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2 Corinthians 11:7–15, King James Version
Italic words were supplied in the English translation for clarity.
2 Corinthians 11:7–15
Free Proclamation, Patronage Tension, and Deceptive Apostles
Free preaching in Corinth was a strategy against patronage, not the only holy payroll.
Paul asks whether he committed a sin by lowering himself so that they might be exalted, because he preached the gospel of God to them free of charge. He "robbed" other churches by receiving support so as not to burden Corinth, and he will continue that policy in Achaia. God knows it is not because he does not love them. He does it to cut off any occasion from those who want an occasion to be regarded as his equals. For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ—no wonder, since Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Their end will correspond to their works.
Refusing pay is not the only faithful ministry model and does not make paid workers corrupt. Satan-as-light imagery does not authorize demonizing competitors, denominations, ethnic groups, or political opponents. Naming deception still requires evidence, a chance to answer, and protection against false accusation. Super-apostles language is not a license to smear ordinary coworkers.
How this should shape us
Disclose who pays you and what that payment makes easier or harder. Judge teachers by message, methods, and fruit, not by polish, and do not treat every salary as a disguise or every volunteer as pure.
Teach it back
Explain 2 Corinthians 11:7–15 in your own words. Include its place in 2 Corinthians's movement, the unit's logic, one material uncertainty, and one use the context rules out.
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Go deeper
The explanation above is meant to stand on its own. Open these notes only if you want language, history, disagreements, or source locations.
Where careful interpreters disagreeThe strongest options and their difficulties
Where do careful interpreters disagree?
Best judgment: Paul's patronage strategy, the source and identity of the rivals, and how much their financial practice differed remain uncertain.
How certain? probableResearch trail and exact locationsThe source record behind this section
Supports: Exact reader-facing Scripture wording, paragraph markers, supplied-word markup, and complete verse coverage.
2 Corinthians 11:7–15, pinned eng-kjv2006 USFM corpus
Supports: Greek wording, clause relationships, repeated terms, and original-language discussion.
SBLGNT official text file 2Co.txt, 11:7–15
Supports: Verse-level Greek, syntax, KJV-era wording, textual variants, and interpretive alternatives.
NET Bible 2 Corinthians chapter print views, 11:7–15, including attached translator, study, and textual notes
Supports: Whole-letter setting, literary movement, Greek observations, and passage-level evangelical interpretation.
Balla, TGC Bible Commentary, 2 Corinthians, introduction and section on 11:7–15
Supports: Jewish and Greco-Roman context, scriptural echoes, composition questions, and concise verse-level alternatives.
Avery-Peck, Jewish Annotated New Testament, print pp. 315–331, introduction and annotations on 11:7–15
Supports: Social-scientific analysis of negotiated authority, community response, suffering, patronage, collection, and unity claims.
Barentsen, 'The Social Construction of Paul's Apostolic Leadership in Corinth,' HTS 74.4 (2018), article a5191, pp. 1–13
Supports: Independent morphology, form, and lexical-range cross-check for material Greek claims.
STEP Bible Data repository, Greek morphology and lexical records for 2 Corinthians 11:7–15
Sources for This Section
These records identify the source, the claim it supports, and the exact location used. A source remains evidence to evaluate; it does not replace the biblical text.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: Exact reader-facing Scripture wording, paragraph markers, supplied-word markup, and complete verse coverage.
Exact location: 2 Corinthians 11:7–15, pinned eng-kjv2006 USFM corpus
Open source ↗Greek textual evidence
The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition
Michael W. Holmes, editor; Society of Biblical Literature and Logos
Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software, 2010
Supports: Greek wording, clause relationships, repeated terms, and original-language discussion.
Exact location: SBLGNT official text file 2Co.txt, 11:7–15
Open the 2 Corinthians Greek text file ↗Translation and textual notes
NET Bible - 2 Corinthians with translators' and textual notes
Biblical Studies Press
Biblical Studies Press, 2005-2026 online edition
Supports: Verse-level Greek, syntax, KJV-era wording, textual variants, and interpretive alternatives.
Exact location: NET Bible 2 Corinthians chapter print views, 11:7–15, including attached translator, study, and textual notes
Open NET 2 Corinthians 11 notesmodern open commentary
2 Corinthians
Peter Balla
The Gospel Coalition Bible Commentary, 2023
Supports: Whole-letter setting, literary movement, Greek observations, and passage-level evangelical interpretation.
Exact location: Balla, TGC Bible Commentary, 2 Corinthians, introduction and section on 11:7–15
Open source ↗modern annotated new testament
2 Corinthians introduction and annotations in The Jewish Annotated New Testament
Alan J. Avery-Peck; edited by Amy-Jill Levine and Marc Zvi Brettler
Oxford University Press, 2011
Supports: Jewish and Greco-Roman context, scriptural echoes, composition questions, and concise verse-level alternatives.
Exact location: Avery-Peck, Jewish Annotated New Testament, print pp. 315–331, introduction and annotations on 11:7–15
Open source ↗peer reviewed open access social scientific study
The Social Construction of Paul's Apostolic Leadership in Corinth
Jack Barentsen
HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies 74.4, 2018
Supports: Social-scientific analysis of negotiated authority, community response, suffering, patronage, collection, and unity claims.
Exact location: Barentsen, 'The Social Construction of Paul's Apostolic Leadership in Corinth,' HTS 74.4 (2018), article a5191, pp. 1–13
Open source ↗Lexical and grammatical evidence
STEP Bible Data
Tyndale House Cambridge
Tyndale House Cambridge, repository snapshot verified 2026
Supports: Independent morphology, form, and lexical-range cross-check for material Greek claims.
Exact location: STEP Bible Data repository, Greek morphology and lexical records for 2 Corinthians 11:7–15
Open source ↗