Second Corinthians shows Paul as a pastor. He passionately desires to win the Christians in Corinth back to himself, convinced that the Good News is above all a message of reconciliation. Paul faced criticism and accusations from fellow Christians who doubted him as a leader. Forced to defend himself, he opens his heart to this congregation to a degree not found in his other letters. Paul faced…
1¡Ojalá me toleraseis un poco de locura! Sí, toleradme.
2Porque os celo con celo de Dios; pues os he desposado con un solo esposo, para presentaros como una virgen pura a Cristo.
3Pero temo que como la serpiente con su astucia engañó a Eva, vuestros sentidos sean de alguna manera extraviados de la sincera fidelidad a Cristo.
4Porque si viene alguno predicando a otro Jesús que el que os hemos predicado, o si recibís otro espíritu que el que habéis recibido, u otro evangelio que el que habéis aceptado, bien lo toleráis;
5y pienso que en nada he sido inferior a aquellos grandes apóstoles.
6Pues aunque sea tosco en la palabra, no lo soy en el conocimiento; en todo y por todo os lo hemos demostrado.
7¿Pequé yo humillándome a mí mismo, para que vosotros fueseis enaltecidos, por cuanto os he predicado el evangelio de Dios de balde?
8He despojado a otras iglesias, recibiendo salario para serviros a vosotros.
9Y cuando estaba entre vosotros y tuve necesidad, a ninguno fui carga, pues lo que me faltaba, lo suplieron los hermanos que vinieron de Macedonia, y en todo me guardé y me guardaré de seros gravoso.
10Por la verdad de Cristo que está en mí, que no se me impedirá esta mi gloria en las regiones de Acaya.
11¿Por qué? ¿Porque no os amo? Dios lo sabe.
12Mas lo que hago, lo haré aún, para quitar la ocasión a aquellos que la desean, a fin de que en aquello en que se glorían, sean hallados semejantes a nosotros.
13Porque estos son falsos apóstoles, obreros fraudulentos, que se disfrazan como apóstoles de Cristo.
14Y no es maravilla, porque el mismo Satanás se disfraza como ángel de luz.
15Así que, no es extraño si también sus ministros se disfrazan como ministros de justicia; cuyo fin será conforme a sus obras.
16Otra vez digo: Que nadie me tenga por loco; o de otra manera, recibidme como a loco, para que yo también me gloríe un poquito.
17Lo que hablo, no lo hablo según el Señor, sino como en locura, con esta confianza de gloriarme.
18Puesto que muchos se glorían según la carne, también yo me gloriaré;
19porque de buena gana toleráis a los necios, siendo vosotros cuerdos.
20Pues toleráis si alguno os esclaviza, si alguno os devora, si alguno toma lo vuestro, si alguno se enaltece, si alguno os da de bofetadas.
21Para vergüenza mía lo digo, para eso fuimos demasiado débiles. Pero en lo que otro tenga osadía (hablo con locura), también yo tengo osadía.
22¿Son hebreos? Yo también. ¿Son israelitas? Yo también. ¿Son descendientes de Abraham? También yo.
23¿Son ministros de Cristo? (Como si estuviera loco hablo.) Yo más; en trabajos más abundante; en azotes sin número; en cárceles más; en peligros de muerte muchas veces.
24De los judíos cinco veces he recibido cuarenta azotes menos uno.
25Tres veces he sido azotado con varas; una vez apedreado; tres veces he padecido naufragio; una noche y un día he estado como náufrago en alta mar;
26en caminos muchas veces; en peligros de ríos, peligros de ladrones, peligros de los de mi nación, peligros de los gentiles, peligros en la ciudad, peligros en el desierto, peligros en el mar, peligros entre falsos hermanos;
27en trabajo y fatiga, en muchos desvelos, en hambre y sed, en muchos ayunos, en frío y en desnudez;
28y además de otras cosas, lo que sobre mí se agolpa cada día, la preocupación por todas las iglesias.
29¿Quién enferma, y yo no enfermo? ¿A quién se le hace tropezar, y yo no me indigno?
30Si es necesario gloriarse, me gloriaré en lo que es de mi debilidad.
31El Dios y Padre de nuestro Señor Jesucristo, quien es bendito por los siglos, sabe que no miento.
32En Damasco, el gobernador de la provincia del rey Aretas guardaba la ciudad de los damascenos para prenderme;
33y fui descolgado del muro en un canasto por una ventana, y escapé de sus manos.
TYNDALE OPEN STUDY NOTES
I
Versículo 1
I. 11:1-6 Paul finds it necessary, if distasteful, to justify his actions because of the close link …
11:1-6 Paul finds it necessary, if distasteful, to justify his actions because of the close link he claims with the church (11:2) and because his enemies were enticing the Corinthian believers away from Christ.
11:1 Paul takes on an ironic tone in saying, I hope you will put up with a little more of my foolishness. He again asks with irony, Please bear with me (or But indeed you are putting up with me, a translation that makes the irony even more pointed).
II
Versículo 2
II. 11:2 The church is called to be a pure bride to one husband—Christ. This metaphor goes back to th…
11:2 The church is called to be a pure bride to one husband—Christ. This metaphor goes back to the Old Testament, where Israel is the bride of the Lord (Isa 54:5; 62:5). Paul saw himself as the “best man” (the bridegroom’s close friend) who acted for the bridegroom (cp. John 3:29).
III
Versículo 3
III. 11:3 The false teachers were pulling the Corinthian believers away from pure and undivided devoti…
11:3 The false teachers were pulling the Corinthian believers away from pure and undivided devotion to Christ. In this they are doing the work of Satan, just as the serpent did in Eden (11:14; see Gen 3:4, 13).
IV
Versículo 4
IV. 11:4 The false missionaries in Corinth evidently preached a different Jesus, a different kind of …
11:4 The false missionaries in Corinth evidently preached a different Jesus, a different kind of Spirit, and a different kind of gospel than the one the Corinthians had believed. It is difficult to know exactly what these false teachers preached; most likely, they promoted a powerful, dominant Christ and sidelined the suffering of the cross. They probably saw themselves as equally powerful preachers, exempt from hardship and trial. Paul’s message, by contrast, centered on Christ crucified (13:4), and Paul’s own sufferings were a mark of true apostleship (12:1-12). The nature of this difference is the heart of Paul’s defense of his apostleship in chs 10–13.
V
Versículo 5
V. 11:5-6 These false teachers claimed authority as “super apostles,” and they despised Paul’s lack …
11:5-6 These false teachers claimed authority as “super apostles,” and they despised Paul’s lack of sophisticated eloquence (10:10).
VI
Versículo 7
VI. 11:7 Paul was preaching God’s Good News . . . without expecting anything in return. Paul’s policy…
11:7 Paul was preaching God’s Good News . . . without expecting anything in return. Paul’s policy as a church planter (1 Cor 9:3-14) was to earn his living by his trade of tentmaking (Acts 18:3; 20:34) rather than being supported by the new churches (1 Thes 2:9; 2 Thes 3:8-9). His enemies in Corinth criticized him for this. In Greek thought, religious teachers could rightfully claim financial support; Paul’s refusal provided his enemies with an argument that his apostleship was counterfeit.
VII
Versículo 8
VII. 11:8-9 Paul had been accepting . . . contributions . . . from Macedonia—i.e., Philippi (Phil 4:15…
11:8-9 Paul had been accepting . . . contributions . . . from Macedonia—i.e., Philippi (Phil 4:15-19). Paul’s apparent inconsistency made the Corinthians suspicious of his motives or doubtful of his love toward them (2 Cor 11:11).
VIII
Versículo 12
VIII. 11:12 Paul’s motive in refusing to accept support from the Corinthians (11:7-11) was to show them…
11:12 Paul’s motive in refusing to accept support from the Corinthians (11:7-11) was to show them what true Christian service is like in contrast to the ministry of those who were looking for an opportunity to boast.
IX
Versículo 13
IX. 11:13-15 Paul fiercely condemns the false teachers in Corinth (cp. Gal 1:6-9). Although the false…
11:13-15 Paul fiercely condemns the false teachers in Corinth (cp. Gal 1:6-9). Although the false teachers wanted to claim that their work was just like Paul’s (2 Cor 11:12), they were in fact false apostles and deceitful workers (cp. Phil 3:2). Just as Satan changed himself into an angel of light to deceive Eve (as described in the Jewish apocryphal book The Life of Adam and Eve), so his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Satan’s servants claim to be God’s servants, but their deeds are wicked, and their punishment is sure (cp. 2 Cor 5:10).
X
Versículo 16
X. 11:16-29 Paul plays the part of a boastful fool (see also 12:11-13) so that he may present his tr…
11:16-29 Paul plays the part of a boastful fool (see also 12:11-13) so that he may present his true credentials as a suffering apostle. The intruders’ arrogant spirit impels Paul to adopt a style of writing that matches their behavior, all in irony.
XI
Versículo 19
XI. 11:19 The Corinthians were proud of their capacity to understand deep religious issues, and they …
11:19 The Corinthians were proud of their capacity to understand deep religious issues, and they valued teachers who made a pretense of learning. Paul came with a different agenda (1 Cor 2:1-16).
XII
Versículo 20
XII. 11:20-21a The Corinthian church had welcomed the intruders even when they exploited and insulted …
11:20-21a The Corinthian church had welcomed the intruders even when they exploited and insulted them. They even saw Paul’s refusal to exploit them as too “weak.”
XIII
Versículo 21
XIII. 11:21b-29 Rather than boasting about his strengths and successes like the false teachers did, Pau…
11:21b-29 Rather than boasting about his strengths and successes like the false teachers did, Paul boasts in weakness and defeat, pointing away from himself and toward God.
XIV
Versículo 22
XIV. 11:22 Are they Hebrews? So am I: A Jewish heritage was seen by Paul’s opponents as a qualificatio…
11:22 Are they Hebrews? So am I: A Jewish heritage was seen by Paul’s opponents as a qualification for ministry (see Phil 3:5). • Are they Israelites? So am I: An Israelite was a member of the covenant community by circumcision (cp. John 1:47; Rom 9:4). Paul had this badge also and was in fact a Pharisee, a most devoted follower of Torah (Acts 26:4-5; Rom 11:1; Phil 3:5-6). • Are they descendants of Abraham? This is yet another of Paul’s opponents’ claims to God’s favor based on ethnic identity. Elsewhere, Paul clarifies who can truly be called Israelites and descendants of Abraham (see Rom 2:28-29; Gal 3:16, 26-29). Here, he ironically adopts the erroneous perspective of his opponents to beat them at their own game.
XV
Versículo 23
XV. 11:23-27 I have served him far more! Paul’s service to Christ had entailed Christlike sufferings …
11:23-27 I have served him far more! Paul’s service to Christ had entailed Christlike sufferings and toils. Some of the difficulties in this litany are recorded in Acts.
11:23-24 in prison more often: E.g., see Acts 16:22-23. Clement of Rome says that Paul was imprisoned a total of seven times. • thirty-nine lashes: This punishment was prescribed in Deut 25:1-3. The Jewish leaders punished Paul as a renegade Jew, and he faced death again and again.
16
Versículo 25
16. 11:25 Three times I was beaten with rods: Paul suffered this Roman punishment at Philippi, though…
11:25 Three times I was beaten with rods: Paul suffered this Roman punishment at Philippi, though as a Roman citizen he should have been exempted (Acts 16:22-24, 37). • Once I was stoned: At Lystra (Acts 14:19). • Three times I was shipwrecked: These events are otherwise unknown; Paul’s shipwreck on the voyage to Rome would come later (Acts 27:1-44).
17
Versículo 26
17. 11:26-27 Paul’s many long journeys are recorded in Acts 13–28. These trips involved facing danger…
11:26-27 Paul’s many long journeys are recorded in Acts 13–28. These trips involved facing danger and enduring hardship.
18
Versículo 28
18. 11:28 In addition to physical difficulties, Paul felt the burden of concern (or anxiety) for all …
11:28 In addition to physical difficulties, Paul felt the burden of concern (or anxiety) for all the churches. No church gave Paul more cause for concern than Corinth.
19
Versículo 30
19. 11:30 the things that show how weak I am: Paul develops this theme in 12:1-10.
11:30 the things that show how weak I am: Paul develops this theme in 12:1-10.
20
Versículo 32
20. 11:32-33 As a final “boast” of his weakness, Paul tells the story of his escape from Damascus a f…
11:32-33 As a final “boast” of his weakness, Paul tells the story of his escape from Damascus a few years after his conversion (see Acts 9:23-25; Gal 1:15-18). • King Aretas IV of Nabataea controlled Damascus only after AD 37, following the death of the emperor Tiberius (see Josephus, Antiquities 18.5.1-3); the mention of Aretas dates Paul’s escape from Damascus between AD 37 and the end of Aretas’s reign in AD 39 or 40.
Nuevo Testamento
2 Corinthians — Capítulo 11
Second Corinthians shows Paul as a pastor. He passionately desires to win the Christians in Corinth back to himself, convinced that the Good News is above all a message of reconciliation. Paul faced criticism and accusations from fellow Christians who doubted him as a leader. Forced to defend himself, he opens his heart to this congregation to a degree not found in his other letters. Paul faced…
Texto — Reina-Valera 1960
1¡Ojalá me toleraseis un poco de locura! Sí, toleradme.
2Porque os celo con celo de Dios; pues os he desposado con un solo esposo, para presentaros como una virgen pura a Cristo.
3Pero temo que como la serpiente con su astucia engañó a Eva, vuestros sentidos sean de alguna manera extraviados de la sincera fidelidad a Cristo.
4Porque si viene alguno predicando a otro Jesús que el que os hemos predicado, o si recibís otro espíritu que el que habéis recibido, u otro evangelio que el que habéis aceptado, bien lo toleráis;
5y pienso que en nada he sido inferior a aquellos grandes apóstoles.
6Pues aunque sea tosco en la palabra, no lo soy en el conocimiento; en todo y por todo os lo hemos demostrado.
7¿Pequé yo humillándome a mí mismo, para que vosotros fueseis enaltecidos, por cuanto os he predicado el evangelio de Dios de balde?
8He despojado a otras iglesias, recibiendo salario para serviros a vosotros.
9Y cuando estaba entre vosotros y tuve necesidad, a ninguno fui carga, pues lo que me faltaba, lo suplieron los hermanos que vinieron de Macedonia, y en todo me guardé y me guardaré de seros gravoso.
10Por la verdad de Cristo que está en mí, que no se me impedirá esta mi gloria en las regiones de Acaya.
11¿Por qué? ¿Porque no os amo? Dios lo sabe.
12Mas lo que hago, lo haré aún, para quitar la ocasión a aquellos que la desean, a fin de que en aquello en que se glorían, sean hallados semejantes a nosotros.
13Porque estos son falsos apóstoles, obreros fraudulentos, que se disfrazan como apóstoles de Cristo.
14Y no es maravilla, porque el mismo Satanás se disfraza como ángel de luz.
15Así que, no es extraño si también sus ministros se disfrazan como ministros de justicia; cuyo fin será conforme a sus obras.
16Otra vez digo: Que nadie me tenga por loco; o de otra manera, recibidme como a loco, para que yo también me gloríe un poquito.
17Lo que hablo, no lo hablo según el Señor, sino como en locura, con esta confianza de gloriarme.
18Puesto que muchos se glorían según la carne, también yo me gloriaré;
19porque de buena gana toleráis a los necios, siendo vosotros cuerdos.
20Pues toleráis si alguno os esclaviza, si alguno os devora, si alguno toma lo vuestro, si alguno se enaltece, si alguno os da de bofetadas.
21Para vergüenza mía lo digo, para eso fuimos demasiado débiles. Pero en lo que otro tenga osadía (hablo con locura), también yo tengo osadía.
22¿Son hebreos? Yo también. ¿Son israelitas? Yo también. ¿Son descendientes de Abraham? También yo.
23¿Son ministros de Cristo? (Como si estuviera loco hablo.) Yo más; en trabajos más abundante; en azotes sin número; en cárceles más; en peligros de muerte muchas veces.
24De los judíos cinco veces he recibido cuarenta azotes menos uno.
25Tres veces he sido azotado con varas; una vez apedreado; tres veces he padecido naufragio; una noche y un día he estado como náufrago en alta mar;
26en caminos muchas veces; en peligros de ríos, peligros de ladrones, peligros de los de mi nación, peligros de los gentiles, peligros en la ciudad, peligros en el desierto, peligros en el mar, peligros entre falsos hermanos;
27en trabajo y fatiga, en muchos desvelos, en hambre y sed, en muchos ayunos, en frío y en desnudez;
28y además de otras cosas, lo que sobre mí se agolpa cada día, la preocupación por todas las iglesias.
29¿Quién enferma, y yo no enfermo? ¿A quién se le hace tropezar, y yo no me indigno?
30Si es necesario gloriarse, me gloriaré en lo que es de mi debilidad.
31El Dios y Padre de nuestro Señor Jesucristo, quien es bendito por los siglos, sabe que no miento.
32En Damasco, el gobernador de la provincia del rey Aretas guardaba la ciudad de los damascenos para prenderme;
33y fui descolgado del muro en un canasto por una ventana, y escapé de sus manos.
TYNDALE OPEN STUDY NOTES
Versículo 1
I. 11:1-6 Paul finds it necessary, if distasteful, to justify his actions because of the close link …
Versículo 2
II. 11:2 The church is called to be a pure bride to one husband—Christ. This metaphor goes back to th…
Versículo 3
III. 11:3 The false teachers were pulling the Corinthian believers away from pure and undivided devoti…
Versículo 4
IV. 11:4 The false missionaries in Corinth evidently preached a different Jesus, a different kind of …
Versículo 5
V. 11:5-6 These false teachers claimed authority as “super apostles,” and they despised Paul’s lack …
Versículo 7
VI. 11:7 Paul was preaching God’s Good News . . . without expecting anything in return. Paul’s policy…
Versículo 8
VII. 11:8-9 Paul had been accepting . . . contributions . . . from Macedonia—i.e., Philippi (Phil 4:15…
Versículo 12
VIII. 11:12 Paul’s motive in refusing to accept support from the Corinthians (11:7-11) was to show them…
Versículo 13
IX. 11:13-15 Paul fiercely condemns the false teachers in Corinth (cp. Gal 1:6-9). Although the false…
Versículo 16
X. 11:16-29 Paul plays the part of a boastful fool (see also 12:11-13) so that he may present his tr…
Versículo 19
XI. 11:19 The Corinthians were proud of their capacity to understand deep religious issues, and they …
Versículo 20
XII. 11:20-21a The Corinthian church had welcomed the intruders even when they exploited and insulted …
Versículo 21
XIII. 11:21b-29 Rather than boasting about his strengths and successes like the false teachers did, Pau…
Versículo 22
XIV. 11:22 Are they Hebrews? So am I: A Jewish heritage was seen by Paul’s opponents as a qualificatio…
Versículo 23
XV. 11:23-27 I have served him far more! Paul’s service to Christ had entailed Christlike sufferings …
Versículo 25
16. 11:25 Three times I was beaten with rods: Paul suffered this Roman punishment at Philippi, though…
Versículo 26
17. 11:26-27 Paul’s many long journeys are recorded in Acts 13–28. These trips involved facing danger…
Versículo 28
18. 11:28 In addition to physical difficulties, Paul felt the burden of concern (or anxiety) for all …
Versículo 30
19. 11:30 the things that show how weak I am: Paul develops this theme in 12:1-10.
Versículo 32
20. 11:32-33 As a final “boast” of his weakness, Paul tells the story of his escape from Damascus a f…