2 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 11
The True Apostle and the False Teachers. 2 Cor. 11, 1–15.
Paul insists upon observing this course on account of the false teachers: V.13. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. V.14. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. V.15. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
This was, of course, out of the question in men that sought only their own advantage, and so Paul characterizes them in their true colors: For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves outwardly into, assuming the appearance of, apostles of Christ.
That is their proper place, that is their true character. Professing to be apostles of Christ, they were lying; urging their work in the interest of the Lord, they were deceiving; although nothing but base hypocrites, they were assuming the form of Christ’s emissaries.
As one commentator has it: “They disguised themselves, first, in respect to doctrine, inasmuch as they retained many words and names which belonged to Christianity, but which were only like empty husks wrapped around some seeds which belonged not there; secondly, in respect to conduct, inasmuch as they outwardly imitated the works which Christ’s apostles wrought, but they were destitute of that benevolence which constituted the perfection of a Christian’s doings.”
This the apostle finds altogether natural: And no wonder! For Satan himself assumes the form of an angel of light. So it is no great surprise that his servants assume the form of the ministers of righteousness; whose end will be according to their works.
The disguise assumed by the false prophets accords altogether with their character. Satan is a power of darkness, Eph. 6, 12; Acts 26, 18, but for reasons of his own, as in the various temptations, he assumes the form and appearance of a pure and holy angel. And, so his agents, the false teachers, having learned to dissimulate just like their master, appear in the guise of messengers of righteousness: they resent the idea of their being impostors with a great show of righteous indignation.
But the doom of such false apostles will be that of their lord, Philippians 3, 19; Romans 6, 21; 1 Peter 4. 17. Their assumed form of saintliness will be removed at the Last Judgment, and they will suffer the punishment of the hypocrites of all times.
Mark: The spirit of our times aptly illustrates Satan’s ability to convert himself into the form of an angel of light, for the very words which are in the mouth of so many reformers today: enlightenment, progress, liberty, equality, culture can be baits used to snare the unwary for unbelief.
Mark also the uncompromising attitude of the apostle toward false teachers, entirely at variance with the false charity and unionism of our day which finds it expedient to accept even error for the sake of an outward union.