“For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face.”
My Notes
What Does 2 Corinthians 11:20 Mean?
"Ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face." Paul's sarcasm is at its sharpest: the Corinthians tolerate terrible leaders gladly. Five abuses are listed: bondage (enslaving), devouring (exploiting), taking (stealing), self-exaltation (dominating), and face-slapping (humiliating). The Corinthians endure all of this from false apostles while rejecting Paul's gentle ministry.
The five abuses escalate: bondage restricts freedom, devouring consumes resources, taking steals directly, self-exaltation asserts dominance, and face-slapping delivers personal insult. The progression moves from systemic abuse to personal assault. The false leaders do all five, and the Corinthians accept it.
The irony is devastating: the Corinthians reject Paul (who treated them gently) and accept false apostles (who abuse them). They prefer the abuser to the servant. The impressive exploiter gets more respect than the humble genuine article.
Reflection Questions
- 1.Are you tolerating abusive leadership because it's impressive?
- 2.What genuine servant have you rejected because they lacked flashy charisma?
- 3.Which of the five abuses — bondage, devouring, taking, self-exaltation, face-slapping — do you recognize in leaders you've followed?
- 4.Why do communities often prefer impressive exploiters over humble servants?
Devotional
They enslave you. They devour you. They steal from you. They exalt themselves over you. They slap you in the face. And you put up with it gladly. Paul's sarcasm about the Corinthians' tolerance of abusive leaders is one of the sharpest passages in his letters.
The five abuses describe a complete pattern of toxic leadership: the leader who controls (bondage), who uses people for personal gain (devour), who takes what doesn't belong to them (take), who makes everything about their own greatness (exalt), and who personally degrades those under them (smite on the face). Five dimensions of leadership abuse that the Corinthians accept from impressive strangers while rejecting Paul's humble service.
The irony cuts deep: they tolerate the abuser and reject the lover. The false apostles who exploit them get a pass. Paul, who served them with genuine care, gets questioned. The pattern is as old as humanity: we often prefer the leader who hurts us impressively over the leader who helps us humbly.
Why? Because abusive leaders often project confidence, authority, and importance. The Corinthians are impressed by self-exalting personalities. Paul came in weakness and trembling (2:3). The contrast made Paul look weak and the abusers look strong. But the weakness was genuine ministry and the strength was exploitation.
What leaders are you tolerating who enslave, devour, take, exalt themselves, and demean you? And what genuine servants are you rejecting because they don't impress you?
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
I speak as concerning reproach,.... These words may be considered either as explanative of the latter part of the former…
For ye suffer ... - You bear patiently with people who impose on you in every way, and who are constantly defrauding…
For ye suffer - As you are so meek and gentle as to submit to be brought into bondage, to have your property devoured,…
Here we have a further excuse that the apostle makes for what he was about to say in his own vindication. 1. He would…
For ye suffer (susteynen, Wiclif). "This may be understood in three ways. (1) He may be understood as reproving the…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture