In 2 Cor 11:15, Paul refers to Satan’s ministers. The word is the same word translated deacon in the NT (1 Tim 3:8). He says that these men transform themselves into these positions.
To whom is he referring? If you read a commentary on 2 Corinthians, the writer will likely say Paul is talking about unbelievers who are in the church at Corinth. They have assumed teaching positions and are causing great damage among the believers.
Even though most think Paul was talking about unbelievers, I do not think that is the case. The problem with these men was their arrogance. They walked according to the flesh. They desired to be served rather than to serve. Believers can do that. They can act that way.
Thomas Constable agrees. Speaking of those who were Satan’s ministers, he says, “They may have been genuine believers. Indeed, they appear to have been. Nevertheless, in their conduct, they were following the example of Satan. (Thomas Constable, https://bible.net.org.“2 Corinthians”.)
One reason commentators think Paul is talking about unbelievers is that it is really harsh to refer to a believer as Satan’s deacon. Many of these commentators hold to a theology that says a “true” believer can never sin very badly. Being a minister of Satan seems pretty bad!
But what they were doing was bad. They focused on outward things. They were trying to convince the Corinthians that Paul was not an authoritative apostle. According to them, the Corinthians did not have to listen to Paul, and they certainly shouldn’t follow his example.
Paul taught that spiritual maturity was obtained by being transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. This transformation would lead to being more like Christ (2 Cor 3:18). It would involve suffering and affliction. That was the kind of life Paul lived. God’s strength was manifested in weakness. The false teachers rejected all of that.
Paul taught that the believers whom the Spirit transformed would be rewarded at the Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Cor 5:10). They would be pleasing to the Lord on that day (2 Cor 11:2). The false teachers at Corinth did not believe that either. They wanted to impress the Lord with their fleshly accomplishments.
Satan desired that the church at Corinth focus on the flesh. He did not want the believers there to follow Christ’s (and Paul’s) example of suffering and service to others. The false teachers there were doing the devil’s work. It was very appropriate to call them Satan’s ministers.
Paul was not being too harsh when he referred to them in that way, even though they were believers. The danger they posed to the church was very real. The church in America has become too reluctant to call out theological error.
We can learn a couple of lessons from these false teachers at Corinth. The first is that a believer can commit any sin. He can even be a servant of Satan. While a believer can never lose eternal life, he can do terrible damage to a church.
Another lesson is that what we teach about Christian growth is important. A denial of the doctrine of rewards is not a minor issue. Satan wants weak churches, full of believers who focus on outward appearances. He does not want believers to grow through the difficulties they experience. He does not want believers who desire to be transformed into the image of Christ. To the degree that we do not teach those concepts, we are doing Satan’s work.
Paul’s words point out an obvious irony: The believer who boasts in the flesh is convinced that his fleshly accomplishments have transformed him into a godly servant of the Lord. Instead, he has been transformed into Satan’s deacon.
