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2 Corinthians 11

2 Corinthians 11 Summary, Context, and Full Chapter

Paul continues defending his ministry with urgency and honesty. He warns the Corinthians not to drift from their devotion to Christ or accept a different message. He then contrasts proud religious claims with the sacrifices, dangers, and daily strain he has endured while serving the churches.

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What happens in 2 Corinthians 11?

Paul expresses concern that the Corinthians may be led away from sincere devotion to Christ by teachers who present another Jesus and a distorted gospel. He rejects the claims of false apostles and explains that his own work among them was marked by humility and self-support. The chapter then shifts to a striking list of hardships: beatings, imprisonments, shipwrecks, hunger, danger, sleeplessness, and constant concern for the churches. Rather than boasting in strength, Paul points to weakness and suffering as evidence of faithful service.

This chapter comes near the end of Paul's defense of his ministry in 2 Corinthians. After urging the church to stand firm against spiritual opposition, he continues answering critics who questioned his authority, speech, and credentials. The passage prepares for the next chapter, where Paul will speak more about weakness, visions, and the Lord's sustaining grace.

Themes to notice

  • Guarding the gospelBelievers are warned not to accept a different Jesus or a different message than the one already received.
  • False appearancesPaul exposes religious workers who look credible but are deceitful and self-serving.
  • Weakness in servicePaul presents hardship and suffering as part of his faithful ministry to the churches.

Questions for 2 Corinthians 11

  • What signs does Paul give for recognizing a false gospel or false teacher?
  • Why does Paul defend his refusal to be a financial burden to the Corinthians?
  • What does Paul's list of hardships teach about Christian service and leadership?

Read the full text of 2 Corinthians 11 below, then open it in the reader to highlight, take notes, or ask follow-up Bible questions. No account is required to read.

2 Corinthians 11

Paul and the False Apostles

1I hope you will bear with a little of my foolishness, but you are already doing that.2I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. For I promised you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.3I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ.4For if someone comes and proclaims a Jesus other than the One we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit than the One you received, or a different gospel than the one you accepted, you put up with it way too easily.5I consider myself in no way inferior to those “super-apostles.”6Although I am not a polished speaker, I am certainly not lacking in knowledge. We have made this clear to you in every way possible.

7Was it a sin for me to humble myself in order to exalt you, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge?8I robbed other churches by accepting their support in order to serve you.9And when I was with you and in need, I was not a burden to anyone; for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my needs. I have refrained from being a burden to you in any way, and I will continue to do so.10As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be silenced in the regions of Achaia.11Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!

12But I will keep on doing what I am doing, in order to undercut those who want an opportunity to be regarded as our equals in the things of which they boast.13For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.14And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.15It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions.

Paul’s Suffering and Service

16I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then receive me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little.17In this confident boasting of mine, I am not speaking as the Lord would, but as a fool.18Since many are boasting according to the flesh, I too will boast.19For you gladly tolerate fools, since you are so wise.20In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or exalts himself or strikes you in the face.21To my shame I concede that we were too weak for that! Speaking as a fool, however, I can match what anyone else dares to boast about.22Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.23Are they servants of Christ? I am speaking like I am out of my mind, but I am so much more: in harder labor, in more imprisonments, in worse beatings, in frequent danger of death.24Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.25Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked. I spent a night and a day in the open sea.26In my frequent journeys, I have been in danger from rivers and from bandits, in danger from my countrymen and from the Gentiles, in danger in the city and in the country, in danger on the sea and among false brothers,27in labor and toil and often without sleep, in hunger and thirst and often without food, in cold and exposure.

28Apart from these external trials, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.29Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not burn with grief?

30If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.31The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is forever worthy of praise, knows that I am not lying.32In Damascus, the governor under King Aretas secured the city of the Damascenes in order to arrest me.33But I was lowered in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his grasp.

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