ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for 2 Corinthians 11

2 Cor. 11:2 As their “father” in the faith (see 1 Cor. 4:15; 2 Cor. 6:13; 12:14), Paul feels the same divine jealousy that God felt for Israel (Ex. 34:14). In Jewish culture, when a daughter was betrothed, her father guaranteed that he would present her as a pure virgin at her wedding (Deut. 22:13–24; see 2 Cor. 6:14–7:1). Here the “betrothal” was the Corinthians’ conversion through Paul’s ministry. The husband is Christ, and the “wedding day” is the day of Christ’s return (see 1:14; Eph. 5:27; Col. 1:22; Rev. 19:6–9). Paul’s picture of the church as engaged to Christ (compare Eph. 5:25–27; Rev. 19:7–8) carries on the OT view of Israel as committed to God.

2 Cor. 11:3 See Gen. 3:1–13.

2 Cor. 11:4 different gospel. The “gospel” of Paul’s opponents may have promised health and wealth but no suffering. This was contrary to Paul’s message and experiences (4:5; 5:14–15; 18–19).

2 Cor. 11:5–6 super-apostles. This is probably a sarcastic description of the false apostles troubling the Corinthian church (see vv. 4, 13–15; see also 12:11).

2 Cor. 11:7 Paul supported himself in Corinth. Thus he preached God’s gospel . . . free of charge for the sake of the Corinthians. This exalted the Corinthian believers but was a humbling experience for Paul. It required physical suffering as a result of his hard work and low pay. It also required accepting the disdain that the wealthy had for manual laborers (see 1 Cor. 4:11–13; 9:4–18; 15:10; 2 Cor. 11:23).

2 Cor. 11:8–9a I robbed other churches is an example of hyperbole. Paul received financial help from Macedonia to preach the gospel in Corinth.

2 Cor. 11:9–10 Macedonia. Northern Greece, where Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea were located. Achaia. Southern Greece, where Corinth was located.

2 Cor. 11:9b–14 Paul refused to accept money from the Corinthians because he had to distinguish his ministry from that of the false apostles. They labored in Corinth out of greed (compare 2:17).

2 Cor. 11:13 false apostles. See 2 Pet. 2:1–3 and notes on 2 Peter 2:1–3.

2 Cor. 11:15 On judgment that will correspond to one’s deeds, see 5:10; Rom. 2:6; Gal. 6:7–9; 2 Tim. 4:14.

2 Cor. 11:16–18 In his arrogance the fool boasts in himself, not in the Lord (see 10:17–18). He is condemned for this (see, e.g., Ps. 14:1; Prov. 9:13–18). Almost like a fool, Paul is about to boast a little in his own identity in order to make his point (see 2 Cor. 11:21b–23). Paul recognizes that he does so not as the Lord would (that is, not following a direct command from the Lord). He does so only because in Corinth many boast according to the flesh.

2 Cor. 11:20–21a strikes you in the face. A reference to the Jewish opponents insulting the Gentile Corinthians, probably by literally striking them (see John 18:22; Acts 23:2). All five actions listed in 2 Cor. 11:20 are signs of an arrogant attitude on the part of these false leaders.

2 Cor. 11:21b–23a Hebrews refers to Jewish ethnicity; Israelites refers to being God’s chosen people under the old covenant. Offspring of Abraham means being part of the new covenant people of God and a true descendant of Abraham (see Rom. 9:6–9; 11:1–6; Gal. 3:29). Because he is reluctant to speak of himself in this way, Paul downplays his qualifications. He says that he is speaking as a fool (2 Cor. 11:21b) and talking like a madman (v. 23a).

2 Cor. 11:24 forty lashes less one. The Jewish punishment of 39 lashes was given by the synagogue for false teaching, blasphemy, and serious lawbreaking. All of these charges could have been applied to Paul’s preaching of the gospel, especially to Gentiles (Acts 9:20; 13:5; 14–43; etc.; see note on Acts 5:40). It was the most severe beating allowed by Scripture (Deut. 25:1–3).

2 Cor. 11:25–26 beaten with rods. This was the Gentile punishment for disturbing the peace (Acts 16:22–23; 35–38; 22:25–29; 1 Thess. 2:2). Once, in Lystra, Paul was stoned (Acts 14:5–19). Three times I was shipwrecked. This would not include the shipwreck described in Acts 27, which occurred after Paul wrote this.

2 Cor. 11:28 anxiety for all the churches. See 2:12–13.

2 Cor. 11:30 God triumphs through human weakness, as he did through Christ’s crucifixion (1 Cor. 1:27; 2 Cor. 12:9; 13:4).

2 Cor. 11:32–33 Having to flee in a basket was a striking example of Paul’s “weakness” (v. 30).