2 Corinthians 11:15
in 2 Corinthians 11It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
It is no great thing therefore if his ministers also fashion themselves as ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
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.
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This verse in 2 Corinthians 11
Commentary
13 notes on this verseThen he indicates the difference between good and bad ministers, which consists in this, that their end, namely, of Christ's ministers and Satan's, will correspond to their deeds; for the end of the good will be good, and of the evil, evil: "Their end is …
This site's exposition
false apostles, deceitful workers
on 2 Corinthians 11:13-15
Paul names the rivals false apostles, pseudapostoloi, a term used only here in the New Testament, whose disguise is apostleship itself. Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light, so it is no surprise if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness.
This site's exposition
Their end will correspond to their actions
The disguise lasts only until the end. Albert Barnes reads their end as their final destiny, fixed by their real character and works, since they cannot deceive God. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown set the righteousness these servants pretend to beside the light of verse 14.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
I have quoted these remarks to prove in error those Basilidians who do not live purely, supposing either that they have the power even to commit sin because of their perfection, or indeed that they will be saved by nature even if they sin in this life because they possess an innate election. For the original teachers of their doctrines do not allow one to do the same as they are now doing. They ought not, therefore, to take as a covering cloak the name of Christ and, by living lewder lives than the most uncontrolled heathen, bring blasphemy upon his name. "For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers" as far as the words "whose end shall be like their works."
A commentator
Theodoret of CyrusCOMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 344 · Written before 458.
proposed
It is the devil's custom to imitate the things of God. He sets up false prophets to oppose the true ones and assumes the form of an angel in order to deceive men.
"And no marvel; for if even Satan fashioneth himself into an angel of light, is it a great thing if his ministers also fashion themselves as ministers of righteousness?" So that if one ought to marvel, this is what he ought to marvel at, and not at their transformation. For when their teacher dares do any thing, no marvel that the disciples also follow. But what is "an angel of light?" That hath free liberty to speak, that standeth near to God. For there are also angels of darkness; those which be the devil's, those dark and cruel ones. And the devil hath deceived many so, fashioning himself "into," not becoming, "an angel of light." So do also do these bear about them the form of an Apostle, not the power itself, for this they cannot. But nothing is so like the devil as to do things for display. But what is "a ministry of righteousness?" That which we are who preach to you a Gospel having righteousness. For he either means this, or else that they invest themselves with the character of righteous men. How then shall we know them? "By their works," as Christ said. Wherefore he is compelled to place his own good deeds and their wickedness side by side, that the spurious may become evident by the comparison.
The servants of righteousness are the apostles, whose associates these people falsely pretended to be, so as to deceive their hearers.
The Medieval Church1 voice
That is, as ministers of the Gospel, which contains the truth, or — that they surround themselves with the glory of righteous men; but they shall not escape entirely, for according to their works shall be their end, that is, a bad one. So that …
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
17 That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting. 18 Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also. 19 For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture
Therefore it is no great thing,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Therefore it is no great thing ... - It is not to be deemed surprising. You are not to wonder if people of the basest, blackest character put on the appearance of the greatest sanctity, and even become eminent as professed preachers of righteousness. Whose end shall be ... - Whose final destiny. Their doom in eternity shall not be according to their fair professions and plausible pretences, for they cannot deceive God; but shall be according to their real character, and their works. Their work is a work of deception, and they shall be judged according to that.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
no great thing--no difficult matter. if his ministers also--as well as himself. righteousness--answering to "light" (2Co 11:14); the manifestation wherewith God reveals Himself in Christ (Mt 6:33;
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase+unbalanced-parens
Whose end shall be according to their works - A bad way leads to a bad end. The way of sin is the way to hell.
The words behind it
20 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| οὐ | ou | [It is] not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| μέγα | mega | surprising | G3173 → | |
| οὖν | oun | therefore | G3767 → | 497 times |
| εἰ | ei | if | G1487 → | 508 times |
| καὶ | kai | even | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| οἱ | hoi | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| διάκονοι | diakonoi | servants | G1249 → | 29 times |
| αὐτοῦ | autou | of him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| μετασχηματίζονται | metaschematizontai | masquerade | G3345 → | 5 times |
| ὡς | hos | as | G5613 → | 500 times |
| διάκονοι | diakonoi | servants | G1249 → | 29 times |
| δικαιοσύνης | dikaiosunes | of righteousness | G1343 → | 92 times |
| ὧν | hon | whose | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| τὸ | to | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| τέλος | telos | end | G5056 → | 40 times |
| ἔσται | estai | will be | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| κατὰ | kata | according to | G2596 → | 468 times |
| τὰ | ta | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἔργα | erga | deeds | G2041 → | 168 times |
| αὐτῶν.¶ | auton | of them. | G846 → | 5565 times |
οὐ[It is] not
ouG3756 →1664 times
μέγαsurprising
megaG3173 →
οὖνtherefore
ounG3767 →497 times
εἰif
eiG1487 →508 times
καὶeven
kaiG2532 →9120 times
οἱthe
hoiG3588 →19766 times
διάκονοιservants
diakonoiG1249 →29 times
αὐτοῦof him
autouG846 →5565 times
μετασχηματίζονταιmasquerade
metaschematizontaiG3345 →5 times
ὡςas
hosG5613 →500 times
διάκονοιservants
diakonoiG1249 →29 times
δικαιοσύνηςof righteousness
dikaiosunesG1343 →92 times
ὧνwhose
honG3739 →1405 times
τὸ<the>
toG3588 →19766 times
τέλοςend
telosG5056 →40 times
ἔσταιwill be
estaiG1510 →2333 times
κατὰaccording to
kataG2596 →468 times
τὰthe
taG3588 →19766 times
ἔργαdeeds
ergaG2041 →168 times
αὐτῶν.¶of them.
autonG846 →5565 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Philippians 3:19Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and their glory is in their shame. Their minds are set on earthly things.
it leads to
- Romans 16:18
For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Romans 8:5–7
Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh; but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.
- 2 Peter 2:3
In their greed, these false teachers will exploit you with deceptive words. The longstanding verdict against them remains in force, and their destruction does not sleep.
- Colossians 3:2
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
- Jude 1:12–13
These men are hidden reefs in your love feasts, shamelessly feasting with you but shepherding only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried along by the wind; fruitless trees in autumn, twice dead after…
- Romans 16:18
Through
2 Peter 2:3In their greed, these false teachers will exploit you with deceptive words. The longstanding verdict against them remains in force, and their destruction does not sleep.
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 2:17
For we are not like so many others, who peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as men sent from God.
- Deuteronomy 32:35
Vengeance is Mine; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; for their day of disaster is near, and their doom is coming quickly.”
- 1 Thessalonians 2:5
As you know, we never used words of flattery or any pretext for greed. God is our witness!
- 2 Corinthians 2:17
Where this verse is studied
About 2 Corinthians
This page draws on 13 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; Charles Hodge, An Exposition of the Second Epistle to the Corinthians; Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata Book 3; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homilies on Second Corinthians; John Chrysostom, Homily 24 on 2 Corinthians; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theodoret of Cyrus, COMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 344; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 2 Corinthians.