Useful Bible Studies > 2 Corinthians Commentary > chapter 11
Paul was so eager to serve God that he had lived in quite an extraordinary manner. Some people considered him a fool; Paul showed no desire to argue about that. Instead, he chose to explain why his attitudes were so eager.
In Ephesians 5:25-32, Paul describes Christians as the bride of Christ. That is not just a word-picture. Christians are beginning now a love relationship with Christ that will last always. Revelation 19:7-9 seems to describe their marriage, in heaven, as an actual future event.
In the Bible, a woman who marries for the first time should be a virgin*. A virgin is a woman who has never had sex. That is God’s ideal arrangement because then the woman can be completely loyal to her husband both before and during their marriage.
God considers it very wrong when husbands and wives are not loyal to each other in this matter*. The Bible often uses that as a word-picture for when people are not loyal to God*.
Paul had established the church in Corinth and God had given him responsibility for it*. Many of its members became Christians because of Paul’s work there.
People were now complaining that Paul’s attitudes were wrong: he was too eager. Paul, however, could see nothing wrong in his attitudes. A man who arranges a marriage for his friend is very eager. He wants to make the best possible arrangements. If he does not do it because of duty, he does it because of honour, or because of love for his friend. Paul saw his work like that, and his greatest desire was to please Christ*. So of course he was very eager. He wanted the Christians, as the bride of Christ, to be perfect for him.
Next part: The danger that a wrong idea may lead us away from Christ (11:3)
* See complete article for these Bible references.
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© 2016, Keith Simons.