2 Corinthians 11:13

Contextual Overview

⁵ I don't think that those "super apostles" are any better than I am. ⁵ I think that I am not in the least inferior to these superlative apostles. ⁵ I suppose that I was not behynde ye chefe apostles. ⁵ For I reckon that I am not at all behind the very best apostles. ⁵ For I consider myself not in the least inferior to the most eminent apostles. ⁵ I do not think that those "great apostles" are any better than I am. ⁵ For I reckon that I am not a bit behind the very chiefest apostles. ⁵ For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very greatest apostles. ⁵ Indeed, I consider that I am not in the least inferior to these super-apostles. ⁵ For I reckon that I am not at all behind the very best apostles.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

false: 2 Corinthians 11:15, 2 Corinthians 2:17, 2 Corinthians 4:2, Matthew 25:24, Acts 15:1, Acts 15:24, Acts 20:30, Romans 16:18, Galatians 1:7, Galatians 2:4, Galatians 4:17, Galatians 6:12, Ephesians 4:14, Philippians 1:15, Philippians 1:16, Colossians 2:4, Colossians 2:8, 1 Timothy 1:4-7, 1 Timothy 4:1-3, 1 Timothy 6:3-5, 2 Timothy 2:17-19, 2 Timothy 3:5-9, 2 Timothy 4:3, 2 Timothy 4:4, 2 Peter 2:1-3, 1 John 2:18, 1 John 4:1, 2 John 1:7-11, Jude 1:4, Revelation 2:2, Revelation 2:9, Revelation 2:20, Revelation 19:20

deceitful: Philippians 3:2, Titus 1:10, Titus 1:11

Reciprocal: Genesis 3:5 - God Leviticus 11:42 - goeth upon the belly Deuteronomy 13:2 - General 1 Kings 13:18 - But 1 Kings 22:11 - horns of iron 2 Kings 10:19 - But Jehu 2 Chronicles 18:20 - there came Ezra 4:2 - Let us Nehemiah 6:5 - with an open letter Psalms 52:2 - working Proverbs 11:9 - An hypocrite Proverbs 19:27 - General Proverbs 25:14 - boasteth Proverbs 28:10 - causeth Song of Solomon 5:7 - watchmen Isaiah 9:15 - the prophet Jeremiah 5:31 - prophets Jeremiah 23:16 - Hearken Jeremiah 27:14 - hearken Jeremiah 29:8 - Let Ezekiel 13:4 - like Daniel 11:34 - cleave Micah 2:11 - a man Zephaniah 3:4 - light Zechariah 13:2 - cause Matthew 7:15 - which Matthew 13:25 - enemy Matthew 13:39 - enemy Matthew 13:47 - and gathered Matthew 24:4 - Take Luke 21:8 - Take John 8:44 - When John 10:1 - the same Acts 13:6 - a false 1 Corinthians 3:10 - and another 2 Corinthians 11:3 - so 2 Corinthians 11:29 - and I burn Galatians 1:8 - though Galatians 3:1 - who Galatians 6:4 - and not Ephesians 6:11 - the wiles Philippians 1:10 - approve things that are excellent Colossians 2:23 - a show 1 Thessalonians 2:3 - General 1 Thessalonians 3:5 - lest 2 Thessalonians 2:10 - deceivableness 2 Timothy 3:8 - men James 3:6 - it is James 3:15 - devilish 2 Peter 3:17 - being 1 John 2:26 - concerning Revelation 2:24 - the depths Revelation 13:11 - and he had Revelation 16:14 - the spirits Revelation 20:3 - should deceive

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For such are false apostles,.... Such as those he had in view, who sought an occasion to depress him, and exalt themselves, and to get money from the Corinthians; these were "false apostles", or apostles falsely so called; they had the name, but not the thing; they were not called and sent forth by Christ; they had not the grace of apostleship, or gifts qualifying them for that high office; the power and authority they exercised was usurped by them; they could not prove their mission by true and real miracles; nor had they any seals of their apostleship, as those who were sent by Christ had:

deceitful workers; they went by the name of labourers in Christ's vineyard, when they were loiterers in it; they pretended to work, but did not; and to work for Christ, when they only served themselves, and their own bellies; they took upon them to interpret the Scriptures, but in a very fallacious manner; they walked in craftiness, and handled the word of God deceitfully, and lay in wait to deceive men; and were masters of so much art and cunning, that, if it was possible, they would have deceived the very elect:

transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ: not so much by putting on a like garb or dress, but by pretending to be of the same principles, and to follow their practices, and to pursue the same good ends in their ministrations.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For such are false apostles - They have no claim to the apostolic office. They are deceivers. They pretend to be apostles; but they have no divine commission from the Redeemer. Paul had thus far argued the case without giving them an explicit designation as deceivers. But here he says that people who had conducted thus; who attempted to impose on the people; who had brought another gospel, whatever pretences they might have - and he was not disposed to deny that there was much that was plausible - were really impostors and the enemies of Christ. It is morally certain, from 2 Corinthians 11:22, that these people were Jews; but why they had engaged in the work of preaching, or why they had gone to Corinth, cannot with certainty be determined.

Deceitful workers - Impostors. People who practice various arts to impose on others. They were crafty, and fraudulent, and hypocritical. It is probable that they were people who saw that great advantage might be taken of the new religion; people who saw the power which it had over the people, and who saw the confidence which the new converts were inclined to repose in their teachers; perhaps people who had seen the disciples to the Christian faith commit all their property to the hands of the apostles, or who had heard of their doing it (compare Acts 4:34-35), and who supposed that by pretending to be apostles also they might come in for a share of this confidence, and avail themselves of this disposition to commit their property to their spiritual guides. To succeed, it was needful as far as possible to undermine the influence of the true apostles, and take their place in the confidence of the people. Thence they were “deceitful (δόλιοι dolioi) workers,” full of trick, and cunning, and of plausible arts to impose on others.

Transforming themselves ... - Pretending to be apostles. Hypocritical and deceitful, they yet pretended to have been sent by Christ. This is a direct charge of hypocrisy. They knew they were deceivers; and yet they assumed the high claims of apostles of the Son of God.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Corinthians 11:13. For such are false apostles — Persons who pretend to be apostles, but have no mission from Christ.

Deceitful workers — They do preach and labour, but they have nothing but their own emolument in view.

Transforming themselves — Assuming as far as they possibly can, consistently with their sinister views, the habit, manner, and doctrine of the apostles of Christ.