In II Corinthians 11:1-4 Paul writes that he feared that members of the church in Corinth would “put up with” another Jesus, a different Spirit and a different gospel being preached to them.
II Corinthians 11:1-4
1 Oh, that you would bear with me in a little folly—and indeed you do bear with me.
2 For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
3 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
4 For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!
Who was the other Jesus, the different Spirit, and the different gospel that Paul refers to?
Paul feared that members of the church in Corinth would listen to and “put up with” those that preached of the earthly ministry of Jesus, which was preached by Peter and the eleven, which was different from the Jesus who Paul preached of who gave His life on the cross and was resurrected.
Paul feared that they would listen to and “put up with” those that preached of the Holy Spirit that came on Pentecost and manifested in an external dwelling manner, which was preached by Peter and the eleven, which was different from the internal dwelling Holy Spirit that Paul preached of, and his church members experienced.
Paul also feared that they would receive and “put up with” preachers who preached the gospel of the kingdom, with its earthly promise, which Peter and the eleven preached, which is totally different from our gospel of the grace of God and its promised heavenly destination that was preached by our Apostle Paul.
Paul had every reason to fear that the Corinthians would “put up with” preachers preaching another Jesus, a different Spirit and a different gospel. We are told in the book of Galatians that those church members were being tempted to be circumcised and follow the Law of Moses. In Galatians 1:6-10 Paul warned the Galatians that there were those that would trouble them and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
Galatians 1:6-10
6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
Paul preached of the simplicity that we have in Christ
Only our Apostle Paul taught of the simplicity that we have in Christ, where we are saved eternally at the exact moment that we believe the gospel of the grace of God recorded in I Corinthians 15:1-4. At that time, we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit baptized us into the body of Christ. In Colossians 3:3 we learn that as saved members of the body of Christ, that our life is hid with Christ in God.
God made the gospel of the death, burial and resurrection so simple for us to understand and believe that there is simply no excuse for not being saved for all eternity. When Jesus Christ is sitting on The Great White Throne and judging the lost, there will not be one lost person who will be able to offer any excuse as to their lost condition.
What do we “put up with” today?
Today, the vast and complex religious structure that is collectively known as Christendom does not preach of the simplicity of being in Christ. They do not preach ONLY the gospel of the grace of God, by which we are saved through our faith and trust in the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
If you want to know why Christendom does not preach of the simplicity of being in Christ, then you will have to ask them why. It is so much easier to see and understand the results of not preaching the simplicity of the gospel, than it is to understand why the simplicity of the gospel is not being preached.
The end result of not preaching the simplicity of the gospel of the grace of God and the simplicity that we have in Christ, is that it causes confusion as to what the gospel actually is, and also how salvation is actually achieved. This causes many good and god-fearing people to never know if they are saved or lost.
Do you believe Paul when he says that we are saved by believing that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures?
I Corinthians 15:1-4
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.
Do you believe Paul when he says that we will be judged by the gospel that he preached?
Romans 2:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
Do you believe Paul when he says that he was given the dispensation of the grace of God?
Ephesians 3:2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward.