2 Corinthians 11:3

2 Corinthians 11:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
• New International Version (NIV)But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
• English Standard Version (ESV)But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

Context of 2 Corinthians 11:3

1I want you to put up with a little foolishness from me. I’m sure that you will. 2I’m as protective of you as God is. After all, you’re a virgin whom I promised in marriage to one man—Christ. However, I’m afraid that as the snake deceived Eve by its tricks, so your minds may somehow be lured away from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4When someone comes to you telling about another Jesus whom we didn’t tell you about, you’re willing to put up with it. When you receive a spirit that is different from the Spirit you received earlier, you’re also willing to put up with that. When someone tells you good news that is different from the Good News you already accepted, you’re willing to put up with that too. 5I don’t think I’m inferior in any way to your super-apostles.

2 Corinthians 11:3 word by word

φοβοῦμαι δὲ μή πως ὡς ὁ ὄφις ἐξηπάτησεν Εὕαν ἐν τῇ πανουργίᾳ αὐτοῦ, φθαρῇ τὰ νοήματα ὑμῶν ἀπὸ τῆς ἁπλότητος καὶ τῆς ἁγνότητος τῆς εἰς τὸν Χριστόν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Butδέde · thenG1161
• I fearφοβέωphobeō · to fearG5399
• lest by any meansμήπωςmēpōs mē pōs · so thatG3381
• asὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
• the serpentὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the serpentὄφιςophis · snakeG3789
• beguiledἐξαπατάωexapataō · to deceiveG1818
• EveΕὖαEua · EveG2096
• throughἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• subtiltyπανουργίαpanourgia · craftinessG3834
• soοὕτωςhoutō · thus(-ly)G3779
• yourσύsu · youG4771
• mindsνόημαnoēma · mind/thoughtG3540
• should be corruptedφθείρωphtheirō · to destroyG5351
• fromἀπόapo · away fromG575
• the simplicityἁπλότηςhaplotēs · opennessG572
• inεἰςeis · towardG1519
• ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 11:3

• 2 Corinthians 11:29When anyone is weak, I’m weak too. When anyone is caught in a trap, I’m also harmed.
• 2 Corinthians 12:20I’m afraid that I may come and find you different from what I want you to be, and that you may find me different from what you want me to be. I’m afraid that there may be rivalry, jealousy, hot tempers, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly conduct.
• Psalms 119:53I am burning with anger because of wicked people, who abandon your teachings.
• Galatians 1:6I’m surprised that you’re so quickly deserting Christ, who called you in his kindness, to follow a different kind of good news.
• Galatians 3:1You stupid people of Galatia! Who put you under an evil spell? Wasn’t Christ Jesus’ crucifixion clearly described to you?
• Galatians 4:11I’m afraid for you. Maybe the hard work I spent on you has been wasted.
• Philippians 3:18I have often told you, and now tell you with tears in my eyes, that many live as the enemies of the cross of Christ.
• Genesis 3:4“You certainly won’t die!” the snake told the woman.
• John 8:44You come from your father, the devil, and you desire to do what your father wants you to do. The devil was a murderer from the beginning. He has never been truthful. He doesn’t know what the truth is. Whenever he tells a lie, he’s doing what comes naturally to him. He’s a liar and the father of lies.
• 1 Timothy 2:14Besides that, Adam was not deceived. It was the woman who was deceived and sinned.
• Revelation 12:9The huge serpent was thrown down. That ancient snake, named Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world, was thrown down to earth. Its angels were thrown down with it.
• Revelation 20:2He overpowered the serpent, that ancient snake, named Devil and Satan. The angel chained up the serpent for 1,000 years.
• 2 Corinthians 11:13People who brag like this are false apostles. They are dishonest workers, since they disguise themselves as Christ’s apostles.
• 2 Corinthians 2:17At least we don’t go around selling an impure word of God like many others. The opposite is true. As Christ’s spokesmen and in God’s presence, we speak the pure message that comes from God.
• 2 Corinthians 4:2Instead, we have refused to use secret and shameful ways. We don’t use tricks, and we don’t distort God’s word. As God watches, we clearly reveal the truth to everyone. This is our ⌞letter of⌟ recommendation.
• Matthew 24:24False messiahs and false prophets will appear. They will work spectacular, miraculous signs and do wonderful things to deceive, if possible, even those whom God has chosen.

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 11:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3As the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty - This is a strong reflection on the false apostle and his teaching: he was subtle, and by his subtlety (, from , all, and , work; his versatility of character and conduct, his capability of doing all work, and accommodating himself to the caprices, prejudices, and evil propensities of those to whom he ministered) he was enabled to corrupt the minds of the people from the simplicity of the Gospel of Christ…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3But I fear - Paul had just compared the church to a virgin, soon to be presented as a bride to the Redeemer. The mention of this seems to have suggested to him the fact that the first woman was deceived and led astray by the tempter, and that the same thing might occur in regard to the church which he was so desirous should be preserved pure. The grounds of his fear were: (1)That Satan had seduced the first woman, thus demonstrating that the most holy…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3The false teachers were leading the Corinthian believers away from pure devotion to Christ. They were doing Satan's work, like the serpent did in Eden (11:14; see Genesis 3:4, 13).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. I fear--(2Co 12:20); not inconsistent with love. His source of fear was their yielding character. subtilty--the utter foe of the "simplicity" which is intent on ONE object, Jesus, and seeks none "other," and no "other" and different Spirit (2Co 11:4); but loves him with tender SINGLENESS OF AFFECTION. Where Eve first gave way, was in mentally harboring for a moment the possibility insinuated by the serpent, of God not having her truest interests at…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Corinthians 11:3

• Doctrines
• Eve
• Fall of Man
• Minister, Christian
• Satan
• Serpent
• Temptation
• Women

In the dictionaries

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

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