“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.” (v.3)
To demonstrate his deep love for the Corinthians, Paul likened his relationship with them to a father and daughter relationship (v.2). In the Jewish culture, it was the father's responsibility to protect his daughter's honor and to secure a proper husband for her. There by protecting her from the seduction of false suiters.
Paul uses this cultural backdrop to stress in verse 3, how deeply he feared the Corinthians were being seduced by false teachers, those who would replace the simplicity of Christ. Therefore, just as a father would protect his daughter’s honor form an unsuitable character, so Paul sought to protect his flock from, “false teachers, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ” (vv.13-14).
In the church today, we must be just as vigilant. We should be like the Bereans, testing the truthfulness of every sermon against God’s Holy Word, so as to not embrace a lie or a different Jesus.
The Truth
“These (Bereans) were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.” (Acts 17:11)
To demonstrate his deep love for the Corinthians, Paul likened his relationship with them to a father and daughter relationship (v.2). In the Jewish culture, it was the father's responsibility to protect his daughter's honor and to secure a proper husband for her. There by protecting her from the seduction of false suiters.
Paul uses this cultural backdrop to stress in verse 3, how deeply he feared the Corinthians were being seduced by false teachers, those who would replace the simplicity of Christ. Therefore, just as a father would protect his daughter’s honor form an unsuitable character, so Paul sought to protect his flock from, “false teachers, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ” (vv.13-14).
In the church today, we must be just as vigilant. We should be like the Bereans, testing the truthfulness of every sermon against God’s Holy Word, so as to not embrace a lie or a different Jesus.
The Truth
“These (Bereans) were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.” (Acts 17:11)
