Paul had his critics in the city of Corinth. These critics were influencing some in the church. In 2 Cor 11:4, Paul refers to some who preach a different Jesus and a different gospel. Who were these critics, and what were they teaching?
Part of the problem in answering these questions is that we do not have a letter from Paul’s critics explaining their views. It is safe to say, however, that most readers and explainers of the book will assume that these critics were unbelievers. Their different gospel was a heretical message dealing with what the unbeliever needed to do in order to be saved from the lake of fire. That is the way most Evangelicals understand the word gospel when they read it in the Bible. A different Jesus would be one who cannot save us from the lake of fire. He might be a Jesus who was not God. In our day, we hear phrases like “the Mormon Jesus.” The Mormons believe that Jesus was not God, but the brother of Satan. Many say that unless you believe in the orthodox view of Christ, you cannot be eternally saved. They would say that was the problem with Paul’s critics at Corinth. While not the Mormon Jesus, they were preaching a non-deity Jesus.
Paul may be referring to unbelievers. But the context strongly suggests that he is talking about something else. In the previous verse, he tells his readers that he is worried that their minds might be “corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ” (v 3). That seems to point to how Christ lived and the example He set. It doesn’t seem to be addressing His deity.
The verses that follow point us in the same direction. Paul says that he was “untrained in speech,” but did not consider himself less of an apostle because of that (vv 5-6). When he was with the Corinthians, he humbled himself by not charging them to preach the good news of God to them (v 7).
His critics in Corinth did not share Paul’s attitude. They loved to commend themselves and compare themselves to others. They liked to boast and take credit for others’ work (10:12-16).
These critics were slandering Paul. They bragged about outward appearances (5:12). They pointed out that outwardly, Paul was not impressive. The Greek culture put a lot of emphasis on teachers who were experts in rhetoric. Paul did not measure up.
But which kind of life did Jesus approve? What example did He set? He voluntarily became poor so that others could be rich (8:9). Paul did not glory in his ability to speak or in a muscular body. He gloried in the Lord. The Lord approved of Paul’s example (10:18). Paul wants the Corinthians to follow this example. That is how they can be found pleasing when He returns (11:2).
Christ led a simple life. He looks at a man’s heart, not his physical appearance (5:12). This is what Paul meant by the “simplicity of Christ.” Paul’s critics were preaching another kind of Jesus. They were believers, but they were sadly mistaken about what kind of life pleases the Lord.
Let us grab hold of the simplicity of the Lord, not judging one another by worldly standards. That is the kind of Jesus we need to preach and model to others.
