Paul’s Fear For the Church
Paul’s Fear for the Church September 7, 2025
“But I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. For if one comes and preaches another Jesus (to you) whom we have not preached (to you), or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received (from us apostles), or a different gospel which you have not accepted (from us), you bear this (tolerate it, you swallow it up) beautifully.” II Corinthians 11:3-4
There is no question that the Corinthian church was a difficult church to work with. In Paul’s first recorded letter to them we find that they had a huge problem with pride, so much so, that it promoted disunity in the church (Chapter One), their faith rested on the persuasive wisdom of men rather than on the power of God (Chapter Two), there was jealousy and strife existing among them (Chapter Three), Paul’s apostleship and motives were falsely questioned (Chapter Four), gross immorality in the church was tolerated instead of punished (Chapter Five), brethren were taking each other to court and unbelievers were hearing their cases against each other (Chapter Six), marital problems and concerns in the church existed (Chapter Seven), members exercised their Christian liberties and caused their brethren to stumble (Chapter Eight), Paul is unjustly examined by some of his brethren (Chapter Nine), brethren were more focused on exercising their rights than in being thoughtful of the needs of others (Chapter Ten), their attitude in partaking of the Lord’s Supper was wrong (Chapter Eleven), some members wanted the spiritual gifts of others not appreciating what gift(s) the Holy Spirit had given them, they wanted to be in the spotlight and didn’t realize that spiritual gifts were for the edification of the whole church and not for self exaltation, they had to learn the value of loving like God, a gift that would last forever unlike these spiritual gifts (Chapters 12-14), some members had abandoned Paul’s teachings about the gospel and were preaching that there was no resurrection of the dead (Chapter Fifteen), Paul is concerned that some may not love the Lord as they should and thus refuse to do what he commanded them to do (Chapter Sixteen).
In Paul’s second recorded letter to this church we read that things had changed for the better and the Corinthian brethren were beginning to act and think like Christians should. However Paul expressed a fear he had for them and it was that Satan, in his craftiness, would cause their minds to be led astray from being devoted to Christ and His teachings.
Satan is so powerful, influencing us in whatever way he can to not think nor act like Christ. And whenever that happens churches will divide, truth will be compromised and Satan will be laughing.
So, let’s always remember Paul’s words that the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus whenever we pray to Him with thankful hearts (Philippians 4:4-9).
Brian Thompson