“For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.”
My Notes
What Does 2 Corinthians 11:4 Mean?
Paul expresses sarcastic frustration: the Corinthians tolerate false teachers who preach "another Jesus," deliver "another spirit," and proclaim "another gospel" — and they bear with these imposters beautifully. The irony: they're patient with frauds but impatient with Paul, who gave them the genuine article.
The three "anothers" (allos — another of a different kind) describe a comprehensive counterfeit: a false Jesus (wrong identity), a false spirit (wrong power), and a false gospel (wrong message). The entire Christian experience is being replaced with a convincing copy. The person, the power, and the proclamation are all counterfeit.
Paul's "ye might well bear with him" is biting sarcasm: you handle these false teachers with remarkable patience — the same patience you refuse to extend to me. The Corinthians' tolerance is misdirected: generous toward counterfeits, stingy toward the genuine.
Reflection Questions
- 1.How do you identify 'another Jesus' or 'another gospel' when the counterfeit is convincing?
- 2.Where might you be tolerating spiritual counterfeits while being critical of genuine teaching?
- 3.What makes false teachers easier to 'bear with' than faithful ones?
- 4.What tests do you apply to distinguish the genuine article from convincing substitutes?
Devotional
Another Jesus. Another spirit. Another gospel. Three counterfeits packaged as the real thing. And the Corinthians are eating it up.
Paul's frustration is the frustration of every genuine minister who watches people leave the real for the fake. The Corinthians had the authentic Jesus from Paul's own preaching. They received the genuine Spirit through his ministry. They heard the true gospel from his mouth. And now they're tolerating — even welcoming — teachers who've replaced all three with convincing substitutes.
The sarcasm — "ye might well bear with him" — is Paul at his most cutting. You endure the false teachers with patience I've never received from you. You tolerate their alternative Jesus, their counterfeit spirit, and their different gospel. But me — the one who gave you the real thing — you question constantly.
The three counterfeits create a complete replacement system. The false Jesus looks enough like the real Jesus to attract followers but differs in essential ways (perhaps denying his suffering, elevating his power without the cross, or redefining his identity). The counterfeit spirit produces experiences that feel spiritual but don't produce the fruit of the genuine Spirit. The alternative gospel sounds like good news but has different terms, different requirements, and a different destination.
This should make you careful about what you consume spiritually. Not everything called Jesus is the real Jesus. Not every spiritual experience comes from the Holy Spirit. Not every gospel presentation is the genuine article. Paul says counterfeits exist — and they're convincing enough that entire churches can be taken in. The test isn't how the message makes you feel. It's whether it matches what was delivered from the beginning.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
For if he that cometh,.... Meaning either some particular man, the apostle might have had some information of, who came…
For if he that cometh ... - There is much difficulty in this verse in ascertaining the true sense, and expositors have…
For if he that cometh - The false apostle, who came after St. Paul had left Corinth.
Preacheth another Jesus - Who can…
Here we may observe, 1. The apology the apostle makes for going about to commend himself. He is loth to enter upon this…
he that cometh This shews that the false teachers came from elsewhere, whence they brought their corruptions.…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture