2nd Week January 2012 Adult Sunday School Lesson

2nd Corinthians Chapter 11

In the first verse Paul talks about 'my folly'. He had to give his side of the story including his accomplishments and God given mission to do what he was doing. The reason he had to give the particulars of his Spirit given authority, was because of the detractors in the Corinthians Church. He never names them, but because of what he says in the 22nd verse it seems that they were his own countrymen.

Paul loved the Corinthian church and wanted what was best for them. He tells of this love in the 2nd verse and goes on to talk about his concern that they might be led astray by some other 'gospel'. He mentions in the 4th verse that they have done well to this point at staying in the narrow path of the true gospel that he himself brought.

He brought it with authority given to him by God going as far as to say he was equal with the 12 disciples and given his life and what the New Testament consists of, this is neither an exaggeration nor ego. One could make the argument that the Lord had blessed him to be greater and a far more influential disciple then the original ones.

In the next few verses he almost sarcastically asks them if he should be at fault because of the great sacrifice he made for them. He never took anything from them, and had all his needs met by his own labor or the other churches in Asia. He did not want to give anyone and occasion to condemn him or accuse him of taking from their abundance.

He warns that there are some, and will be others that come making themselves as angels of light so that they may hurt the cause of Christ. Then in the 22nd verse he boasts of his Jewish heritage to make a point that those that glory in the flesh still could not accuse him of lacking because he was the quintessential Jew by birth and upbringing. So if they were going to boast against Paul's righteousness, they couldn't do it because they were more authentic then him, because they were not.

In 24 through 27th verses Paul talks of the great things he has suffered during his mission for the spread of the Gospel. He suffered, but gloried in the Lord. He mentions many times in 1st and 2nd Corinthians, that if anyone is to glory, let him glory in the Lord.

He finishes the chapter with the story of his escape from Aretas. What would have been lost to us if the governor had succeeded in Paul's capture. God delivered is the point Paul is trying to make, and he will deliver us through our trials to life eternal.