Key word: Apostle
Paul’s second inspired epistle to the Corinthians followed the first one within a year. It was necessitated because the first letter was poorly received and the church had deepened its resistance to the apostleship of Paul. While there are many great themes developed in the book, such as comfort (chapter 1), the intermediate state of a believer after death and before the rapture. (chapter 5), the Judgment Seat of Christ (5:10), principles concerning handling money, and especially generous giving to the Lord’s work (chapters 8-9) and battling deception (10-11), it is the defense of Paul’s apostleship which is central throughout the book.
At the heart of the issue is who has the authority to proclaim the word of God? Who is teaching truth? Who should be listened to and obeyed? Someone has the authority to speak and write the inspired word of God. Who is that? Some had arisen in the Corinth church and claimed to be the true apostles and spokesmen for God. In the process they vilified Paul as a fraud (11:4). To these claims Paul had strong words. He says the Corinthians were being deceived, not only about Paul’s authority, but also about his message (11:3). They were in danger of losing the gospel message by following false apostles. Paul does not mince words about what he thought about these teachers: they are false apostles, deceitful workers who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ, when they really are emissaries of Satan, that master of disguises (11:13-15). If they choose to reject Paul’s apostleship and follow the deceivers, they will live their lives in the web of deceit. They must choose to listen to Paul, the true apostle and spokesman for God, if they are to live as God has designed. Our key verse is 11:13, which serves as a warning to us all.
Key verse: 2 Corinthians 11:13 – For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.
