2 Corinthians 12:19-21 (WEL) So again, do you think that we are defending ourselves to you? We are speaking in God’s sight, in Christ, and dearly beloved we do everything for your edification. 20 For I am afraid that when I come, I will not find you as I would want, and that I will be found by you as you wouldn’t want. I’m afraid there might be strife, envy, strong anger, self-seeking, evil talk, gossip, bragging, or chaos. 21 Fearing, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and I will grieve over many who have already sinned and have not repented of the moral corruption, sexual sins, and uncontrollable lust which they have done.
V19 So again, do you think that we are defending ourselves to you? We are speaking in God’s sight, in Christ, and dearly beloved we do everything for your edification.
Paul’s purpose and motivation is to edify the brothers and sisters. Showing his qualifications for being an Apostle of Jesus Christ and exposing the false apostles brings a safety, and edification, for pure doctrine, worldview, and lifestyle that is approved by God.
The fake apostles had different ideas, motives, and desires on the Corinthians, and none of them are spiritually healthy or God approved.
True God-called pastors do not split churches by sneaking in by lies and slowly teach a false Christianity by presenting themselves as having secret truths that must be taught by him and his mentors. This was prophesied by Paul in Acts 20:30-31, where he characterizes them as “savage wolves.”
True pastors have a different command:
Ephesians 4:11-16 (WEL) He gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors, and teachers. 12 For the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ. 13 Until we all come into the unity of the faith and the full knowledge of the Son of God, into a full, complete person, into the standard of the complete maturity of Christ. 14 So that we would no longer be children tossed back and forth and carried off by every wind of doctrine by the cunning deception and sneaky craftiness of people lying in ambush so as to deceive. 15 Instead, being everything true in love. We must grow up into Him in everything who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From whom the whole body is harmoniously joined and united by every joint’s contribution according to what is required for efficiency from each part. This causes growth of the body into building itself up in love.
V20 For I am afraid that when I come, I will not find you as I would want, and that I will be found by you as you wouldn’t want. I’m afraid there might be strife, envy, strong anger, self-seeking, evil talk, gossip, or chaos.
The fake apostles have been successful in bringing chaos to the church (2 Peter 2:3 and 2 Peter 2:1-17). They are working diligently to destroy it and have the believers follow their teaching instead of the Apostles’ teaching.
There are 8 characteristics brought about by these false apostles:
- 1) strife (Louw & Nida) “conflict resulting from rivalry and discord,”
- 2) envyings (zeal for themselves and their beliefs),
- 3) strong anger ((Baker Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words) “anger” or “rage,” implying strong, unchecked emotions,
- 4) self-seeking (instead of seeking the glory and will of God),
- 5) evil talk ((Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (Abridged – Little Kittel)) “used for hostile speech, especially slander,” True pastors do not teach chaos and bring church splits; it is almost always a fake who comes in and causes problems,”
- 6) gossip (Louw & Nida)) providing harmful information about a person, often spoken in whispers or in a low voice, with the implication that such information is not widely known and therefore should presumably be kept secret,”
- 7) bragging (Louw & Nida)) pride, arrogance, and a feeling of self-importance,”
- 8) chaos (Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (Abridged – Little Kittel)) “disruption’ in the community through disputes.”
True pastors and indeed all believers are to edify, not destroy. Compare Romans 14:19, 1 Corinthians 10:23, and 1 Thessalonians 5:11.
The only truth is the Bible interpreted in its plain, normal sense, not with frameworks or different hermeneutics.
Regarding the trait of self-seeking, (Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament Based on Semantic Domains (Louw & Nida)) “The meaning of rivalry may be expressed as wanting to be better than someone else or wanting to make people think they are better. The meaning of selfish ambition may be rendered as what they do is just to make themselves look bigger or what they do is just for themselves.”
Annotated Bible (on 2 Peter 2): “The same, it is predicted, would be repeated in this Christian age, only with this difference, that not false prophets should appear, but “false teachers.” And as this dispensation draws to its close, apostasy would set in. (Consult annotations on 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17.) These false teachers, like the false prophets, reject first of all the Word of God; they, too, speak out of their own hearts, that is, vanities and lies. As a result, they bring in “privily destructive heresies.” All heresies have but one goal, and that is the denial of Christ and the gospel. Therefore, Peter predicts “denying even the Master, who bought them.”
V21 Fearing, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and I will grieve over many who have already sinned and have not repented of the moral corruption, sexual sins, and uncontrollable lust which they have done.
False teaching brings spiritual, doctrinal, familial, and individual chaos.
Some quotes (I don’t necessarily agree with everything taught by the authors of these quotes):
Martin Luther “It is the nature of all hypocrites and false prophets to create a conscience where there is none, and to cause conscience to disappear where it does exist.”
The Bible in Summary—Jude: “Jude writes with a sense of urgency, calling the church to wake up to the reality of false teachers creeping in unnoticed (Jude 1:1-4). These deceivers twist the grace of God into a license for immorality, denying the authority of Christ. But Jude assures his readers that God will not let such rebellion go unpunished. Just as He judged unbelieving Israel, fallen angels, and the wicked cities of the past, so too will He bring judgment upon these ungodly ones (Jude 1:5-16).”
We learn:
- About pastoral care and concern for other believers.
- About some dangers of false teachers and pastors.
Questions:
- How is your level of concern for other believers, not only in words but in actions?
- How do you detect a false teacher/pastor?