2 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 11
The True Apostle and the False Teachers. 2 Cor. 11, 1–15.
Paul censures the spirit which gives ear to false teaching: V.1. Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly; and indeed bear with me. V.2. For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy; for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
The apostle had condemned the false boasting of the opponents that had come to Corinth and were threatening to spoil the effect of his work. Continuing now on the same topic and in much the same strain, he administers a rebuke to the Corinthians, introduced with great skill: I wish you could bear a little with me in some foolishness; yes, do bear with me!
In his effort to destroy the influence which was acting counter to his wishes, and to undermine the work of the false teachers who disparaged him. Paul emphasizes his apostolic authority with passionate earnestness, while apparently holding it lightly. It may seem to some of them like nonsense what he is about to discuss, his appeal may seem like mockery to them, but it is, in truth, a defense of his position which is demanded of him by the sacredness of the obligation resting upon him. To vindicate his ministry, it would be necessary for him indeed to speak much of himself, of his sufferings, of his success: hut this was not vanity, as some might suppose; it was rather, under the circumstances, a most urgent necessity.
That is brought out by the very next words: For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband to present you as a pure virgin to Christ; but I fear lest in some way, as the serpent deceived Eve in his craftiness, your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity toward Christ.
Paul here does not refer to the jealousy of the husband, but to the official zeal of the paranpmph, or bridesman, who, among the Jews as well as among the Greeks, arranged the betrothal and made it a point of honor to see that the virgins were properly educated and prepared for married life, who, above all, vouchsafed for the fact that their chastity was untarnished.
Paul intimates, therefore, that the present state of affairs in Corinth reflected upon his honor, as though he had not done his work well, as though he had not been careful. He also implies that he resents the interference of rivals who were concerning themselves with matters not pertaining to their business. With godly zeal he was jealous, he was anxious on behalf of God. For as a part of his official duties he had betrothed or espoused the Corinthian Christians, as a Christian congregation, as a part of the Church of Christ, to their Lord, his intention and impression being thereby to present a pure, chaste virgin to Christ, undefiled by any false doctrine or unfaithfulness in life.
Luther says of this: “Herewith he shows that the apostolate is nothing but the office of a wooer or bridesman that daily prepares and leads to Christ His bride.”