2 Corinthians 11 vs 1 - chpt 12:13 - Corps-35b
Publication Date: June 15, 1983
Walter J. Cummins graduated from the Power for Abundant Class in 1962.
He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Ohio State University in 1968 and his Master of Education degree in Secondary School Administration in 1978 from Wright State University.
He was ordained to the Christian by The Way International in 1968. He has studied at The Way International under Victor Paul Wierwille and K.C.Pillai. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, he was director of the Research department of the Way International and served as assistant to the president.
June 15, 1983
Thirty-sixth Corps Night
Chapter 11 - Rev. Cummins gives it the title: "The Satire on the Super Apostles"
(Literals given only on certain verses in this chapter.)
UII Cor. 11:1
"would to," = "Oh, that" in the Aramaic
"I would" or "I wish" in the Greek.
This word functions as a particle to introduce a wish for something to be done that
probably will not be done.
"bear with," - is to put up with, to endure or to bear with. In other words, put up with a
little foolishness from me. This sounds a little ironical and the next chapter and a half is
loaded with irony. Many of the Greek texts add a little word in here - TI - it is used with
an adjective of quantity (such as little) to heighten the rhetorical emphasis.
"folly," = foolishness
Uses "bear with me," two times, with different inflections is a FOS, UpolyptotonU, = same
word with different inflections or parts of speech.
II Cor. 11:1 Literal according to usage:
I wish you would put up with just a little of my foolishness. Please put up with me,
UII Cor. 11:2
To be jealous with a godly jealousy has to be a FOS, UpolyptotonU. Who gets jealous?
Normally it is a husband or wife when someone does something they should not be doing.
That is the context here and it is an allegory. It is a continued UhypocatastasisU, (a
comparison by implication.) However, it is not making one comparison, with just one
short word, but it is continuing. You have got jealousy, espoused, husband, virgin. So it is
a continued UhypocatastasisU, which is an allegory. It actually continues into verse three in a
sense because Eve was beguiled (still shows you are dealing with a woman and a man.)
"espoused," - In Aramaic, it is mkar, it is the word that normally means espoused or
betrothed. It is the same word used in Matthew and Luke where Joseph and Mary were
espoused. However, the Greek word used in II Cor. 11:2, is different than the one used in
Matthew and Luke.
Read, UJesus Christ Our Promised SeedU, Chapters 12 & 13. Tells you there are five parts to
the marriage: 1) Prearrangements, 2) Betrothal ceremony, 3) Actual ceremony, 4) Time of
coming together sexually, & 5) Honeymoon.
The Greek word in II Cor. 11:2, is harmozō = to fit or join together. Now, you could be
joined together at the betrothal, or at the marriage ceremony. Either one would apply.
This word used here is in the middle voice, so it means to join to yourself rather than
joining to someone else. One of the lexicons makes the great mistake of saying that the
middle voice for this word is used in an active sense in one isolated case and then he gives
this verse. But he is wrong. Because it is middle voice and it should be translated in
middle voice. In other words, I have espoused you to myself.
210 II Corinthians
"chaste virgin," - actually means a pure, young girl of marriageable age. Read pages 154
& 155 of, UJesus Christ Our Promised SeedU.
The comparison is between Paul and the believers. I have espoused you to myself, a pure
woman to one man. The allegory is comparing Paul and the believers to a man and his
wife. Not comparing the believers and Christ to a man and a wife. The church is never a
bride. Israel is a bride in the gospels. And Israel will be called a bride in the book of
Revelation period. But today, the Church is never called a bride. That is why this allegory
would not fit in the Church epistles the way it is in the KJV.
"I may present," - means to stand beside, or to stand before, like you would stand before a
judge. It is used in Romans 14:10, and II Cor. 4:14.
II Cor. 11:2 Literal according to usage:
For I am jealous for you [like most husbands] with a godly jealousy, since I joined you
to myself as a pure young lady to one man, that we may stand together before Christ
[at the bēma.]
This allegory really sets an emotional tone for the irony that is used throughout this
chapter. Because you think of a woman running away from her husband to other men;
comparing that to the believers leaving Paul and the doctrine that he taught them and go
running off with other doctrines, with other gods rather than the one true God.
UII Cor. 11:3
"But I fear lest," - simply means I am apprehensive, anxious. He was not believing
negatively but this construction in the Greek shows his concern.
"beguiled," = seduced, deceived
"subtilty = craftiness
"minds," = noēma, used of the result of thinking, your thoughts, your purpose, your intents,
anything that comes out from your mind. It is the product of your mind.
"corrupted," = ruin by erroneous teaching.
"simplicity," = straight forwardness. Used to describe frank, open, plain speech. It is the
opposite of baited words. Also, the opposite of mystical, allegorical methods of interpretation
of the scripture - like trinity stuff.
II Cor. 11:3 Literal according to usage:
But I am concerned that even as the serpent seduced Eve by his craftiness, so your
minds may be corrupted and turned away from the straight forward simplicity of
teaching about Christ.
UII Cor. 11:4
"another," = allos
"another," = heteros = another of a different kind of spirit.
"another," = heteros
"ye might well bear with him," - this is misleading in the KJV. Aramaic means to be well
persuaded; and the "well" is sort of an ironical sense. It is the same way in the Greek - you
put up with it well. Literally, it means to put up with it too easily. Paul was very
concerned with the Corinthians because they easily put up with new ideas, that is, they did
not muster much resistance to heretical ideas. This word has a legal usage, which means to
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accept a complaint. The Corinthians accepted the complaints from the outsiders quite
easily; they swallowed it without much resistance. This word does not carry the idea of
resistance but rather it carries the sense of endurance, or putting up with. They were
putting up with and becoming acclimatized with living with less than the best. They were
putting up with these guys when they should have been taking a UstandU. Who are those
guys? . . . they're the "super apostles."
Literally, it says, "you put up with it too easily." See why he was jealous!
UII Cor. 11:5
"whit behind," = means he was behind in nothing.
"very chiefest apostles," = that means the most eminent, or super eminent apostles. This
word is used in Greek literature in an ironical sense. This does not refer to the 12 apostles,
but rather, ironically used of the false apostles used in Verse 13, and he calls them "super
apostles,"
II Cor. 11:5 Literal according to usage:
Yet I consider myself in no way to be inferior to these precious [Walter uses this word
ironically] but false super apostles.
UII Cor. 11:6
"rude," - means unprofessional. It was standard practice for a professional speaker in
Corinth or Greece to demand payment for speaking and teaching. But, Paul did not. What
did Paul do? He asked them to abundantly share. But the other speakers asked for money
for their own pockets; for their own personal gain. Since Paul did not take money that
way, (but lived off of the abundant sharing that came from Macedonia, where of their own
free will gave out of their hearts) they did not consider him a professional speaker.
"speech," = rhetoric, logos
You have seen our lives, you have seen how we act - but you consider us unprofessional in
speech; in rhetoric. Corinth was given to the sport of rhetoric. Paul's critics were
professional speakers and took every opportunity to lambaste him. In Corinth this was
having an effect on the believers because rhetoric was such a great part of their local
tradition. Remember Mars Hill -same thing at Corinth - always wanted to hear something
new.
UII Cor. 11:7
Have I committed a sin in humbling myself that you might be lifted up?
Freely! There it is - it is without a charge! It is a gift! But the others wanted to get paid
for their teaching. They wanted wages, but not Paul; he wanted them to abundantly share
from their hearts, not grudgingly or of necessity.
This is a rhetorical question. The question needed to be asked because some were saying
he did not ask for money because he was not deserving of it, because he was rude and
unprofessional in speech. Critics said that if he was a genuine apostle, he would demand
money.
UII Cor. 11:8
Did he get his wages from the Corinthians? No. His wages came out of the abundant
sharing, not by demanding money for speaking. And he lived according to need, not
212 II Corinthians
building up his Swiss bank account.
"I robbed other churches," is a FOS, UhyperboleU, an exaggeration. The Corinthians should
have been sharing in carnal things while he taught spiritual things, but they were not. The
Corinthians thought in terms of a professional gratuity, like the rhetoricians wanted. Paul
thought in terms of abundant sharing from the wages that God prospered an individual.
UII Cor. 11:9
"wanted," = lacked
"Chargeable to no man," - I was burdensome to no man; I was not a burden, I did not
weigh you down.
Macedonia supplied!
He was not a financial burden to the Corinthians.
"I have kept myself," and "will I keep myself" is a FOS, UpolyptotonU. I didn't and I won't.
We don't charge for our preaching, our ministry, and the work we do as a ministry. Our
ministry lives from the abundant sharing from the people as they give out of their hearts.
We never have done and never will do a charity drive or a member canvas where you put
people in a bind. It has got to be out of love; out of people's hearts.
Now, classes and room and board is a whole different story. You cannot go anyplace and
get free lunches. You pay tuition. But as far as preaching the Word, sharing the Word,
moving the Word among the people, that is a whole different story; that is from the
abundant sharing.
UII Cor. 11:10
What boasting? This boasting that Paul was not burdensome to them, a financial burden to
them. But he "robbed" other churches, taking his wages from them, in order to preach the
Word to the Corinthians.
UII Cor. 11:11
"wherefore," = Why - This is another rhetorical question. "Because I don't love you?" -
Another rhetorical question.
"God knows," = FOS = UecphonesisU; an expression of feeling by way of exclamation.
UII Cor. 11:12
What I do - he's boasting! Remember verse 1? Oh, put up with me a little bit in my
foolishness. He is boasting here about not taking rhetorical fees.
He is going to continue boasting. "cut off," = surgically remove. "occasion," = cause or
opportunity.
Who has been boasting at Corinth? These "super apostle," these rhetoricians, who live by
the fees they collect. They are the ones who have been boasting about how great they are.
Paul says, "Look, I, at this point want to cut off their opportunity to boast.
"glory," = boast
"even as we," = that they may be compared on the same level as us.
These rhetoricians were boasting. Paul was abased, humble (verse 7). They (Rhetoricians
were boasting.) Paul was humble.
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Now, Paul, says he is going to boast, so not that puts Paul on the same level as them. So,
they've got something to compare by. Before you couldn't compare, now, you've got Paul
boasting, you've got the Rhetoricians boasting, and now we can compare on the same level,
by the same terms, the same standard. And that standard is boasting. And that is how he is
going to cut off their opportunity to boast.
II Cor. 11:12 Literal according to usage:
But what I do in boasting I will continue to do in order to cut off any opportunity from
them which are constantly seeking an opportunity to boast. Then those who boast may
be assessed by the same standard as we.
UII Cor. 11:13
He is talking about these "super apostles" these rhetoricians, the ones who were boasting
about themselves. They were disguising themselves as the apostles of Christ, but they
were really apostles of somebody else.
UII Cor. 11: 14
"no marvel" = no wonder
"transformed," = disguised
How does Satan do this through his four fronts: 1) self, 2) others, 3) environment,
4) religion.
UII Cor. 11:16
Said it in verse one.
If otherwise - If you do think I am a fool
This again is irony - the essence is, give me at least as much attention as you would give a
fool.
Verse one and 16 both imply that boasting of one's self is usually foolish. And who are the
real fools if boasting is foolish? Those "super apostles," those rhetoricians. But, the
Corinthians need to hear about the Apostle Paul, to shake up their memories, and to turn
them from the teachings of the false apostles who are the real fools. And he has got to go
on their level, their standard to do it.
II Cor. 11:16 Literal according to usage:
Let me repeat what I said before (verse 1.) Let no one take me for a fool. But if you
do, then at least give me as much attention as you give a fool so I may boast a little.
Who is the fool? The "super apostles," This "a fool" implies "those fools."
UII Cor. 11:17
Does not mean this is not revelation, that is far from what it says. When I am speaking this
way I am not boasting of the Lord. II Cor. 10:18
"it were," - delete it.
"as foolishly," . . . Was Paul a fool? No! It is UasU foolishly!
"confidence," = foundation, or basis
The reason Paul had to boast according to the flesh rather than boasting according to the
Lord is because the Corinthians had been deceived by these false "super apostles," who
were criticizing the Apostle Paul and who were boasting according to the flesh.
214 II Corinthians
UII Cor. 11:18
I will boast also according to the flesh and not according to the Lord, which is the norm.
UII Cor. 11:19
For you who are so intelligent, who are so smart; put up with fools with little resistance.
You are doing it with pleasure (gladly.) This word has to do with something that is
sensually pleasing.
II Cor. 11:19 Literal according to usage:
It seems that you who are soooo . . . intelligent are gullible in that you relish putting up
with these mindless fools.
UII Cor. 11:20
"suffer," = put up with
"bondage," = enslaves you
"devour," = to eat up, to exploit, to appropriate illegally, they waste your abundant life
getting you to put your first-rate efforts on second-rate causes.
The false apostles lived off of the material goods of the Church at Corinth. They were
wasting them.
"take," = lambanō, in the sense of taking in, or taking advantage of. II Cor. 12:7, Paul did
not, but the "super apostles" were.
"exalt," = lift himself up with pride, puts on airs.
They were always putting up with these guys who were insulting them. Sure there are
times when you turn the other cheek, but the Corinthians always put up with them.
"If," = used over and over again - FOS - UanaphoraU - same word beginning a number of
phrases.
II Cor. 11:20 Literal according to usage:
You put up with those who enslave you, those who use you and waste your effort,
those who take advantage of you, those who brag about themselves, and those who
insult you.
UII Cor. 11:21
This is the peak of the satire. I speak as concerning reproach -or- I say to my shame, of
dishonor, that we have been weak. Was Paul weak? Spiritually? No! That is why it is
irony. How was he weak? He was weak in not being bold and daring and boasting about
the flesh as the others were. But he was not weak spiritually.
"bold," = daring, the outward show.
"I speak foolishly," = a FOS - UhypotimesisU = a parenthetical addition by way of apology or
excuse. Added to explain that self commendation is foolish for not he that commendeth
himself is approved but whom the Lord commendeth (II Cor. 10:18.) Nevertheless, at
Corinth, it was necessary to do some foolishness, some boasting and that is what this
whole satire is all about.
II Cor. 11:21 Literal according to usage:
To my dishonor I admit we have been far too weak. So (speaking foolishly) if others
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want to be daring and bold, I too shall be daring and bold.
UII Cor. 11:22
Here we go folks!! He starts with Hebrews because they were Aramaic-speaking Judeans
as opposed to Hellenists who were Greek-speaking Judeans. If you had a little Greek in
your background, you were sorta corrupt.
Then he goes to Israelites, because that is the nation; the people from the nation that was
set apart by God, because they were God's special people, special nation, called out.
Then, the greatest term of all, of the seed of Abraham. Because there were a lot of people
in Israel, in the nation who were not genuinely of the seed of Abraham.
Paul had all three of these in his back pocket. He was not an imposter.
So am I, so am I, so am I !!! It is a FOS - UepiphoraU = repetition of the same word or phrase
at the end of successive clauses, when used in a argument.
UII Cor. 11:23
(I speak as a fool) = FOS = UhypotimesisU.
They were UNOTU the ministers of Christ - they were so-called ministers of Christ - cause in
verse 13, it says they were false apostles, deceitful workers.
"labors," = hard work resulting in fatigue.
"deaths," = represents situations where you are exposed to death.
UII Cor. 11:24
"Jews," = Judeans - Deut. 25 (39 stripes) The Gentiles used to beat with rods.
UII Cor. 11:25
It was illegal to beat a Roman citizen but Paul was beaten three times.
"Once I was stoned," = this is recorded in Acts.
"deep," = ocean, sea
UII Cor. 11:26
Their journeys were perilous in those times.
"waters," = river in Aramaic and Greek
Part of the danger in traveling was in crossing rivers and streams.
"countrymen," - Who were they? The Judeans
"heathen," = the Gentiles
"false brethren," = even among the Church! The believers!
repetition of "perils," = FOS = UanaphoraU.
UII Cor. 11:27
"weariness," = work to the end of fatigue.
"painfulness," = another word that means work, but it means severe work resulting in pain
or distress, "watchings," = sleeplessness
"fasting," = he had to go without food once in awhile.
"cold," = represents exposure to the elements.
"nakedness," = represents shame, despair, contempt.
216 II Corinthians
Paul's boasting about these things!!
UII Cor. 11:28
"that which stoppeth upon me daily," - In other words, the buck stops here. If nobody else
handled the situation Paul had to handle it. If nobody in your area will handle a situation
who has to handle it? You do!
UII Cor. 11:29
"Who is weak that I am not weak with them," - is the essence. He identified with them.
He became all things to all people - I Cor. 9:22 and I Cor. 12:25,26.
"offended," = caused to stumble
"burn," = to burn emotionally, with indignation. I get all upset when somebody is made to
stumble in the Church. I get spiritually upset about it. His care for all the Churches was so
great that when others were weak, he became weak. When others were caused to stumble,
he was emotionally hot and upset about it. Both these are the FOS, UerotesisU.
II Cor. 11:29 Literal according to usage:
Who has been weak that I have not been weak with him? Who has been made to
stumble that I did not get spiritually upset?
UII Cor. 11: 30-33
Are a transition leading into Chapter 12. If you were to start a new chapter, you would put
it before verse 30.
UII Cor. 11:30
"infirmities," = weaknesses
Not that he was weak, but it is where Satan attacks you. At those points where Satan is
attacking you, that is what you are going to boast about because you are able to stand
against it spiritually. I will boast about Satan's attacks because God is able to deliver me
from every one of them. (II Cor. 1: 9, 10)
UII Cor. 11:32
In Damascus was the FIRST time that Satan really threw a monkey wrench at him.
UII Cor. 12:1
"doubtless to glory," = necessary to boast
"will come," = literally, it is "I will go on to tell of the visions and revelations."
Jerusalem Bible - "I will move on to the visions and revelations I have had from the Lord."
(It is visions regarding the revelations.)
READ, Volume III, UThe Word's WayU, Pages 104-106. Gives every literal for II Cor. 12:1-
11.
UII Cor. 12:2
Whose visions is he talking about? His own! So who is the man he knew? Himself!
It is a FOS where he changes from the first person to the third person; UantimetathiesisU.
Above 14 years . . . this epistle was written in 57 A.D.. 57 minus 14 equals 43 A.D.. It had
to be before 43 A.D. (it says above 14 years ago.) Verse 33 of II Cor. 11 was in the year
40 A.D.. 44 A.D. is when Paul went from Tarsus to Antioch and then they took the ABS
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to Jerusalem and that is when Herod died, eaten of worms. And we know historically he
died in 44 A.D. Between 40 & 44 A.D., we know nothing of the life of Paul; he was living
with his home base as Tarsus. What happened in that man's life during those 3 years! All
we know is that he had a specific vision regarding the revelation of Jesus Christ.
UII Cor. 12:2
"whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body," Parenthetical addition =
UepitrechonU; (FOS) it is not complete in itself. It is an idiom. It indicates that the vision
was so real he did not comprehend all of it's perimeters.
God knows = FOS = UecphonesisU; expression of feeling by way of exclamation. Verse 3 and
the first part of verse 4 is a complete reiteration of verse 2. But instead of calling it the
third heaven, verse 4 says paradise.
"caught up," = caught away - II Peter 3:5-7 & II Peter 3:12 & 13.
UII Cor. 12:4
"Lawful," = permitted
Ladies and gentlemen, we have not gotten to the place yet in this day and time where it is
permitted for us to hear that kind of thing. I have heard Dr. Wierwille talk about wanting
to share some of those things. But the reason he cannot is because we still have too much
ego. We still have too much pride. We still boast about our own fleshly accomplishments
so much at times (in spite of our good heartedness and wanting to really serve and so on.)
We still have too much of that to really ever get into something like this. Some of you, I
am sure, have come to some of us, and said "Well, could we get into the Book of
Revelation and really work it?" You are not ready for the Book of Revelation. You
haven't even mastered the Church epistles! And, the only reason you want to go there is
because of personal flesh pride. That is right. Get out of it! Master what is addressed to
us and maybe then you are going to have a vision regarding the revelation of the Lord.
Apparently, none of us have risen up to meet that challenge yet. None of us! For one
thing, I doubt if there is anyone here who could keep their mouth shut.
UII Cor. 12:5
He'd really like to boast about the visions that he's seen, because it is God's power and
ability. But if he boasts of himself, his accomplishments, like these other fools were doing
(the super apostles) then he is boasting of his own ability and what good is that?? But he
could not boast of the visions because of the infirmities which caused him to boast about
the infirmities - because the fools were bringing up things and the people were not strong
enough, so could Paul talk to them about these things? Nope. Same way we cannot be
told about it today.
UII Cor. 12:6
"forbear," = restrain myself
UII Cor. 12:7
"thorn in the flesh," = people - FOS, UhypocatastasisU; comparison by implication; you
compare the thorn to people.
"buffet," = beat, cuff, punch
"lest I should be exalted above measure," - It is at the beginning and end of this verse. FOS
= UepanadiplosisU.
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UII Cor. 12:8
You read the list in II Cor. 11 ! How come he besought the Lord only three times? I'd be
on His doorstep every day. Walter does not understand this. Sure, three stands for
completeness, but it is more than that.
UII Cor. 12:9
"weakness," = infirmity
When Satan attacks you, that is when the power of God can go into operation in your life
and you can have deliverance. If you are on the back lines, you never get any action. If
you are on the front lines, then God can do something for you. So don't stay hiding behind
a tree.
Glories, boasts about Satan's attacks in his life that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
Not spiritually, but in manifestation. The power of God has to go into manifestation in
your life when you are being attacked.
When someone has a need to be ministered to isn't that when revelation manifestations go
into operation. If there is no need you can sit around all day and there is still no revelation
for you.
UII Cor. 12:10
All these things in this list can be summed up as physical and mental attacks.
FOS = each begins with "in" - UanaphoraU.
UoxymoronU = weak and strong - it is a foolish saying that's a wise saying. These words look
like they are contradictory, it looks foolish. But really it is a wise saying. It climaxes
Paul's boasting.
The Apostle Paul preferred to be on the front lines in situations where he could see the
power of the holy spirit at work. It is evident that Paul did not seek trouble, but when one
is on the front lines he has more opportunities to believe and see the power of Christ-inhim
manifested.
UII Cor. 12:11
"glorying," = boasting - That is where we started, back in II Cor. 11.
"chiefest apostles," = those "super apostles"
If I am nothing and I am not behind them, then they are worse than nothing.
UII Cor. 12:12
The Apostle Paul was a true apostle and the signs of an apostle were done in their
presence.
II Cor. 12:12 Literal according to usage:
In deed I have shown the signs of a true apostle to you, patiently performing signs,
wonders and miracles.
UII Cor. 12:13
This closes out this section.
How were they inferior or less than other churches? They were not! It is a rhetorical
question. Except, in one area. How was Paul burdensome to them, here in the context?
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II Cor. 11:9, he didn't charge them fees. Here is a little more irony. Please forgive me this
wrong. That is irony!
II Cor. 12:13 Literal according to usage:
How have you been inferior to the other churches, except that I have not been a
financial burden to you ? Forgive me this singular injustice.
II Cor. 11-12:13, is a satire on the "super apostles."
If the believers ever rise beyond their own petty grievances and their ego and pride and
selfishness and their esteem for men, perhaps we will see visions regarding the revelation
of which we could truly boast as well.
End of Teaching