2 Corinthians 11:14

14 This does not surprise us. Even Satan changes himself to look like an angel of light.

2 Corinthians 11:14 Meaning and Commentary

2 Corinthians 11:14

And no marvel
This need not be wondered at, nor is it any new or strange thing; nor should it be thought to be incredible that there are such persons in being:

for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light;
a good angel, one that has his abode in the regions of light; and is possessed of divine and spiritual light and understanding; who is clothed and arrayed with light, this is his form and essence. The apostle speaks agreeably to the notion, of the Jews, who say F20,

``(rwa Mh Mlk Mykalmhv) , "that all the angels are light", the clothing of God himself;''

and they have a distinction between (Mwyd Nykalm) , "angels of the day", and angels of the night F21: now Satan, the enemy of mankind, sometimes appears in the form of one of these; as he did to Eve in the garden, and to Christ in the wilderness; and by such appearances he often imposes on mankind; pretends the greatest friendship, when he designs nothing but ruin; and under a notion of good, either honest, or pleasant, or profitable, draws on into the commission of the greatest evils; and, under a show of truth, introduces the most notorious falsehoods and errors; and, under a pretence of religion, all sorts of idolatry, superstition, and impiety; it is in this way he has succeeded in his enterprises and temptations; these are his wiles, stratagems, and cunning devices.


FOOTNOTES:

F20 R. Abraham Seba, Tzeror Hammor, fol. 18. 4.
F21 Zohar in Numb. fol. 91. 1. & 93. 3.

2 Corinthians 11:14 In-Context

12 And I will continue doing what I am doing now, because I want to stop those people from having a reason to brag. They would like to say that the work they brag about is the same as ours.
13 Such men are not true apostles but are workers who lie. They change themselves to look like apostles of Christ.
14 This does not surprise us. Even Satan changes himself to look like an angel of light.
15 So it does not surprise us if Satan's servants also make themselves look like servants who work for what is right. But in the end they will be punished for what they do.
16 I tell you again: No one should think I am a fool. But if you think so, accept me as you would accept a fool. Then I can brag a little, too.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.