Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  Day 314

November 10;      2 Corinthians 11:4;       160/260(III);        ‘A Different Jesus’

 

2 Corinthians 11:4 For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted — you may well put up with it!

 

Paul was an apostle.  He started churches, made sure that they were stable, had a strong pastor and then he moved on.  Verse 28 tells us that he always had concern for the congregations of the churches he started.  Deceptive ‘ministers’ traveled and taught doctrine that was contrary to the Bible.  Paul wanted to protect them from this.  Paul in this letter tells them that even though he wasn’t one of the original apostles of Jesus, he is not inferior to them.  He is not boasting.  Paul was small in stature and probably very ordinary looking at best.  He had been physically beaten and attacked so often that his body must have been bowed over.  Paul continued that when he was with them, he worked so that they would not have to financially help him.  He warns them of these deceiving teachers, inspired by the devil, who will tell the church that they are just as anointed as Paul or that they have greater revelation.  These false teachers boast about themselves.  Paul then goes through an incredible list of what he has suffered and experienced in the ministry.  Paul, as if to say, “they boast about things, I want you to know what I have endured for the work of the Lord Jesus Christ.”  Paul feared that as Eve was deceived by the devil, the Corinthian church also would be deceived by these false ministers (verse 3).  God’s Word does not confuse.  Very often false teachers use big words to impress and confuse others.  Paul as always is trying to protect the church.