2 Corinthians 11:20 - Printer Friendly

ESV: For you bear it if someone makes slaves of you, or devours you, or takes advantage of you, or puts on airs, or strikes you in the face.

NIV: In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or puts on airs or slaps you in the face.

NASB: For you tolerate it if anyone enslaves you, if anyone devours you, if anyone takes advantage of you, if anyone exalts himself, if anyone hits you in the face.

CSB: In fact, you put up with it if someone enslaves you, if someone exploits you, if someone takes advantage of you, if someone is arrogant toward you, if someone slaps you in the face.

NLT: You put up with it when someone enslaves you, takes everything you have, takes advantage of you, takes control of everything, and slaps you in the face.

KJV: For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face.

NKJV: For you put up with it if one brings you into bondage, if one devours you, if one takes from you, if one exalts himself, if one strikes you on the face.

In a gently sarcastic tone, Paul wrote that the Corinthians gladly put up with fools because they are so wise (2 Corinthians 11:19). He is using biting terms to get the Corinthians to see they alone are responsible for giving time and attention to false teachers among them. These men, pretending to be apostles of Jesus, have not even treated the Corinthians well. Instead, the believers have put up with being treated as slaves, being devoured, being taken advantage of, being looked down on, and even being slapped in the face.

Like many in Greco-Roman culture, the people of Corinth would have respected strength above other virtues. Those of higher social standing were expected to be harsh with people they found to be inferior. Mercy and compassion were seen as emotional responses—and weaknesses—not as assets. Scholars suggest the Corinthians may have respected these false teachers as strong and superior, in part, because they were so harsh.

In the same way, the Corinthians may have disrespected Paul for his Christlike humility, servanthood, and suffering. Paul's approach of humbling himself to lift them up may have seemed weak. His opponents' approach of lifting themselves up to humble the Corinthians may have seemed vibrant and impressive.

Paul, even in this sarcastic section, seems unable to believe what the Corinthians are willing to bear. These false apostles make slaves of them—likely meant in the sense that the Corinthians have been willingly doing whatever they are told. The false teachers devour them, suggesting the sense of consuming all their food and resources. Paul's opponents have been taking advantage of the Corinthians in ways Paul worked so hard to avoid. They have been acting superior to their Corinthian students and, apparently, even striking those who get out of line.

In every way, then, they have shown their falseness by behaving exactly the opposite of Christ, the suffering Servant King.

Second Corinthians 11:16–33 includes Paul's long list of ways he has suffered in his service to Christ. He describes this as crazy talk, mocking the arrogant style of the false apostles. In truth, the Corinthians probably would have thought of these as signs of failure, weakness, and loss. Paul is shocked that they are so willing to be mistreated by the false apostles. This abuse was something Paul was ''too weak'' to do in his Christlike service for them. Paul's discussion of his weakness will lead to his conclusion in the following chapter that Christ is strongest in him when he is weak.

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.