2 Corinthians 11:13

2 Corinthians 11:13 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
• New International Version (NIV)For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.

Context of 2 Corinthians 11:13

11Why? Because I don’t love you? God knows I do! 12But I will continue to do what I am doing, in order to deny an opportunity to those who want to be regarded as our equals in what they boast about. For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14And no wonder! For Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15So it is no great surprise if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will be according to their works.

2 Corinthians 11:13 word by word

οἱ γὰρ τοιοῦτοι ψευδαπόστολοι, ἐργάται δόλιοι, μετασχηματιζόμενοι εἰς ἀποστόλους Χριστοῦ·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• suchτοιοῦτοςtoioutos · such as thisG5108
• false apostlesψευδαπόστολοςpseudapostolos · false apostleG5570
• deceitfulδόλιοςdolios · deceitfulG1386
• workersἐργάτηςergatēs · workerG2040
• transforming themselvesμετασχηματίζωmetaschēmatizō · to transformG3345
• intoεἰςeis · towardG1519
• the apostlesἀπόστολοςapostolos · apostleG652
• of ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 11:13

• 2 Corinthians 11:15So it is no great surprise if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will be according to their works.
• 2 Corinthians 2:17For we do not market the word of God for profit like so many. On the contrary, we speak with sincerity in Christ, as from God and before God.
• 2 Corinthians 4:2Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful things, not acting deceitfully or distorting the word of God, but commending ourselves before God to everyone’s conscience by an open display of the truth.
• Matthew 25:24“The man who had received one talent also approached and said, ‘Master, I know you. You’re a harsh man, reaping where you haven’t sown and gathering where you haven’t scattered seed.
• Acts 15:1Some men came down from Judea and began to teach the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom prescribed by Moses, you cannot be saved.”
• Acts 20:30Men will rise up even from your own number and distort the truth to lure the disciples into following them.
• Romans 16:18because such people do not serve our Lord Christ but their own appetites. They deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting with smooth talk and flattering words.
• Galatians 1:7not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are troubling you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.
• Galatians 2:4This matter arose because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus in order to enslave us.
• Galatians 4:17They court you eagerly, but not for good. They want to exclude you from me, so that you would pursue them.
• Galatians 6:12Those who want to make a good impression in the flesh are the ones who would compel you to be circumcised — but only to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ.
• Ephesians 4:14Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit.
• Philippians 1:15To be sure, some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of good will.
• Colossians 2:4I am saying this so that no one will deceive you with arguments that sound reasonable.
• 1 Timothy 1:4or to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies. These promote empty speculations rather than God’s plan, which operates by faith.
• 1 Timothy 4:1Now the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will depart from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons,

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 11:13

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13For such are false apostles - Persons who pretend to be apostles, but have no mission from Christ. Deceitful workers - They do preach and labor, but they have nothing but their own emolument in view. Transforming themselves - Assuming as far as they possibly can, consistently with their sinister views, the habit, manner, and doctrine of the apostles of Christ.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13For such are false apostles - They have no claim to the apostolic office. They are deceivers. They pretend to be apostles; but they have no divine commission from the Redeemer. Paul had thus far argued the case without giving them an explicit designation as deceivers. But here he says that people who had conducted thus; who attempted to impose on the people; who had brought another gospel, whatever pretences they might have - and he was not disposed to…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 5-15Verses 5-15 It is far better to be plain in speech, yet walking openly and consistently with the gospel, than to be admired by thousands, and be lifted up in pride, so as to disgrace the gospel by evil tempers and unholy lives. The apostle would not give room for any to accuse him of worldly designs in preaching the gospel, that others who opposed him at Corinth, might not in this respect gain advantage against him. Hypocrisy may be looked for, especially…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 13-15Paul strongly criticizes the false teachers in Corinth (compare Galatians 1:6–9). Although these teachers wanted to claim their work was like Paul's (2 Corinthians 11:12), they were actually false apostles and deceitful workers (compare Philippians 3:2). Just as Satan transformed himself into an angel of light to deceive Eve (as described in the Jewish apocryphal book The Life of Adam and Eve), his servants also pretend to be servants of righteousness…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1313. For--reason why he is unwilling they should be thought like him [Bengel]. such--they and those like them. false apostles--those "overmuch apostles" (see on 2Co 11:5) are no apostles at all. deceitful workers--pretending to be "workmen" for the Lord, and really seeking their own gain.Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Corinthians 11:13

• Apostles
• Deceit
• Minister, Christian

In the dictionaries

• Christ
• Christ, Messiah
• Abase
• Above
• Corrupt
• Fear
• Jealous
• Peril
• Receive
• Save

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings