2 Corinthians 11:3
What is written? (ESV)
But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
What does it say?
I [Paul], am fearful that just as Eve was deceived by Satan’s deceitfulness in the garden, your thoughts will move away from the simplicity and perfection of being devoted to Christ alone.
What is its immediate context?
Paul, while away from Corinth, is being marginalized by other men that Paul refers to as “super-apostles” (vs 5). They are criticizing what Paul spoke when he “preached God’s gospel” to them “free of charge” (vs 7 xref Acts 18:8-11). He is warning the Corinthians of these individuals’ inferiority in the knowledge of Christ and labels them as “false apostles” and “deceitful workmen” (vs 13).
How 2 Corinthians 11:3 is applied across Bible answers
What is required to understand the Bible?
A Christian's devotion to Christ is based on the simplicity of the Gospel.
The very next verse (4) makes it clear that their "devotion to Christ" came from Paul preaching the gospel to them.
