Bondage, Devouring, Taking, Exalting and Smiting 2 Corinthians 11:20

Paul the apostle told the church members in Corinth, “Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also”, and he added, “for you suffer fools gladly, seeing you yourselves are wise”. In chapter eleven and verse twenty of Second Corinthians, Paul shares what the church members did if a man brought to them,“bondage, devouring, taking, exalting and smiting” where we read:

For you 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.

The verse begins, “For you suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, ...” Paul began with the words, “for” which means “even as, indeed, no doubt, seeing then, verily and therefore” “you suffer” or “the church members hold up, erect, sustain, bear and endure”, “if a man” which refers to “whoever” “bring you into bondage” which means “enslave utterly the church members”, “if a man” or “whoever” “devour you” which means “consumes, squanders and wastes the church members”. Paul indited the church members for “sustaining and enduring” people who “enslave” and “consume” them.

The verse continues, “.... if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face.” Paul added the words, “if a man” which means “whoever” “take of you” or “lay hold, carry, proclaim and procure the church members”, “if a man” which means “whoever” “exalt himself” or “raises and lifts up himself in pride”, “if a man” which means “whoever” “smite you” or “flay, skin, beat and slash” “on the face” which refers to “in the front of the head and countenance”.

When we meditate upon these words of Paul, we see how he marveled at the way the church members allowed themselves to be “enslaved, consumed, taken, beaten and overwhelmed with pride”. Paul's interest in them was not selfish, and he only desired to lead them into a relationship with Jesus Christ. These “false teachers” took advantage of them, and the church members accepted them. This should be a warning to all who read these words. There are people who seek to take advantage, and there are people whose purpose is to build up in Christ. Let us be as those who “build up others” and be wise to those who “bind, devour, take, exalt and smite”.

Next time Paul tells the church members, “I speak as concerning reproach”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then,

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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