The Strand Study Bible

Written From Philippi During Paul’s Third Missionary Journey

II CORINTHIANS 11:13 - 11:33

1944

23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; 4 in labours more abundant, in 5 stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. 24 Of the Jews five times received I 6 forty stripes save one. 25 Thrice was I 7 beaten with rods, once was I 8 stoned, thrice I 9 suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 In journeyings often, in perils of wa- ters, in perils of robbers, 10 in perils by mine own countrymen, 11 in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 In weariness and painfulness, in 12 watchings often, 13 in hunger and thirst, in 14 fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? 30 If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities. 31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for ever- more, knoweth that I lie not. 32 15 In Damascus the governor un- der Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me: 33 And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.

occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. Satan’s false teachers 13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the min- isters of righteousness; whose end shall be 1 according to their works. 16 I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little. 17 That which I speak, I speak it not af- ter the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting. 18 Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also. 19 For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise. 20 For ye suffer, if a man bring you into 2 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. 21 I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak fool- ishly,) 3 I am bold also. 22 Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I. Paul reminds the Corinthians of his suffering for the sake of the Gospel

1. Rev 20:11,15 2. Gal 2:4 & 4:3,9 & 5:1 3. Phil 3:4-6 4. I Cor 15:10 5. or, “beatings” - Acts 21:32 6. Deut 25:3 & II Cor 6:5 7. Acts 16:22-23 8. Acts 14:19 9. Acts 27:41-44 10. Acts 20:3 11. Acts 14:5 & 19:23

12. Acts 20:31 13. I Cor 4:11 14. Acts 13:2-3 & 14:23 15. Acts 9:24-25

11:14 Sadly, men’s vision of a Devil is that of a hideous, horned, and hoofed monster that haunts the dreams of men; but God says Satan fashions himself and his ministers into angels of light. Ann Coulter in How to talk to a Liberal (if you must) notes: Perhaps the greater disservice of Hollywood movies is their cartoonish villains. In real life, I promise you, the devil will look more like Julia Roberts than Snidely Whiplash. Evil does not arrive with a flashing neon sign: MEPHISTOPHELES! LUCIFER! SATAN! FOR ETERNAL DAMNATION, APPLY HERE. Evil arrives packaged as a winsome movie about a long-legged brunette who manages to marry a rich, handsome bachelor and live happily ever after–all by turning tricks on Hollywood Boulevard! There’s a reason Beelzebub is known as the prince of lies. Evil presents itself like a beautiful banquet. That’s why Adam and Eve were tempted with a delicious-looking apple instead of a spoonful of castor oil. Satan takes the form of gorgeous actresses, successful politicians, and pop icons cavorting across the gossip columns, subliminally exhorting the reader: Be like me! 1 This kind of erroneous idea that the Devil has cloven feet and horns comes from the great god Pan of Geeek mythology, who was portrayed as half animal and was worshipped as Dionysus. Fact: Learning to enjoy the company of your own character protects you from the company of other characters. 11:23 Everywhere Paul went he understood the fact that he was on borrowed time ( in deaths oft ). Therefore he taught volumes of truth wherever he went. “Time” and “truth” are the twin sisters of urgency. Whenever a person comes to the realization that he has but a short time, the urgency to share the truth with as many people as they can becomes a priority.

1 Coulter, Ann. How to talk to a Liberal (if you must) . New York: Crown Forum. 2004. Print.