2 Corinthians 11:13 KJV
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
There is no question that the Apostle fought to protect those he had ministered to from the ravages of some who appeared to be ministers of God but were in fact, not. He says that there were some who appeared to be godly men, successful leaders in the work of God who were in reality
False apostlesThey were not truly sent from the Lord. Their qualifications were trumped up, falsified. They played the part but they were not the real thing.
The Old Testament prophets dealt with the same problem. Almost anyone could claim to be a messenger from God. Most of the time those guys became the more popular because they were the ones that said what most people wanted to hear. Often times they even appeared to have the better credentials, having been more highly educated, or having been brought up among the royalty or having been born into the priestly family.
Still they were false.
Deceitful workers
This has to be a key in understanding them. Their motives were not pure. They were deceitful, tricky, crafty. While it might appear they were there to minister and to aide, that is merely a ruse. Their work is to draw people away from the true path of Christ.
Maliciously transformed
They follow after the tendencies of Satan in appearing to be light when they are really darkness.
They lead people away from the truth with what appears to be good, moral, decent, successful, prosperous, godly, etc.
They will look like the ones they are attempting to deceive want them to look like. And their goal is not for good, but for evil purposes.
I know Paul said that if Christ was preached, even in less than positive circumstances, he would rejoice. But he also was careful to point out that these men were not of God.
May we have preachers who will do the same today.
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
There is no question that the Apostle fought to protect those he had ministered to from the ravages of some who appeared to be ministers of God but were in fact, not. He says that there were some who appeared to be godly men, successful leaders in the work of God who were in reality
False apostlesThey were not truly sent from the Lord. Their qualifications were trumped up, falsified. They played the part but they were not the real thing.
The Old Testament prophets dealt with the same problem. Almost anyone could claim to be a messenger from God. Most of the time those guys became the more popular because they were the ones that said what most people wanted to hear. Often times they even appeared to have the better credentials, having been more highly educated, or having been brought up among the royalty or having been born into the priestly family.
Still they were false.
Deceitful workers
This has to be a key in understanding them. Their motives were not pure. They were deceitful, tricky, crafty. While it might appear they were there to minister and to aide, that is merely a ruse. Their work is to draw people away from the true path of Christ.
Maliciously transformed
They follow after the tendencies of Satan in appearing to be light when they are really darkness.
They lead people away from the truth with what appears to be good, moral, decent, successful, prosperous, godly, etc.
They will look like the ones they are attempting to deceive want them to look like. And their goal is not for good, but for evil purposes.
I know Paul said that if Christ was preached, even in less than positive circumstances, he would rejoice. But he also was careful to point out that these men were not of God.
May we have preachers who will do the same today.
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