2 Corinthians Chapter 11 Summary
Paul's godly jealousy for Christ's cause. Warning against false teachers. Paul's enforced boasting.
Discussion Questions for 2 Corinthians, Chapter 11
- What does “Godly jealousy” look like (verse 2, CSB)? Why do you think that Paul uses this marriage metaphor in verse 2?
- Where else in Scripture does the Lord use a similar marriage metaphor? What does purity mean in the context of marriage? What does purity mean in the context of our relationship to God?
- In what way did the serpent deceive Eve? How does this relate to what the Corinthian church was dealing with? Does the serpent still deceive in this way?
- What other Jesus, spirit, or Gospel might Paul be referring to? What other “Jesus-es,” spirit, or Gospel might be prevalent or popular today? How can we ensure that we are united to the true Jesus?
- What does Paul mean that he “robbed other churches” (verse 8, CSB)? Why do you think Paul would use this kind of language?
- What are some markers of false brothers and sisters? Why might a person want to take advantage of God’s people in this way?
- Paul was not a good speaker according to verse 6. How can this be encouraging to people today? When seeking out pastors, why do you think churches tend to fixate on a person's speaking ability? Is this a bad thing? Why or why not?
- Paul lists off several dangers that he's faced in verse 26: rivers, robbers, his own people, Gentiles, the city, the wilderness, the sea, and most notably, false brothers. Why does Paul consider false brothers as dangerous as all these “actual” dangers?
- The 2nd commandment states “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain...” (Exodus 20:7, ESV). How does this relate to 2 Corinthians 11:7-15? In what other ways might we use our faith for vanity? What steps can we take to avoid this?
- Verse 28 shows Paul's heart for the church despite the harsh treatment and the danger he has experienced. If you are a leader in the church, how can you maintain a similar posture? If you are not a leader, how can you have a similar posture with those that the Lord has called you to love? Who has He called you to love?
Key Words/Phrase
Paul's glorying, vv. 10, 30.
Characters
God, Christ, Paul, Satan, Eve, Abraham, Aretas, governor of Damascus.
Strong Verse(s)
3, 14, 15, 30.
