(2Co 11:3) “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”   The simplicity of the gospel is to bring peace to the mind and heart. Why? Because the heart is resting on the both the merit of Christ and the trustworthiness of God.

(2Co 11:3) “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”   The simplicity of the gospel is to bring peace to the mind and heart, for it lies “in” the action of faith in believing. Jesus paid for your sin. It should cause one to desire to sin no more. Such a heart receives the Lord’s forgiveness and the gift of everlasting life which the Lord has purchased by the cross. The salvation placed upon us is endowed with resurrection eternal life. That…..brings peace to the soul.

(2Co 11:3) “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”  It’s easy to forget there is a spiritual battle raging around us. Satan’s forces are not confined to those outside the walls of your church. Remember, the serpent was in Eve’s day a welcome sight, yet turned out to be used of Satan.

(2 Cor 11:2) “For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.”   This wording reveals that the influence of false teachers can lead one away from the Lord into spiritual adultery. If we do not ourselves have a knowledge of God’s Word through our own efforts, we can be led astray and not even know it. Yet this warning falls upon deaf ears over and over again.

 (2Co 11:1) “Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. (2) For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.”   Paul will momentarily speak to them in a fleshly (carnal) fashion, a sad commentary on their spirituality. The purpose is to communicate to them their need to follow his Holy Spirit inspired teaching, rather than follow the worldliness of false teachers.

(2Co 11:1) “Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. (2) For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.”  Paul is about to do something he knows is foolish to do (folly) based upon the worldliness, spiritual immaturity of these church members. He is going to speak of his own “merits”, that a carnal person would see as impressive.

(2Co 10:18) “For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.”  Remember, men were seeking to exalt self by putting Paul down. Always beware of those who are quick to speak negatively of others. The saved are admonished: (Php_2:3) “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”