2 Corinthians 11 15

2 Corinthians 11:15 kjv

Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

2 Corinthians 11:15 nkjv

Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

2 Corinthians 11:15 niv

It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.

2 Corinthians 11:15 esv

So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.

2 Corinthians 11:15 nlt

So it is no wonder that his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. In the end they will get the punishment their wicked deeds deserve.

2 Corinthians 11 15 Cross References

VerseTextReference
2 Cor 11:14For even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.Direct Prelude
Gal 1:8-9If we or an angel from heaven preach to you any gospel other than...Warning against false teachers
Phil 3:18-19For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even...Enemies of the cross of Christ
Rev 12:9So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the...Satan identified as the serpent
John 8:44You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father...Satan as the father of lies
Rom 16:20And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly.Future defeat of Satan
Eph 6:11Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against...Standing against the devil's schemes
1 Pet 5:8Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about...Devil as adversary
2 Tim 3:13But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving...Deception by wicked men
Rev 20:10The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and...Final judgment of the devil
Matt 25:41Then He will also say to those on the left hand, "Depart from Me,...Place prepared for the devil
Isa 14:12-15How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!...Satan's fall and pride
Ezek 28:14-17You were the anointed cherub who covers... Your heart was lifted up...Satan's origin and fall
Jude 1:6And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their...Fallen angels
Rev 19:11-16Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse... His name is...Christ's victory over Satan
Acts 13:10And said, "O full of all deception and all fraud, you son of the...Elymas, a sorcerer, a child of the devil
1 John 3:8He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning...Doing the works of the devil
Rom 3:23For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,Universal sinfulness
2 Cor 4:2But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in...Contrast with deceit
Col 1:13He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into...Deliverance from darkness
Eph 2:1-3And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;...Former life in the world
Heb 12:16Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for...Profanity like Esau
Matt 13:39The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of...Parable of the wheat and the tares
John 10:10The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy...Satan's purpose

2 Corinthians 11 verses

2 Corinthians 11 15 Meaning

This verse declares that the end of those who imitate Satan, who is the adversary, will be in accordance with his evil nature and deeds. Their ultimate destination and experience will reflect the character and actions of the devil.

2 Corinthians 11 15 Context

In 2 Corinthians chapter 11, Paul is defending his apostleship against false apostles who were distorting the gospel and presenting a different Jesus. He lists his sufferings for Christ, contrasting them with the boasting of the false apostles. This verse (15) follows his explanation that the false apostles disguise themselves as ministers of righteousness, mirroring Satan's deceptive nature as an "angel of light." Paul asserts that their end will be consistent with their deeds, which align with Satan's agenda.

2 Corinthians 11 15 Word Analysis

  • "Seeing": (Greek: epiphōskontōn) - While a less common translation here, some scholars suggest a connection to "dawning" or "manifesting." The intended meaning in this context is more along the lines of "knowing" or "realizing" their impending end. It reflects a certainty about the future outcome based on present actions.
  • "Their": (Greek: autōn) - Refers back to the "false apostles" mentioned earlier in the chapter.
  • "End": (Greek: telos) - Signifies the final result, conclusion, or ultimate outcome. It speaks to the destination and the fate awaiting them.
  • "According to": (Greek: katā) - Indicates conformity or accordance with something. Their end will be in line with a specific standard or pattern.
  • "Works": (Greek: erga) - Refers to their actions, deeds, and activities, particularly those that are deceitful and contrary to true ministry.
  • "Their": (Greek: autōn) - Again refers to the false apostles.
  • "Be": (Greek: estai) - Future tense of "to be." Their end will be.
  • "Of": (Greek: ek) - Signifies origin, source, or possession. Their end will be a consequence from or belonging to.
  • "Satan": (Greek: Satanas) - The name for the chief adversary, the devil.
  • "Is": (Greek: estin) - Present tense, indicating a continuing reality.
  • "The": (Greek: tou) - Definite article.
  • "Adversary": (Greek: antidikos) - Literally "against-house" or "against-judge." One who accuses or contends against another. This is a key descriptor of Satan's role.

2 Corinthians 11 15 Bonus Section

This verse is a strong polemic against those who corrupt the Gospel for personal gain or status. The term "antidikos" for adversary is also used in 1 Peter 5:8 to describe the devil's relentless pursuit of believers. The certainty Paul expresses regarding the false apostles' end is grounded in God's ultimate justice and the established pattern of Satan's rebellion and eventual judgment, as depicted throughout Scripture from his fall in Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28 to his final casting into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10). The Apostle Paul often employed this kind of theological reasoning, connecting present actions and allegiances to eternal consequences.

2 Corinthians 11 15 Commentary

Paul establishes a direct correlation between the character and actions of the false apostles and the nature of Satan. Just as Satan masquerades as an angel of light to deceive, these false ministers also operate under a guise of piety and spiritual authority, but their true allegiance and aims are with the devil. Consequently, their ultimate destiny will not be one of divine favor, but rather a reflection of their master's unrighteousness and ultimate defeat. Their actions reveal their true lord, and their end will confirm it. This is a solemn warning about the consequences of living and ministering according to the world's standards and deceptive ways, rather than in accordance with Christ's truth and righteousness. The faithful, who endure suffering for righteousness' sake, are contrasted with those who prosper through deception.