2 Corinthians 11-12: False Teachers and Hardships

As we read chapters 11 & 12 of Paul's second letter to the Corinthians, we see Paul's rebuke of several maladies in the church of Corinth. The largest issue in this passage is that of false teachers who have deceived the people of the church, leading them astray with slick speaking and ostensibly impressive credentials. We also get a rare insight into the extent of Paul's sufferings and hardships, which are both humbling and inspiring.

False Teachers

Paul refers to these false teachers as "super-apostles", for the people of Corinth saw greater worth in them than in Paul. They were excellent orators, and probably much more charismatic and compelling than Paul; as he points out, though, flash and sizzle don't mean a thing if it isn't backed up by Truth.

Indeed, I consider that I am not in the least inferior to these super-apostles. 6 Even if I am unskilled in speaking, I am not so in knowledge...

This is as relevant to our age as it is to any other - men with engaging communication skills and an attractive message garner followers quite readily, independent of the truth of their claims. It is far too easy for people to be led astray by these alluring orators, and dismiss the common man who speaks Truth.

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, 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 surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness.

We must be ever watchful, for the enemy does not come to lead us astray appearing as a crude and evil man with red horns in his head - he comes as a bright shining "servant of righteousness", indistinguishable from the real deal on the basis of appearances alone.

Paul's Suffering

These passages give a rare look into some of the hardships that Paul endured in the name of the Gospel. He 'boasted' in these hardships not out of pride, but to demonstrate to the people of Corinth the legitimacy of his Apostleship. He boasted of himself not for his own sake, but for the sake of the church that had seen greater credentials in the so called super-apostles.

Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they offspring of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one--I am talking like a madman--with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death.

Paul goes on the list a sobering sample of the hardships he has endured:

Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one.25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.

Wow. After reading a list like that, I am embarrassed by my comfortable, pain-free, persecution-free life. And to think that I sometimes whine about tough circumstances...who am I kidding! This list makes abundantly clear that Paul was so committed to advancing the Kingdom of God that he was willing to undergo any amount of suffering and pain. It also proves to the Corinthians that Paul is the real Apostle, since these other super-apostles were a lot of talk with very little walk.

Paul also speaks of a constant thorn in his flesh; it is unclear what exactly this was, but theories include some form of temptation or a condition such as epilepsy or a malarial fever which resulted in crippling headaches and eyesight troubles. While Paul asked the Lord three times to remove this "thorn" from him, God saw fit to leave him in his weakened state:

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

Conclusion 

These passages are a solemn reminder of the cost of discipleship - a sacrifice that is only able to be made by those who feel the incredible weight of glory of that which is to come. Paul considered all of his suffering inconsequential in light of eternity.

Paul's wisdom in regards to false teachers is very relevant to us as well - there is no shortage of magnetic personalities that resemble the true followers of Christ, but spew lies and lead the masses astray. Let us cling to the Truth and not follow another gospel.

For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.