Blog

by Katie Erickson

I hope you will put up with me in a little foolishness. Yes, please put up with me! I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.
- 2 Corinthians 11:1-4

Right after Paul finished writing about boasting only in Jesus Christ, he shares concerns that the Corinthian church may easily get deceived by false teachers. There appear to be misleading influences and false apostles that have begun to take root in their congregation.

In verse 1, Paul takes on a tone of irony and almost sarcasm. By asking the Corinthians to "put up with" his foolishness, Paul is preparing to defend himself against accusations that might seem boastful or self-important, especially after his thoughts just before this about only boasting in Christ. Paul feels compelled to engage in what he calls "foolishness" because the Corinthians had been seduced by false teachers who presented themselves as superior to Paul.

Paul had previously warned the Corinthians about these "super-apostles" who were leading them astray (2 Corinthians 10:12). These individuals boasted about their credentials and success, something Paul hesitated to do because he did not want to rely on worldly standards of credibility. However, he realized that in order to save the Corinthians from further deception, he needed to contrast his apostleship with that of the false apostles.

Paul's metaphor of "godly jealousy" in verse 2 speaks of his protective concern for the Corinthians' spiritual well-being. His jealousy isn't born from selfish motives but from a desire to see them fully devoted to Christ. He uses the image of a bride and groom to describe the church's relationship with Jesus.

Paul, as a spiritual father, views himself as the one responsible for keeping the Corinthians faithful to Christ, their spiritual husband. In ancient Jewish and Greco-Roman cultures, the role of a father or guardian was to protect a betrothed woman until her wedding day, ensuring that she remained pure for her husband. Similarly, Paul sees himself as the guardian of the Corinthian believers' spiritual purity, preparing them for the ultimate union with Christ.

In verse 3, Paul references the story of Eve's deception in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:1-7) to illustrate how the Corinthians were being deceived. Just as the serpent used cunning and trickery to lead Eve into sin, Paul fears that the Corinthians are being led away from the simplicity and purity of their devotion to Christ by false teachers.

The false apostles in Corinth were teaching doctrines that were different from what Paul had originally preached. They were likely presenting sophisticated arguments and attractive teachings that appealed to the Corinthians' desires for wisdom and power. Paul reminds them that spiritual deception often comes in subtle ways, just as it did with Eve.

Paul directly addresses the issue of false teachings in verse 4. He is astonished that the Corinthians are so willing to tolerate teachings that deviate from the Gospel he had preached to them. These false apostles were promoting a different Jesus, a different spirit, and a different gospel. Paul emphasizes that any deviation from the true Gospel is unacceptable.

In Corinth, the false apostles were likely mixing elements of Greek philosophy, Jewish legalism, and Christian doctrine in a way that distorted the Gospel. Paul is concerned that the Corinthians, in their desire for wisdom and spiritual experiences, were too quick to accept these altered teachings. This willingness to embrace false teachings shows a lack of discernment and a susceptibility to deception.

Paul’s heart is that of a loving and protective shepherd, concerned for the spiritual well-being of his flock. He sees the Corinthians as betrothed to Christ, and his desire is to present them pure and faithful to their spiritual bridegroom. However, he is deeply concerned that they are being led astray by false teachings, much like Eve was deceived in the Garden of Eden.

We, too, can be led astray by subtle lies and distortions of the truth. It’s important to remain grounded in the simplicity and purity of the Gospel. Paul warns against accepting any teaching that presents a “different Jesus” or a “different gospel,” which is prevalent in our Christian culture today. We must be discerning, testing all teachings against the truth of Scripture.

Paul’s metaphor of the church as a bride betrothed to Christ reminds us of the importance of maintaining our spiritual purity and devotion to Him. Our relationship with Christ should be marked by faithfulness and love, not divided loyalties or compromises with false teachings.

Paul’s “godly jealousy” for the Corinthians shows us the deep responsibility that church leaders and mentors have in protecting the spiritual well-being of those under their care. They must guide, protect, and sometimes engage in “foolishness” for the sake of the truth.

In a world filled with competing ideologies and spiritual confusion, Paul’s words here serve as a reminder to keep our focus on Christ, to cling to the true Gospel, and to be wary of anything that would lead us away from the simplicity and purity of our devotion to Him. Stay in the Scriptures, regularly studying them, pray for discernment regarding what is true and what is false, and stay connected to a community that can help you in these pursuits.

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