In 2 Corinthians 11:5, Paul refers to “super-apostles” who had infiltrated the Corinthian church and were leading people astray. Who were these false apostles that Paul was warning about?
To understand who the “super-apostles” were, we need to look at the context of 2 Corinthians. In chapters 10-13, Paul is defending his authority as an apostle of Christ against false teachers who had come to Corinth claiming to be apostles and preaching a “different gospel” (2 Cor 11:4).
Paul sarcastically calls these false teachers “super-apostles” to contrast them with his own humble service: “I consider that I am not in the least inferior to these super-apostles” (2 Cor 11:5). He then goes on to point out that unlike him, the “super-apostles” preach themselves and take financial advantage of the Corinthians (2 Cor 11:7-12).
So who were these false apostles that had infiltrated the Corinthian church?
1. Judaizers
Many scholars believe the “super-apostles” were likely Judaizers – Jewish Christians who taught that Gentile believers needed to adhere to the Mosaic Law and be circumcised to be saved (Acts 15:1, Galatians 2:11-14).
We know the Corinthian church struggled with the influence of Judaizers based on Paul’s denunciation of their legalistic tendencies in 1 Corinthians 7:18-19: “Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision.”
It seems these Judaizing false teachers had now returned to Corinth claiming to be true apostles and were attacking Paul’s authority and gospel of salvation by grace alone.
2. Early Gnostics
Others propose the “super-apostles” may have been early Gnostics – an early heretical group who claimed to possess superior spiritual knowledge. The Gnostics rejected the material world as evil and denied Jesus’ humanity and bodily resurrection.
In 2 Corinthians 11:4, Paul notes the false apostles preach “another Jesus” different from the Jesus he proclaimed. This could point to Gnostics denying the incarnation. And we know from Paul’s later writings that Gnosticism was already infecting churches (1 Timothy 1:3-7, 2 Timothy 2:16-18).
3. Hellenistic Jews
A third possibility is the super-apostles were Hellenistic Jews who incorporated Greek rhetorical techniques and emphasis on wisdom/oratory into their teaching. This would fit Paul’s description of them as slick speakers who preached themselves.
We know Apollos, a gifted Hellenistic Jewish preacher, had recently been to Corinth and gained a following (Acts 18:24-28, 1 Corinthians 1:12). It’s possible some associated with Apollos had returned to Corinth as self-proclaimed apostles.
4. Christian Jews from Jerusalem
Some think the false apostles could have been Jewish Christians from the Jerusalem church who were critical of Paul’s law-free gospel to the Gentiles. For example, the men from James who opposed Peter’s association with Gentiles in Galatians 2:12.
Those from the Jerusalem church may have seen Paul as a maverick preaching a distorted version of the gospel and wanted to bring his converts under their brand of Jewish Christianity.
Their Teaching and Methods
While we cannot identify the “super-apostles” with absolute certainty, we can summarize some of their key teachings and methods based on Paul’s polemic against them:
- They preached “another Jesus” different from the Jesus Paul proclaimed (2 Cor 11:4).
- They taught obedience to the Mosaic Law was required for salvation, perhaps through circumcision (Acts 15:1, Gal 2:11-14, 1 Cor 7:18).
- They claimed special spiritual insights and revelations to entice followers after them (2 Cor 11:5).
- They were slick public speakers who boasted of their credentials and eloquence (2 Cor 10:10, 12).
- They sought to undermine Paul’s credibility as an apostle and preacher (2 Cor 10:10, 11:5).
- They took advantage of the Corinthians financially and exploited them (2 Cor 11:20).
In summary, the “super-apostles” were most likely Jewish false teachers who syncretized Christianity with Jewish and/or Greek ideas. They claimed superior authority and insight to Paul in order to gain a following at Corinth and promote teachings contrary to Paul’s gospel. By understanding their errors, we can better appreciate Paul’s passionate defense of salvation by grace alone through faith.
Paul’s Desire for the Corinthians
Paul’s main desire was for the Corinthians to reject the false gospel of the “super-apostles” and embrace the true gospel he preached to them:
I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. 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. For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough.
(2 Corinthians 11:2-4 ESV)
Paul wanted the Corinthians to have undivided devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ. He was concerned the super-apostles, like the serpent who deceived Eve, would lead the Corinthians astray through a false gospel that diminished the person and work of Christ.
All false teaching ultimately detracts from who Jesus is and what He accomplished through His sinless life, atoning death, and resurrection from the dead. Paul spent his life proclaiming the glories of the true Jesus revealed in Scripture and defending the gospel of salvation by grace through faith against any corruption of it.
As modern day Christians, we would do well to follow Paul’s example. We should reject any teaching introduced as “new insights” or “deeper truth” if it contradicts or undermines the Jesus and gospel revealed in God’s Word.
Paul’s Apostolic Credentials
To counteract the influence of the false apostles, Paul goes on in 2 Corinthians 11-12 to defend his credentials as a genuine apostle appointed by Christ. He highlights the following:
- His Jewish heritage, training under Gamaliel, and zeal as a Pharisee (2 Cor 11:22; Philippians 3:4-6)
- The visions and revelations he received from Christ (2 Cor 12:1-10)
- His signs, wonders and miracles as an apostle (2 Cor 12:12)
- His financial independence and refusal to be a burden (2 Cor 11:7-12)
- His sufferings for the gospel, including beatings, stonings, shipwrecks, etc (2 Cor 11:23-29)
Paul demonstrates he is not inferior to the “super-apostles” but in fact surpasses them in every way through his relationship with Christ, spiritual experiences, miracles, and sufferings as an apostle.
Warnings for Today
While the exact identity of the “super-apostles” Paul refers to is unknown to us, his warnings are still relevant today. The church constantly faces threats from false teachers who:
- Preach “another Jesus”
- Add man-made rules and rituals to the simple gospel
- Claim new revelations and spiritual insights
- Emphasize style and techniques over substance
- Seek personal glory and gain
- Cause division in churches
Paul’s letters remind us to be on guard against any who would distort the gospel and lead us away from sincere devotion to Jesus Christ. We test every teacher by whether their teaching aligns with the Jesus revealed in God’s Word.
And when disputes arise over the nature of the gospel, we should follow Paul’s example of vigorously defending the purity of the gospel revealed in Scripture – salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.