2 Corinthians 11:12 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And what I am doing I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do.

NIV: And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about.

NASB: But what I am doing I will also continue to do, so that I may eliminate the opportunity from those who want an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the matter about which they are boasting.

CSB: But I will continue to do what I am doing, in order to deny an opportunity to those who want to be regarded as our equals in what they boast about.

NLT: But I will continue doing what I have always done. This will undercut those who are looking for an opportunity to boast that their work is just like ours.

KJV: But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.

NKJV: But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast.

Opponents in Corinth are attempting to seduce the Corinthians away from their loyalty to Paul. They have called attention to Paul's unimpressive physical presence and speaking skills (2 Corinthians 10:10). They have questioned whether a true servant of God would really experience so much suffering (2 Corinthians 6:3–10). They have also apparently mocked his commitment not to take any personal funding from the Corinthians, something they are happy to do (2 Corinthians 11:7).

Paul points to this difference between him and fraudulent "apostles" as evidence they are false in their "boasted mission." Their claim is that Paul is a false representative of Christ and that they are the real apostles. Paul shows in this verse, though, that they do not work on the same terms he does. He celebrates in Christ that he was able to preach the gospel free of charge. The deceiving ones cannot boast about that, because they gladly take the Corinthians' money to preach a false gospel to them. In fact, money may be the entire point of their false teaching.

Paul declares that he will continue to preach about Jesus for free—and continue to exult in it—to undermine his opponents' false claims to be like him. If they are truly like him, he implies, they should also refuse the Corinthians' money. He knows they will not do that.

Second Corinthians 11:1–15 includes Paul's unmasking of the false apostles in Corinth. They are like the serpent in the garden tempting Eve. Or, they resemble a man trying to seduce a betrothed woman away from her promised husband. They disguise themselves as servants of righteousness as Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Paul is a spiritual father who must protect the Corinthians from deceptions like a false Christ and a false spirit. Paul doubles down on his commitment not to take funds from the Corinthians for his own needs, simply to prove how he is different from the false apostles.

Second Corinthians 11 compares the believers in Corinth to a betrothed bride. It also pictures them as Eve facing temptation from the snake in the garden in Genesis 3. Paul's job as their spiritual father is to protect them from the lies of false apostles. These deceivers disguise themselves as servants of righteousness in the same way that Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Paul is shocked the Corinthians put up with such harsh treatment from these men. He sarcastically pretends to brag about himself as the false teachers do about themselves. Instead, he boasts mostly about the ways he has endured suffering in his service to Christ.

Chapter 11 follows Paul's warning in the previous chapter. There, he vowed to be as bold as needed when he comes to see them in person. He describes himself as a protective spiritual father trying to save the Corinthians from the deceptions of the false apostles to teach a false gospel about a false Jesus. He is shocked the Corinthians put up with their harsh treatment and says he has decided to foolishly boast in order to compete with the false apostles. His boasting about his service to Christ, though, is mostly a long list of all the ways he has suffered for Christ. That theme continues into chapter 12, where Paul explains just how much his suffering has improved his walk with Christ.

Second Corinthians returns to similar themes as those Paul mentioned in his first letter to this church. Paul is glad to hear that the church in Corinth has heeded his advice. At the same time, it is necessary for Paul to counter criticisms about his personality and legitimacy. Most of this text involves that subject. The fifth chapter, in contrast, contains comforting words which Christians have quoted often in times of hardship. Paul also details his expectations that the church in Corinth will make good on their promise to contribute to the needs of suffering believers in Jerusalem.