Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Corinthians 11:13
For such [are] false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
13. For such ] The link of connection is as follows. You cannot believe them in their boasting. They are false and deceitful in all their doings. They have not your interest at heart, but their own. Cf. ch. 2Co 2:17.
false apostles ] See Rev 2:2; also note on 2Co 11:26.
deceitful workers ] St Paul is indirectly aiming at such persons in ch. 2Co 4:2, as well as more directly in ch. 2Co 2:17. Cf. Rom 16:17-18; Php 3:2. The word workers is in the original equivalent to our word workmen or artisans. The reference is to workmen who shirk, or as it is called ‘scamp’ their work, instead of dealing fairly by their employer.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
For such are false apostles – They have no claim to the apostolic office. They are deceivers. They pretend to be apostles; but they have no divine commission from the Redeemer. Paul had thus far argued the case without giving them an explicit designation as deceivers. But here he says that people who had conducted thus; who attempted to impose on the people; who had brought another gospel, whatever pretences they might have – and he was not disposed to deny that there was much that was plausible – were really impostors and the enemies of Christ. It is morally certain, from 2Co 11:22, that these people were Jews; but why they had engaged in the work of preaching, or why they had gone to Corinth, cannot with certainty be determined.
Deceitful workers – Impostors. People who practice various arts to impose on others. They were crafty, and fraudulent, and hypocritical. It is probable that they were people who saw that great advantage might be taken of the new religion; people who saw the power which it had over the people, and who saw the confidence which the new converts were inclined to repose in their teachers; perhaps people who had seen the disciples to the Christian faith commit all their property to the hands of the apostles, or who had heard of their doing it (compare Act 4:34-35), and who supposed that by pretending to be apostles also they might come in for a share of this confidence, and avail themselves of this disposition to commit their property to their spiritual guides. To succeed, it was needful as far as possible to undermine the influence of the true apostles, and take their place in the confidence of the people. Thence they were deceitful ( dolioi) workers, full of trick, and cunning, and of plausible arts to impose on others.
Transforming themselves … – Pretending to be apostles. Hypocritical and deceitful, they yet pretended to have been sent by Christ. This is a direct charge of hypocrisy. They knew they were deceivers; and yet they assumed the high claims of apostles of the Son of God.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 13. For such are false apostles] Persons who pretend to be apostles, but have no mission from Christ.
Deceitful workers] They do preach and labour, but they have nothing but their own emolument in view.
Transforming themselves] Assuming as far as they possibly can, consistently with their sinister views, the habit, manner, and doctrine of the apostles of Christ.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
For such are false apostles; that is, persons pretending to be sent of Christ, but were indeed never sent of him.
Deceitful workers; persons whose work is but to cheat and deceive you; and that both with reference to their call and authority which they pretend to, and also to the doctrine which they bring.
Transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ; they were never apostles of Christ, only they put themselves into such a shape and form, that they might have more advantage to deceive.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
13. Forreason why he isunwilling they should be thought like him [BENGEL].
suchthey and thoselike them.
false apostlesthose”overmuch apostles” (see on 2Co11:5) are no apostles at all.
deceitful workerspretendingto be “workmen” for the Lord, and really seeking their owngain.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
For such are false apostles,…. Such as those he had in view, who sought an occasion to depress him, and exalt themselves, and to get money from the Corinthians; these were “false apostles”, or apostles falsely so called; they had the name, but not the thing; they were not called and sent forth by Christ; they had not the grace of apostleship, or gifts qualifying them for that high office; the power and authority they exercised was usurped by them; they could not prove their mission by true and real miracles; nor had they any seals of their apostleship, as those who were sent by Christ had:
deceitful workers; they went by the name of labourers in Christ’s vineyard, when they were loiterers in it; they pretended to work, but did not; and to work for Christ, when they only served themselves, and their own bellies; they took upon them to interpret the Scriptures, but in a very fallacious manner; they walked in craftiness, and handled the word of God deceitfully, and lay in wait to deceive men; and were masters of so much art and cunning, that, if it was possible, they would have deceived the very elect:
transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ: not so much by putting on a like garb or dress, but by pretending to be of the same principles, and to follow their practices, and to pursue the same good ends in their ministrations.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
False apostles (). From , false, and . Paul apparently made this word (cf. Re 2:2). In verse 26 we have , a word of like formation (Ga 2:4). See also and in Mr 13:22.
Deceitful (). Old word from (lure, snare), only here in N.T. (cf. Ro 16:18).
Fashioning themselves (). Present middle (direct) participle of the old verb for which see on 1Co 4:6. Masquerading as apostles of Christ by putting on the outward habiliments, posing as ministers of Christ (“gentlemen of the cloth,” nothing but cloth). Paul plays with this verb in verses 2Cor 11:13; 2Cor 11:14; 2Cor 11:15.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Transforming themselves [] . Rev., better, fashioning, thus preserving the distinctive force of schma outward fashion, which forms part of the compound verb. See on Mt 17:2; 1Co 4:6.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
WARNINGS AGAINST LYING PROPHETS
1) “For such are false apostles,” (hoi gar toioutoi pseudapostoloi) “For such as those (boasting) are false apostles,” pretended, self-styled apostles; This rapid appearance of false teachers and false prophets was a remarkable feature of the apostolic age, Rev 2:2; Gal 2:4; Php_1:15.
2) “Deceitful workers “ (ergatai dolioi) “workmen, deceitful ones,” working deceitfully for selfish ends, Mat 7:15-16; Mat 7:19; Rom 16:17-18; Php_3:18; Tit 1:10; Crafty, cunning religious “con” persons they are, 2Pe 1:1; 2Pe 1:3.
3) ”Transforming themselves,” (metaschematizomenoi) “transforming themselves,” like chameleons, changing character to fit environment, fakes, counterfeits, religious frauds, deliberately trying to sell themselves for commercial gain, selfish advantage, etc.
4) “Into the apostles of Christ,” (eis apostolous Christou) “Into apostles of Christ,” into something artificial, something they are not in the Christian area, Mat 7:15; Simon the sorcerer tried it, Act 8:18-24; Act 13:8-11; Act 19:13-20.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
13. For such are false Apostles While he has already taken away from them what they chiefly desired, yet, not contented with having put himself on a level with them with respect to that in which they were desirous to excel, he leaves them nothing for which they deserve any commendation. It was apparently a laudable thing to despise money, but he says, that they make use of a pretense for the purpose of deceiving, exactly as if a harlot were to borrow the apparel of a decent matron. For it was necessary to pull off the mask, which obscured the glory of God.
They are deceitful workers, says he, that is — they do not discover their wickedness at first view, but artfully insinuate themselves under some fair pretext. (834) Hence they require to be carefully and thoroughly sifted, lest we should receive persons as servants of Christ, as soon as any appearance of excellence is discovered. Nor does Paul in malice and envy put an unfavorable construction upon what might be looked upon as an excellence, but, constrained by their dishonesty, he unfolds to view the evil that lay hid, because there was a dangerous profanation of virtue in pretending to burn with greater zeal than all the servants of Christ.
(834) “ S’insinuent finement sans qu’on y prene garde;” — “They artfully insinuate themselves, unless one be on his guard against them.”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(13) For such are false apostles . . .St. Pauls estimate of the character of his rivals is now given in unsparing language as the reason why he desires to deprive them of any claim which may give them an adventitious superiority to him. In the term false apostles we have the explanation of the apostles extraordinary of 2Co. 11:5. These crafty workers were carrying on a system of imposture, trying to assume the character of being, in a higher sense than he was, Apostles of Christ. This again throws light both on the words if any man trusts that he is Christs of 2Co. 10:7, and on the I am of Christ of 1Co. 1:12.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
4. Unmasking of their hypocrisy, and apologetic announcement of the measurement, 2Co 11:13-21.
For one brief moment St. Paul brings the detractors from the shade into the foreground, and gives them a terrible characterization.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
13. For I will give them no occasion, for the following reason.
False apostles As, above, they were overmuch apostles.
Deceitful workers Treacherous machinators; one of whose twofold machinations we have described above.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, fashioning themselves into apostles of Christ. And no marvel, for even Satan fashions himself into an angel of light. It is no great thing therefore if his ministers also fashion themselves as ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works.’
And they do this because they are false apostles, deceitful workers, fashioning themselves into the apostles of Christ.
Note that their falsehood lies in their claim to be ‘Apostles of Christ’. They are seeking supreme authority, and seeking to supplant him. But it was he to whom the Apostleship to the Gentiles had been granted, both by the Apostles and by God (Gal 2:8; Rom 11:13; Act 9:9; Act 9:15-16). It is not that Paul seeks to prevent others labouring among the Gentiles. He stated himself that one sows and another waters (1Co 3:6-9), and he was delighted that Christ was preached even by those who were not in full accord with him (Php 1:18). But it was another thing when they claimed supreme authority and the right to take over the church.
They are false because they make false claims to be Apostles, they are deceitful because they back those false claims with spurious authority, and reveal it by their deceitful activities, and in the end they are only self-made ‘Apostles’. No one has appointed them as Apostles. They do not have the rights that they claim.
Given the unique status of the Twelve it is not surprising that men should seek such a privilege. The Apostles were the deposit of the truth. Those who sought self-glory would never be satisfied with less, even though it was patently not available. It was for those for whom it had been prepared in the same way as was authority under the Rule of God (Mat 20:23; Mar 10:40). The church constantly had to reject such false claims (Rev 2:2). And later the same sad state of affairs would result from the false application of the term ‘Bishop’, which came to mean almost the equivalent of ‘Apostle’, one who could make authoritative declarations. But these men who rejected Paul had taken their ‘sending forth’ (apostello) by the Jerusalem church as more significant than it was. They had got above themselves. (Given its importance it is in fact quite remarkable how few did tend to make such claims for themselves).
But this should not surprise anyone, says Paul. For Satan too sets himself up as having false authority. He sets himself up as an angel of light in order to deceive. This was apparent when he came to Jesus after His baptism and sought to give Him ‘heavenly’ guidance (Mat 4:1-10; Luk 4:1-12 compare Mat 16:23).
There is no real need therefore to turn to Jewish fables for an explanation although some suggest that he is drawing on a Jewish legend similar to what is later found in the Life of Adam and Eve 9:1, where Satan transforms himself into brightness as of angels and pretends to grieve with Eve, who sits weeping by the River Tigris, and in the Apocalypse of Moses 17:1-2, where Satan comes to Eve in the form of an angel at the time when the angels are going up to worship God and tempts her to eat of the fruit of the tree.
Paul often writes elsewhere about false teachers, but nowhere else does he speak of false apostles. Thus he is not here just calling them false teachers, even though he does make clear that their teaching also is deficient (2Co 11:4). They were not just conflicting with Paul’s teaching. He could have dealt with that by doctrinal teaching as in Galatians. They were denying him any right to authority in the sphere to which he had been appointed. Thus he has to defend his authority.
‘It is no great thing therefore if his ministers also fashion themselves as ministers of righteousness.’ Just as Satan, ruler of the ‘power of darkness’ (Col 1:13) presents himself as an angel of ‘light’, so do his servants and ministers who are unjustified before God and unrighteous before men put on the shape of being ministers of righteousness. They act out a form of righteousness, a form of godliness without its power (2Ti 3:5). They are play actors acting out a scene so as to impress men.
‘Whose end shall be according to their works.’ But note that their end will be in accordance with what they reveal themselves to be by their works. In the end all judgment is by works, because they finally reveal what a man is. It is just that the Christian has been cleansed from his evil works, has been covered with the works of Christ Who is made to us righteousness (1Co 1:30; 2Co 5:21), and begins a new life of righteousness evidenced in his works. Yet he too will in the end be justified by works, both the works of Christ imputed to him, and the resulting works he does in Christ (Mat 12:37; Jas 2:21-25; Rev 20:12). The former are the basis of his salvation, the latter the fruit.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
2Co 11:13. For such are false apostles, They had questioned St. Paul’s apostleship, 1 Corinthians 9 because of his not taking a maintenance from the Corinthians. He here directly, and without reserve, declares them to be no true apostles.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
2Co 11:13 . Justification of the aforesaid , . . . “Not without ground do I intend that they shall, in that of which they boast, be found to be as we; for the part, which these men play, is lying and deceit.”
Those who take . in 2Co 11:12 : not better than we , must forcibly procure a connection by arbitrarily supplying something; as e.g. Rckert: that in the heart of the apostle not better than we had the meaning: but rather worse , and that this is now illustrated. Hofmann, in consequence of his view of . . . . 2Co 11:12 , interpolates the thought: “ for the rest ” they have understood how to demean themselves as Christ’s messenger.
. . .] for people of that kind are false apostles , etc., so that is the predicate . [330] So also de Wette and Ewald. Usually, after the Vulgate (also Flatt, Billroth, Rckert, Hofmann), is made the subject: “for such false apostles are,” etc. But it should, in fact, be rather put: “for the false apostles of that kind (in distinction from other false apostles; comp. 2Co 12:3 ; Soph. O. R. 674; Polyb. viii. 2, 5, xvi. 11, 2) are,” etc., which would be quite appropriate. Besides, the , disclosing entirely at length the character of the enemies, would lose its emphasis. On the contemptuous sense of , comp. Ellendt, Lex. Soph. II. p. 843.
] comp. Phi 3:2 . They were workers , in so far certainly as they by teaching and other activity were at work in the church; but they were deceitful workers (dealt in , Eur. Med. 413, , Hom. ix. 282, and , Pind. Nem. iv. 93), since they wished only to appear to further the true Christian salvation of the church, while at bottom they pursued their own selfish and passionate aims (2Co 11:20 ). For the opposite of an , see 2Ti 2:15 .
. . .] transforming themselves into apostles of Christ . Their essential form is not that of apostles of Christ, for they are servants of Satan; in order to appear as the former, they thus assume another form than they really have, present themselves otherwise than they really are. In working against Paul in doctrine and act, they hypocritically assumed the mask of apostle, though they were the opposite of a true apostle (Gal 1:1 ; Rom 15:18 ff.; 2Co 12:12 ).
[330] Bengel says aptly: “Haec jam pars praedicati, antitheton, ver. 5. Nunc tandem scapham scapham dicit .” On the idea of , Erasmus rightly remarks: “ Apostolus enim ejus agit negotium a quo missus est, isti suis commodis serviunt.” Without doubt the people maintained for themselves their claim with equal, nay, with better right than Paul, to the name of apostle , which they probably conceded to Paul only in the wider sense (Act 14:4 ; Act 14:14 ; 1Co 15:7 ).
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
Ver. 13. Deceitful workers ] They seemed to labour, but indeed they loitered, or worse; seeking to set up themselves in the hearts of God’s people.
Transforming themselves, &c. ] The Manichees derived their name of manna, because they held that whatsoever they taught was to be received as food from heaven. Montanus said he was the Comforter, &c. Novatus called himself Moses, and a brother that he had, Aaron. The family of love set out their Evangelium regni. Kingdom of the Gospel. The Swenckfeldians (Stinckfeldians Luther called them, from the ill savour of their opinions) entitled themselves with that glorious name, The confessors of the glory of Christ. (Schlussenburg.)
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
13. ] For (see above: the implying also that the choice of the above line of conduct has been made in a conviction of their falsehood and its efficacy to detect it) such men are false Apostles (not, as Vulg. and most expositors, ‘ such false Apostles are . .,’ which destroys the whole emphasis of the sentence, wherein the of 2Co 11:5 are pronounced now to be : and besides, suggests an irrelevant comparison between . and . of some other kind.
On the sense, see Rev 2:2 .
is a familiar designation with the Apostle, see reff.), dishonest workmen (in that they pretend to be teachers of the Gospel, and are in the mean time subserving their own ends), changing themselves into (in appearance: the pres. participle indicates their habit and continual endeavours to assume the shape) Apostles of Christ . By a fair comparison between us, this mask will be stript off; by the abundance of my sufferings, and distinctions vouchsafed by the Lord, my Apostolicity will be fully proved, and their Pseudapostolism shewn.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
2Co 11:13 . . . .: for such men (this explains the ground of his determination in 2Co 11:12 not to give opportunity for cavil) are false apostles ( cf. Rev 2:2 . This speedy appearance of false teachers was one of the most remarkable features of the Apostolic age; cf. Gal 2:4 , Phi 1:15 ; Phi 3:18 , Tit 1:10 , 2Pe 2:1 , 1Jn 4:1 ), crafty workers ( cf. Phi 3:2 ), fashioning themselves into Apostles of Christ, i.e. , laying special claim to that great title ( cf. chap. 2Co 10:7 ). is to change the outward appearance ( ) of a thing, the thing itself in essence ( ) remaining unchanged (see reff.).
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
false apostles. Greek. pseudapostotos. Only here. Compare 2Co 11:26 and 2Pe 2:1,
deceitful. Greek. dolios. Only here. The verb in Rom 3:13.
transforming themselves. Greek. metaschematizo. See 1Co 4:6.
into. Greek. eis. App-104.
the. Omit
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
13.] For (see above: the implying also that the choice of the above line of conduct has been made in a conviction of their falsehood and its efficacy to detect it) such men are false Apostles (not, as Vulg. and most expositors, such false Apostles are . ., which destroys the whole emphasis of the sentence, wherein the of 2Co 11:5 are pronounced now to be : and besides, suggests an irrelevant comparison between . and . of some other kind.
On the sense, see Rev 2:2.
is a familiar designation with the Apostle, see reff.),-dishonest workmen (in that they pretend to be teachers of the Gospel, and are in the mean time subserving their own ends),-changing themselves into (in appearance: the pres. participle indicates their habit and continual endeavours to assume the shape) Apostles of Christ. By a fair comparison between us, this mask will be stript off;-by the abundance of my sufferings, and distinctions vouchsafed by the Lord, my Apostolicity will be fully proved, and their Pseudapostolism shewn.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
2Co 11:13. , for such) The reason is herein given, [aetiologia] why he is unwilling, that they should be thought like him.-, false apostles) This is now part of the predicate; the antithesis is at 2Co 11:5. At length he calls a spade a spade. , deceitful, presently afterwards, is in conformity with it. [This is remarkable severity of language. Not a few have been of opinion: Such men are of a disposition not altogether to be despised, and it was not proper, that they should be so invidiously covered with disgrace: viz., They saw Christ, and now give their daily testimony to Him; they therefore ought to hold some place among others. But the cause of truth is most delicate; and the Indifferentism, which is so pleasant to many in the present day, was not cultivated by Paul. (Er war kein so geflliger Toleranz-Prediger. He was no pleasant preacher of toleration.) There is this to be taken into account, that when his life was frequently in danger, the zeal of the apostle continued without showing any symptoms of weakness.-V. g.]- , as the apostles of Christ) They a not altogether deny Christ, but they did not preach Him truly, 2Co 11:23.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
2Co 11:13
2Co 11:13
For such men are false apostles,-False apostles were those who claimed to be apostles. They claimed to be what they were not, and usurped an authority which did not belong to them.
deceitful workers,-They were workers in so far as they were preachers or teachers; but they were not honest; they availed themselves of every means to deceive and pervert the people. They were workers; but with hidden, selfish, and wicked motives.
fashioning themselves into apostles of Christ.-[Though their real object was not to advance the kingdom and glory of Christ, and although they were never commissioned for that work, they gave themselves out as Christs messengers and servants, and even claimed to have more intimate relation with him, and to be more devoted to his service than Paul himself.]
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
false: 2Co 11:15, 2Co 2:17, 2Co 4:2, Mat 25:24, Act 15:1, Act 15:24, Act 20:30, Rom 16:18, Gal 1:7, Gal 2:4, Gal 4:17, Gal 6:12, Eph 4:14, Phi 1:15, Phi 1:16, Col 2:4, Col 2:8, 1Ti 1:4-7, 1Ti 4:1-3, 1Ti 6:3-5, 2Ti 2:17-19, 2Ti 3:5-9, 2Ti 4:3, 2Ti 4:4, 2Pe 2:1-3, 1Jo 2:18, 1Jo 4:1, 2Jo 1:7-11, Jud 1:4, Rev 2:2, Rev 2:9, Rev 2:20, Rev 19:20
deceitful: Phi 3:2, Tit 1:10, Tit 1:11
Reciprocal: Gen 3:5 – God Lev 11:42 – goeth upon the belly Deu 13:2 – General 1Ki 13:18 – But 1Ki 22:11 – horns of iron 2Ki 10:19 – But Jehu 2Ch 18:20 – there came Ezr 4:2 – Let us Neh 6:5 – with an open letter Psa 52:2 – working Pro 11:9 – An hypocrite Pro 19:27 – General Pro 25:14 – boasteth Pro 28:10 – causeth Son 5:7 – watchmen Isa 9:15 – the prophet Jer 5:31 – prophets Jer 23:16 – Hearken Jer 27:14 – hearken Jer 29:8 – Let Eze 13:4 – like Dan 11:34 – cleave Mic 2:11 – a man Zep 3:4 – light Zec 13:2 – cause Mat 7:15 – which Mat 13:25 – enemy Mat 13:39 – enemy Mat 13:47 – and gathered Mat 24:4 – Take Luk 21:8 – Take Joh 8:44 – When Joh 10:1 – the same Act 13:6 – a false 1Co 3:10 – and another 2Co 11:3 – so 2Co 11:29 – and I burn Gal 1:8 – though Gal 3:1 – who Gal 6:4 – and not Eph 6:11 – the wiles Phi 1:10 – approve things that are excellent Col 2:23 – a show 1Th 2:3 – General 1Th 3:5 – lest 2Th 2:10 – deceivableness 2Ti 3:8 – men Jam 3:6 – it is Jam 3:15 – devilish 2Pe 3:17 – being 1Jo 2:26 – concerning Rev 2:24 – the depths Rev 13:11 – and he had Rev 16:14 – the spirits Rev 20:3 – should deceive
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Co 11:13. These false teachers were able to mislead a great many brethren by trickery and other deceptive means, making themselves appear as apostles of Christ.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
2Co 11:13. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, fashioning themselves into apostles of Christ. He now tears off the mask, giving his opponents their true namein which character they but copy their real master, as next verse says.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Verse 13 Those that accepted pay and opposed Paul were impostors pretending to be apostles. They worked, but hidden beneath their work were bad motives and intentions. Since they were not called of Christ, they made themselves apostles.
Fuente: Gary Hampton Commentary on Selected Books
2Co 11:13-15. For such are false apostles Whatever they may pretend to the contrary, being destitute of that divine mission which all the true apostles have; deceitful workers Pretending to great disinterestedness in their work, while their only design is to promote their own interest; transforming themselves into the appearance of apostles of Christ By pretending to preach the gospel without reward. And no marvel they assume that appearance; for Satan himself In subordination to whom they act, can put on such deceitful appearances, and be transformed into an angel of light Wearing, on certain occasions, a mask of sanctity and religion, in his attempts to deceive and insnare the souls of men, so that one would imagine his suggestions to be of a celestial and divine original. In this manner, it may be supposed, Satan transformed himself, when he tempted our Lord in the wilderness; and in like manner also when he tempted our first mother Eve. Evil spirits are called angels of darkness, because they employ themselves in promoting error and wickedness, which is spiritual darkness. Whereas, good angels are called angels of light, because they employ themselves in promoting truth and virtue, which is spiritual light. Therefore, it is no great thing Nothing extraordinary; if his ministers also, under his influence, be transformed That is, make themselves to appear; as ministers of righteousness False teachers are justly called ministers of Satan, because they are employed in disseminating error, whereby Satans kingdom is supported in the world. And, on the other hand, with equal propriety are the teachers of true doctrine called ministers of righteousness, because of the efficacy of true doctrine to promote righteousness in them who receive it: whose end Notwithstanding all their disguises; shall be according to their works Here the end, as in Rom 6:21, signifies the final issue of a course of action; consequently the retribution which shall be made to the actor.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, fashioning themselves into apostles of Christ. [Thus he declares plainly that these men are not apostles, that they maintained their false position by imposture, and that they assumed the name and office of apostles, though never having been called to be such by Christ.]
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
THE DEVILS PREACHERS
13. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. This verse confirms the conclusion that the apostolic office was not confined to the Twelve, because not only were James the Third, Jude, Barnabas, Paul, Apollos and Matthias bona fide apostles besides the original Twelve, but the very fact that we see here a lot of counterfeits claiming to be the apostles of Christ, is confirmatory proof that others besides the original Twelve were recognized as apostles; because it is impossible for us to conclude that Paul here makes allusion to any of the original Twelve, or of the others above mentioned, who had preached at Corinth with his full approval and appreciation. The conclusion is inevitable that a lot of counterfeits were actually claiming to be the apostles of Christ, whose claim could have received no popular plausibility if it had been understood that the number was restricted to twelve. History is still repeating itself. All ages have been cursed with counterfeit apostles, especially in the capacity of party leaders which really verify the definition of apostle, i. e., one that enters a new field, or makes a new departure. These parties seeking the fleece instead of the flock have figured conspicuously in all the bygone ages, and to this day, leading the blind awfully to the confusion of the unspiritual.
14. For it is no wonder, for Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. The devil was the great archangel Lucifer in Heaven before he fell (Isa 14:12). As the god of this world, he is this day doing wonderful execution in the capacity of an angel of light, thus passing himself for God, deceiving preachers and people in every land. As he long lived an angel in Heaven, he well understands how to play the angel. Those he can not devour as a roaring lion through the vulgar vices, he captures in the capacity of an angel of light, deceiving them with the delusion that he is God, or a glorified angel, thus leading them on through the worldly churches till he can dump them into Hell.
15. Then no wonder if indeed his ministers transform themselves as the ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works. God calls and sends His own ministers. We have multitudes of preachers standing high in metropolitan pulpits who even deny that there is any such a thing as a Divine call, and, of course, do not claim to have any themselves. You see it follows as a logical sequence, if God does not call and send them, they must call and send themselves, i. e., thus transforming themselves as the ministers of righteousness, while they are really wolves in sheeps clothing, Satans preachers sent forth by him for the delusion and damnation of souls. From the simple fact that they are personally ignorant of Gods saving grace, judging others by themselves, they think they are a true sample of Christianity. They are deceived by the devil, so that they think they are right, and in all probability will never know the difference till the devils come after them to take them to Hell, while they are looking for the angels to come and take them to Heaven. William Bramwell, a bright and loving contemporary of John Wesley, had become enamored of one of these sleek, nice, high-toned doctors of divinity occupying a city pulpit, and so carried away that in the honesty of his heart he was asking the Lord to make him such a preacher as this man whom lie had taken for his paragon while studying for the ministry in he Episcopal Church. One bright summer day, having eaten dinner, he is lying in a hammock under a green tree, reading a good book. Falling asleep, he is awakened by the frightful visage and awful scream of that favorite preacher, exclaiming: I am in Hell. Awakened by the vision, he leaps from the hammock, and, facing the sidewalk, sees a man passing by, who exclaims: Oh! Dr. dropped dead in his study a few minutes ago. Bramwell took alarm, went to hear the Methodists, got converted and wonderfully sanctified, and became a hero in the Wesleyan Holiness Movement. These Scriptures are terrifically ominous of the awful doom awaiting Satans preachers, whose name is legion, and they are beneath every sky. Reader, pray for them, and be sure that they do not catch you.
Fuente: William Godbey’s Commentary on the New Testament
11:13 {6} For such [are] false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
(6) Now at length he portrays these fellows as they truly are, forewarning that it will come to pass that they will at length betray themselves, no matter how they may be pretending that they have a zeal for God’s glory.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
"The moment has come for Paul to drop the veil of irony and to speak in the plainest possible terms in denunciation of these would-be ’super-apostles’ who have invaded his territory in Achaia." [Note: Hughes, p. 392.]
Paul did not want the Corinthians to associate him with these people because they were counterfeit ambassadors of Christ. It is for this reason that their accusations concerned Paul. They were self-servers who were the true sons of their father Satan, the consummate hypocrite. [Note: See Gregory H. Harris, "Satan’s Work as a Deceiver," Bibliotheca Sacra 156:622 (April-June 1999):190-202.] They may have been genuine believers. Indeed they appear to have been. Nevertheless in their conduct they were following the example of Satan. They perverted the thinking and misdirected the affections of the Corinthians. Some scholars have argued that these "false apostles" were different individuals from the "eminent apostles" of 2Co 11:5, but I agree with those who see them as the same. Another view of their identity follows.
"Several factors suggest . . . that they were Palestinian Jews, members of the Jerusalem church who were false brothers (cf. Gal 2:4) in Paul’s estimation." [Note: Lowery, p. 579.]
In our own day when people value toleration so highly and practice it so widely even in the church, we need to learn from Paul’s example of calling a spade a spade. The welfare of those under his ministry required him to identify his critics for who they really were. We shall serve our generation faithfully if we do the same. We should point out teachers who lead others into error and warn people about them if we want to keep the naive from harm (cf. 3Jn 1:9-10).