Speaking Like a Fool
Comments for Study 8
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I. False Apostles (11:1-15)
>1. How does Paul consider his comments about himself in this letter? (1)
* 2 Corinthians 11:1 "I hope you will put up with a little of my foolishness; but you are already doing that."
* No doubt, Paul did not have a hum-drum normal easy life. He endured a lot of that which I want to avoid. Why did he press on? Because of his love for God and God's people. Jesus said his people would suffer for his namesake. I should know things like these will happen.
Paul several times in this chapter stated his repulsion to boasting. Yet he found the need to boast because the Corinthians were listening to others who were impressive on the outside. Yet they preached a false Jesus, a false gospel, and offered a counterfeit spirit. Just because a preacher or denomination uses the name of Jesus, doesn't mean what they say and do is Godly and true. Satan can appear as an angel of light, meaning he can look impressive while he leads people away from the truth.
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>What did he consider foolish? (2 Cor. 10:8, 14)
* 2 Corinthians 10:8 "For even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than pulling you down, I will not be ashamed of it."
* 2 Corinthians 10:14 "We are not going too far in our boasting, as would be the case if we had not come to you, for we did get as far as you with the gospel of Christ."
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>Why would he be foolish? (2)
* 2 Corinthians 11:2 "I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him."
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>What does it mean that Jesus is our husband?
* "I promised you to one husband, to Christ"
* "so that I might present you"
* "as a pure virgin to him"
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>What can we learn about what a true > with Jesus is like from verse 3?
* 2 Corinthians 11:3 "But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ."
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>2. Just because someone claims to believe in Jesus and even witnesses to others does it mean they preach the truth? (4)
* 2 Corinthians 11:4 "For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough."
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>3. How did the counterfeit Christians consider Paul? (5)
* 2 Corinthians 11:5 "But I do not think I am in the least inferior to those "super-apostles."
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>Why did they think this way and why were they wrong? (6)
* 2 Corinthians 11:6 "I may not be a trained speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way."
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>What was Paul's motive in lowering himself while living as a missionary in Corinth? (7)
* 2 Corinthians 11:7 "Was it a sin for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge?"
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>4. Where did Paul receive support while a missionary to the Corinthians? (8)
* 2 Corinthians 11:8 "I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you."
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>What can we learn from Paul about how to live amongst new believers? (9)
* 2 Corinthians 11:9 "And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so."
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>And what should be our motivation? (10-11)
* 2 Corinthians 11:10-11 "As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, nobody in the regions of Achaia will stop this boasting of mine. Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!"
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>5. Does every one who claims authority, have God's authority? (12)
* 2 Corinthians 11:12 "And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about."
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>How serious is our discernment in these matters? (13-14)
* 2 Corinthians 11:13-14 "For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light."
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>Will it be easy to see deceitful workmen? (15)
* 2 Corinthians 11:15 "It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve."
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>How can we know who is of God and who are deceivers? (John 10:25-30; and 1 John 3:10, 16-20)
* John 10:25-30 "Jesus answered, 'I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one.'"
* 1 John 3:10 "This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother."
* 1 John 3:16-20 "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything."
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II. Paul Boasts About his Sufferings (11:16-33)
>6. How are Christians sometimes seen by people of the world and even religious people? (4)
* 2 Corinthians 11:16 "I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then receive me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting."
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>How did Paul consider boasting? (17)
* 2 Corinthians 11:17 "In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would, but as a fool."
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>Yet what did Paul do? (18)
* 2 Corinthians 11:18 "Since many are boasting in the way the world does, I too will boast."
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>Why? (19, 30)
* 2 Corinthians 11:19 "You gladly put up with fools since you are so wise!"
* 2 Corinthians 11:30 "If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness."
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>7. What were the young Christians in Corinth letting happen? (20)
* 2 Corinthians 11:20 "In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or pushes himself forward or slaps you in the face."
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>How can we avoid that from happening? (John 15:5-10)
* John 15:5-10 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love."
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>How did Paul differ from pseudo-Christians? (21)
* 2 Corinthians 11:21 "To my shame I admit that we were too weak for that! What anyone else dares to boast about--I am speaking as a fool--I also dare to boast about."
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>Were the pseudo-Christians easy to recognize? (22-23a)
* 2 Corinthians 11:22-23a "Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham's descendants? So am I. Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. "
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>8. What did Paul endure for Jesus and the gospel? (23b-25)
* 2 Corinthians 11:23b-25 "I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea,"
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>Why was he constantly on the move even though danger was everywhere he went? (26)
* 2 Corinthians 11:26 "I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers."
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>Where there times that his outward situation could have made him think that God was not with him and blessing his ministry? (27)
* 2 Corinthians 11:27 "I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked."
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>Why does God let his servants, his children go through so much troubles when their are obeying the gospel? (1 Peter 4:12-17)
* 1 Peter 4:12-17 "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?"
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>9. What kind of > did Paul have with the churches he had visited? (28-29)
* 2 Corinthians 11:28 "Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?"
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>How should we invest into the kingdom of God? (Mark 10:42-45)
* Mark 10:42-45 "Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
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>To what extent does Paul follow Jesus' example in ministry? (Mark 6:34)
* Mark 6:34 "When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things."
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>As we serve each other what is the one thing that we all do? (31)
* 2 Corinthians 11:31 "The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying."
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>10. When did the event happen Paul describes in verses 32-33? (Acts 9:1-6)
* 2 Corinthians 11:32-33 "In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me. But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands."
* Acts 9:1-6 "Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" "Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."
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>What was the cause? (Acts 9:19-25)
* Acts 9:19-25 "and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. All those who heard him were astonished and asked, "Isn't he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn't he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?" Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ. After many days had gone by, the Jews conspired to kill him, but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall."
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>What can we learn?
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