Galatians 11

CHAPTER 11

 

Paul and the False Apostles (11:1-15)

1 Paul’s foolishness is to talk about himself. Paul is now about to open his heart to the Corinthians. Usually we don’t talk about ourselves in this way, for fear of appearing “foolish.” But Paul loves the Corinthians so much that he is willing to appear foolish in their eyes by opening his heart to them.

2 The church is Christ’s bride (see Ephesians 5:23-27). Because Paul had founded the Corinthian church, he was like a father to it (1 Corinthians 4:15). Therefore, it was his duty to present his “daughter,” the Corinthian church, as a pure virgin to her bridegroom Christ. It was Paul’s great concern that the Corinthian church should remain pure until Christ’s coming.

3 Paul fears that the Corinthians will not remain pure, that they will not remain faithful to Christ. The reason he is fearful is because false teachers have entered the church and are trying to lead the Corinthians astray (verses 13-15), just as the serpent deceived Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:1-3).

4 The Corinthians, like other Greeks, were always eager to hear any kind of new teaching (see Acts 17:18-21). Therefore, they were easily fooled and drawn away from the true teaching given by Paul (see 2 Timothy 4:3-4). But there is only one Christ, and one Spirit (the Holy Spirit), and one Gospel. Let the Corinthians not follow after false Christs and false spirits, warns Paul (see 1 John 4:1-3). Paul does not want the Corinthians to be turned away from the true Gospel, as the Galatians had been (see Galatians 1:6-9). Paul’s meaning is this: the Corinthians have too easily put up with, or tolerated, false teachers, and in so doing they are making a great mistake.

5 Here Paul, again being sarcastic, calls the false teachers super-apostles (see verse 13). In fact, these teachers were not “super-apostles”; they were false apostles.

6 Paul’s language was clear and simple. Therefore, some of the Corinthians, when they heard Paul, supposed that he was not so wise. But Paul had true knowledge—a knowledge and wisdom that came from God (see 1 Corinthians 2:4-7).

7 In Paul’s time, most philosophers and teachers received payment for their teaching (2 Corinthians 2:17). Because Paul didn’t demand payment for his teaching (he earned his living by making tents), his enemies among the Corinthians said that his teaching was worthless.

Therefore, Paul here asks the Corinthians sarcastically: Was it a sin for me not to demand payment for my teaching? Paul had the right to demand payment (1 Corinthians 9:14). But Paul had given up that right, so that no one would be able to accuse him of being greedy for money (see 1 Corinthians 9:12,15,18; 1 Thessalonian 2:9; 2 Thessalonian 3:7-9).

8 Paul received support, financial help, from other churches. Here he says he robbed these churches. Paul didn’t like to receive help from the churches he established; in his mind it was like “robbing” them.

9 Even while Paul was at Corinth, he received help in times of need from the Macedonian Christians (especially the Philippians), and not from the Corinthians (see Philippians 4:15-16).

10 See 1 Corinthians 9:15 and comment.

11 By refusing to take money from the Corinthians, Paul has proven his love for them. God knows that Paul loves the Corinthians.

12 The false teachers at Corinth wanted an opportunity to be considered equal with Paul; that is, they wanted to appear equal to Paul. They took payment for their teaching; therefore, they wished that Paul would take payment too, so that there would be no difference between Paul and them. But Paul will not agree to accept payment as they do. He doesn’t want to give these false teachers any chance to appear equal with him.

13 These false teachers, in fact, were not equal with Paul. Paul was a true apostle, but they were false apostles.

From Paul’s time up until the present, many false apostles have passed into the church of Christ (see Mark 13:22; Acts 20:29-30; Romans 16:17-18; Galatians 1:7; 1 Timothy 4:1-2; Titus 1:10-11). How can we keep ourselves from being deceived by these false apostles? The answer: By studying God’s word—the Bible—and by keeping His word in our hearts.

14 These false apostles are servants of SATAN. Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light, and by this means deceives many (see Matthew 7:15 and comment).

15 These false apostles, like their master Satan, masquerade as servants of righteousness. How can we recognize them? We can recognize them by their works, by their fruit (see Matthew 7:16-20 and comment).

On the day of judgment, these false apostles will receive the punishment they deserve (Matthew 7:19; 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9).

Paul Boasts About His Sufferings (11:16-33)

16 Paul is not a fool. But if the Corinthians want to think he’s a fool, then let them think it. Paul here says to the Corinthians: “Since you think I’m a fool, I’m going to talk like a fool and boast further about myself” (see verse 1).

17-18 Paul says that in this section he is not talking as Christ would talk; he is talking like a fool. Indeed, he is talking as those false apostles would talk. The false apostles boasted about themselves. In order to expose the foolishness of the false apostles, Paul in this section imitates their own manner of speaking and reasoning. This is why Paul boasts about himself here: he is only imitating the false apostles. At the same time, we must remember that everything Paul boasts about is, in fact, true.

19  Here Paul again speaks to the Corinthians sarcastically. Because they liked to listen to all kinds of teachers, the Corinthians considered themselves wise. But even though they were “wise,” they had accepted the foolish teaching of the false apostles, and that teaching had done them great spiritual harm.

20  Through their teaching, the false apostles were bringing the Corinthians into bondage to Satan. The Corinthians were being “enslaved.” The false apostles were turning the Corinthians away from their freedom in Christ (see Galatians 5:1).

By taking payment for their teaching, these false apostles were “exploiting” and “taking advantage” of the Corinthians, Paul says. By their false teaching, these false apostles were, in a sense, “slapping” the Corinthians in the face.

21 Paul here says sarcastically: “I am too weak to do what those false apostles are doing; I am not strong and bold like they are.” Paul means by this that he himself has not exploited or enslaved the Corinthians in any way. This shows how “weak” Paul is!

But if these false apostles are going to boast about themselves, then Paul is going to boast about himself. He is ready to prove that they are no better than he is. He will speak in the same proud and foolish way they do!

22 The false apostles boasted that they were true Hebrews—that is, Israelites (Jews). Paul says: “I also am a true Jew.”

23 The false apostles claimed to be apostles of Christ (verse 13). But they had not suffered for Christ the way Paul had. Paul was a true apostle of Christ, because he had suffered for Him.

According to the book of Acts, Paul was imprisoned at least four times (Acts 16:23; 22:29; 23:35; 28:16). Some historians say that Paul was imprisoned as many as seven times.

Paul’s floggings are mentioned here in verse 24 and in Acts 16:22-23.

Paul was exposed to death again and again; that is, he constantly faced the risk of death (see Acts 14:19; Romans 8:36; 1 Corinthians 15:30-31; 2 Corinthians 1:8-9).

24 According to Deuteronomy 25:2-3, a criminal was never to receive more than forty lashes with a whip. Therefore, so that they would never accidentally (by miscounting) give more than forty lashes, the Jews always used to give forty lashes minus one—that is, thirty-nine lashes.

Jesus warned His disciples that they would be flogged by the Jews (Mark 13:9). Before he met the risen Christ, Paul himselfhad caused Christians to be flogged in the Jewish synagogues (Acts 26:11).

25 The Jews used to beat people with whips. The Gentiles (the Greeks and Romans) beat people with rods (Acts 16:22).

The Jews carried out the death sentence against criminals by stoning them (Leviticus 24:16; Acts 7:57-58). Paul’s stoning is mentioned in Acts 14:19.

26 Paul was constantly in danger (see 2 Corinthians 4:8-9). Notice that the last danger Paul mentions is the danger from false brothers. Many Christians can testify from their own experience that this is the most grievous danger of all (Psalm 55:12-14).

27 In verse 26, Paul has mentioned various dangers. Here in verse 27, Paul mentions some of the hardships he has faced. From this we can see how much Paul suffered. Paul had not only experienced hunger and thirst, but he had also been cold and naked (see 1 Corinthians 4:11-13; 2 Corinthians 6:4-10; 1 Thessalonians 2:9).

28 In addition to these “outward” dangers and hardships, Paul experienced the “inward” pressure of … concern for all the churches. Just as a father is concerned for his children, so Paul was concerned for the churches. Paul worried most of all about the false apostles and teachers—the ferocious wolves—who were always trying to enter the church (see Matthew 7:15; Acts 20:29).

29 Here again we can see inside Paul’s heart. The Corinthians were like Paul’s spiritual children. If they are weak, then Paul feels their weakness. If they are led into sin, then Paul will inwardly burn with anger against the person who led them into sin.

30 Paul does not boast of his own strength. Instead, he boasts of the things that show [his] weakness—such as his sufferings, his worries, his dangers, his hunger and thirst.

Paul does not boast in himself. Yes, he told the Corinthians: I worked harder than all of them. But he quickly added: … yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me (1 Corinthians 15:10). There are times when it is appropriate for Christians to “boast” of what God has done in their lives. But always we must boast of what God has done, not what we have done.

31 Paul’s enemies in Corinth may say that Paul is lying about all his sufferings and hardships. But God knows that he is not lying.

32-33 Here Paul remembers still another experience, and so he mentions it in these verses. This was an important event in Paul’s life. Paul had just met the risen Christ on the road to Damascus,²³ and had been converted (see Acts 9:1-8). After he arrived in Damascus and was baptized, Paul began to preach about Christ. But he had originally gone to Damascus to arrest and punish the followers of Christ. What a dramatic change had taken place in his life! When he had set out for Damascus, he was a proud Jew searching for Christians. But when he left Damascus, he was a humble Christian hiding in a basket! (see Acts 9:20-25).

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