I betrothed you to Christ, to present you as a pure virgin to one husband.

 

I betrothed you to Christ, to present you as a pure virgin to one husband.

 

2 Corinthians 11:1–3: "I hope you will put up with a little of my foolishness; please bear with me. For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy, because I betrothed you to one husband—to Christ—to present you as a pure virgin. But I am afraid that, just as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your minds might be led astray from the sincerity and purity of your devotion to Christ."

The word "foolish" implies a lack of discernment. *Zēlo* (ζηλῶ) means to be jealous. Paul sought to betroth the members of the Corinthian church to Christ, yet they were entertaining other thoughts. *Parastēsai* (παραστῆσαι) means to place or stand someone beside another.

*Haplotētos* (ἁπλότητος) signifies a single-minded, steadfast heart. The doctrine of the Trinity is best understood when viewing God from the perspective of a sinner. A sinner cannot approach God on their own; it is possible only through Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ died on the cross 2,000 years ago, dwells today within the hearts of the saints as the *Ho Logos* (the Word), and will destroy the world as the Judge at the end of time. Yet, in the Kingdom of God, the truth remains that there is but one God—Jehovah.

The serpent symbolizes Satan, who tempted his followers with the promise that they could become like God. Eve was deceived in the same manner that the angel—who failed to keep his position in the Kingdom of God—was deceived. The serpent instills greed by suggesting one can become like God. When the Devil tempted Jesus in the wilderness, he was likewise trying to lure Him into taking the place of God the Father.

Jesus came to this earth as the Son of God to bear the cross, yet through three temptations, the Devil sought to entice Him to assume the position of the Father. Similarly, if believers speak of Jesus Christ—the Son of God who came to the world—simply as "God the Son," they are effectively placing Him in the position of God the Father. Although Jesus possessed divinity, He came not as God Himself, but as the Son of God. From the believer's perspective, one must look to Jesus the Son, who atoned for sin; it is in this way that He dwells within the hearts of the saints.

If one views Jesus Christ as God rather than the Son of God, one fails to truly have the Son and, consequently, has never received the Holy Spirit. Most believers today believe in the name of Jesus yet lack the Holy Spirit. The reason is that they view Jesus as God. They have not died and risen with Jesus, and thus have not received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. This constitutes a "different gospel." A gospel that does not involve receiving the Holy Spirit is a counterfeit gospel. The true gospel is about encountering the *Logos* within one's heart through the power of the Holy Spirit and establishing a relationship with Him.

The counterfeit gospel and counterfeit Jesus prevalent in today's church communities elevate Jesus—the Son of God—to the position of God the Father; they claim salvation comes merely by believing in Jesus, without the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and fail to proclaim the gospel of the cross's death and resurrection. Their focus lies solely on how a Christian should live in the world. Their primary perspective is the world itself; thus, they mislead people by saying that while the gospel is good, one must also observe and practice the law. However, the Gospel is about establishing a relationship with Christ, who dwells within the believer's heart. Thus, the believer embodies the Kingdom of Heaven and proclaims this Gospel to others.

2 Corinthians 11:6–8: "Even though I may be unskilled in speech (*tō logō*), I am not so in knowledge (*tē gnōsei*); indeed, in every way we have made this evident to you among all people. Did I commit a sin by humbling myself in order to exalt you, preaching the Gospel of God to you free of charge? Did I 'rob' (*esylēsa*) other churches by accepting support from them in order to serve you?"

*Tō logō* refers to Christ, who is the Word (*Logos*), while *tē gnōsei* signifies the relationship one has with Christ. Paul is saying that although he may lack eloquence in speech (*ho Logos*), he is not lacking in his relationship with Christ. This implies that directly encountering and conversing with *ho Logos* is no easy matter.

The Gospel is the proclamation of *ho Logos* without charge. To link the Gospel with material gain is to commit a sin. While financial support is necessary for ministry—and *esylēsa* here means receiving support (from other churches)—Paul was cautious regarding money because the members of the Corinthian church harbored negative feelings toward him.

Paul continued to preach the Gospel in his own way. Yet, there were still those within the church who boasted of themselves; ignorant of *ho Logos* within the heart and of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, they boasted of the false gospel they proclaimed. Paul describes those who preach a false gospel as wolves in sheep's clothing. They distort the Scriptures and proclaim a different gospel. These false ministers delude themselves into thinking they are servants of righteousness, yet their true nature—whether genuine or counterfeit—is ultimately revealed by their deeds.

Though they claim to be doing God's work, they are actually servants of Satan, working for his cause. Paul feels compelled to boast a little about himself, even if it makes him appear foolish.

He intends to boast precisely because others boast so much about their fleshly achievements; he wants to show that such things are of little consequence. Heretics take pride in their zeal and their actions based on the flesh; by emphasizing these things, they enslave believers and bring about their spiritual death—all while operating openly within the Corinthian church. Meanwhile, the believers, oblivious to the spiritual harm being inflicted upon them, naively accept these ministers with joy.

While false ministers spout irrational nonsense claiming to be servants of Christ, Paul—acting the part of a "fool" himself—recounts the hardships and experiences he has endured. His aim is to emphasize that the outward trappings of ministry are not what truly matter, urging the believers not to be swayed by the words of these misguided ministers. Despite his own unwavering commitment to proclaiming the gospel, Paul is weighed down by deep anxiety regarding the state of the Corinthian church.

Paul may be personally strong, but his heart is consumed with anguish and concern for the church. While the leaders of the Corinthian church boasted of their strength, Paul—observing the state of the church and the difficulty of winning over the believers' hearts—felt compelled to speak of his own weakness. Yet, he trusted that God was with him; he affirmed that God knew his every thought and word and watched over his every move. Paul hoped that the believers in Corinth would eventually come to understand his heart.