(2Co 11:7) “Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely? (8) “I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.”   Interesting word, to say “I robbed”,  in taking support from churches. Remember, the Holy Spirit is addressing people critical of Paul. Sad, when carnal believers think of God’s man as a hireling, working for them, rather than serving them in the Name of God.

(2Co 11:7) “Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?”   There are some churches that teach every pastor should follow Paul’s example of not taking money from the church. Our next verse should correct such error: (2Co 11:8) “I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.”  (See also 1Cor 9:6-12).

(2Co 11:7) “Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?”  “Abased myself”: instead of coming before them as a “somebody” who by right of position was entitled of material support; instead he asked nothing of them but a hearing of the gospel. “Abasing myself” indicates he had every right of such support.

(2Co 11:4) “For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.”   “or another gospel, which ye have not accepted”: another gospel is being preached today that is not the gospel of Jesus Christ. It seems to be prevalent in most churches today – “Just believe what Jesus has accomplished and embrace Him Savior.” Most of the time when the invitation is given, there has been no mention what He is Savior from; nor the reason He died that cross; or, what was accomplished by His resurrection. It’s as if all are expected to know the answers without them being given. Remember, false gospels lead to false conversions.

(2Co 11:4) “For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.”   “Receive another spirit”:  since the Bible indicates the Holy Spirit’s temple (the saved) is holy, a saved person cannot be indwelt by another spirit. What is often overlooked is that the lost all attend the congregation of the saved (2 Tim 2:20). Beware of the false.

(2Co 11:4) “For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.”  “Another Jesus…not preached”: Those Words can be seen in those who deny Jesus as God the Son; or in those who would say Jesus would not condemn a person to hell; or His focus was upon the poor; or healing.”

(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.