Christ.

3. False Apostles and the Disguise of Satan (verses 12–15)

“Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.”

• Paul makes clear that the other “apostles” are false, misleading people and disguising themselves as servants of righteousness.
• Satan can also disguise himself as an angel of light – so we must be careful.

💡 Teaching: Not everything that looks spiritual comes from God. Spiritual caution and knowledge of the word are needed.

4. Paul’s Sufferings (verses 16–33)

“In weakness I will boast.”

• Paul, with irony, compares himself with those who boast about themselves.
• He mentions all the sufferings he endured: being flogged, stoned, shipwrecked, dangers from every side, even the burden of all the churches.
• He chooses to boast in weakness and suffering, because there the power of Christ is made known.

💡 Meaning: True ministry is often accompanied by suffering, not worldly glory.

📘 Main Teachings from 2 Corinthians 11

1. True love in ministry keeps the congregation faithful to Christ.
2. A true servant of God rejects motives of personal gain.
3. The devil can disguise himself as an angel of light – be careful of false teaching.
4. The measure of ministry is not worldly success, but faithfulness and suffering for Christ’s sake.
5. Boast in weakness, because Christ’s power is made evident there.

✨ Spiritual Meaning

This chapter opens our eyes to the fact that ministry is not a stage for popularity or comfort, but a path of suffering, faithfulness, and sincerity of heart toward Christ. We must be alert to deception and hold fast to the pure truth of the Gospel.