2 Corinthians 2:11
in 2 Corinthians 2in order that Satan should not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
that no advantage may be gained over us by Satan: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
KJV
Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
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This verse in 2 Corinthians 2
Commentary
14 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Lest Satan - The devil. The name Satan denotes an adversary, an accuser, an enemy. It is the usual proper name which is given to the devil, the great adversary of God and man. Should get an advantage of us - The literal translation of the Greek would be, “That we may not be defrauded by Satan.” (Ἵνα μὴ πλεονεκτηθῶμεν ὑπὸ τοῦ Σατανᾶ Hina mē pleonektēthōmen hupo Satana). The verb used here denotes to have more than another; then to gain, to take advantage of one, to defraud.
This site's exposition
stand the test and be obedient
on 2 Corinthians 2:9-11
Paul joins his forgiveness to the church's: If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. Verse 11 names the danger of excessive severity, which Satan could use to turn the church's discipline into division.
This site's exposition
Satan should not outwit us
The verb means to take more than one's share, and Albert Barnes renders the clause that we may not be defrauded by Satan. Adam Clarke explains the fraud. A penitent left in despair would make the church's discipline look like destruction instead of healing.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
Paul did not want this brother, being filled with sorrow and being rigorously excluded from the love of the church, to despair of himself. The devil, who is always subtle in his tricks, would then see that this man's mind was an easy prey, approach …
"That no advantage may be gained over us by Satan: for we are not ignorant of his devices." Seest thou how he both committeth the power to them and again taketh away that by that he may soften them, by this eradicate their self will. But this is not all that he provides for by this, but shows also that should they be disobedient the harm would reach to all, just as he did at the outset also. For then too he said, "A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump." And here again, "Lest Satan should get an advantage of us." And throughout, he maketh this forgiveness the joint act of himself and them. And tell me not that this one only becomes the wild beast's prey, but consider this also, that the number of the herd is diminished, and now especially when it might recover what it had lost. "For we are not ignorant of his devices," That he destroys even under the show of piety. For not only by leading into fornication can he destroy, but even by the contrary, the unmeasured sorrow following on the repentance for it. When then besides his own he taketh ours too, when both by bidding to sin, he destroys; and when we bid repent, violently seizeth; how is not this case getting "advantage?" For he is not content with striking down by sin, but even by repentance he doth this except we be vigilant. Wherefore also with reason did he call it getting advantage, when he even conquereth our own weapons. For to take by sin is his proper work; by repentance, however, is no more his; for ours, not his, is that weapon. When then even by this he is able to take, think how disgraceful the defeat, how he will laugh at and run us down as weak and pitiful, if he is to subdue us with our own weapons. For it were matter for exceeding scorn and of the last disgrace, that he should inflict wounds on us through our own remedies. […]
A commentator
Didymus the BlindPAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH · Written before 398.
proposed
The problem is not merely to recognize Satan's designs but to play into them. Paul knows their dynamics, not so as to be engaged in them but so as not to be entrapped by them.
The Medieval Church2 voices
And this is obvious, for what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the person of Christ. In this he touches four things required for such pardon or forgiveness. The first is discernment, so that pardon is not …
Lest, he says, there be common harm and lest the number of Christ's flock be diminished. He beautifully called this matter an injury. For the devil not only takes what belongs to him, but also seizes what is ours, chiefly as a result of our …
6 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Lest Satan - To whom he had been delivered, and who sought to destroy not only his flesh, but his soul also. Get an advantage over us - For the loss of one soul is a common loss.
15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: 16 To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture
Lest Satan should get an advantage of us,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
The loss of a single sinner is a common loss; therefore, in 2Co 2:10, he said, "for your sakes." Paul had "delivered" the offender "to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the Spirit might be saved" (1Co 5:5).
Lest Satan should get an advantage - If the man who has given sufficient proof of the sincerity of his repentance be not restored, he may be overwhelmed with sorrow, and sink into despair; and then the discipline of the Church will be represented, not as emendatory, but as leading to destruction. Of this our enemies would most gladly avail themselves, as they wish to discredit this ministry; and there is always at hand a devil to suggest evil, and prompt men to do it; for in this respect we have thorough acquaintance with his devices. Let us therefore be careful to remove, both from Satan and his partisans, all those occasions which might turn to the disadvantage or disparagement of the Gospel of Christ.
Modern Voices1 voice
Sadly, I don't think Paul could write that to most churches today, as I believe that most churches, and most people, are absolutely ignorant of the enemy's schemes.
The words behind it
12 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἵνα | ina | so that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| μὴ | me | not | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| πλεονεκτηθῶμεν | pleonektethomen | we may be outwitted | G4122 → | 5 times |
| ὑπὸ | hupo | by | G5259 → | 219 times |
| τοῦ | tou | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| σατανᾶ· | satana | Satan; | G4567 → | 36 times |
| οὐ | ou | not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| αὐτοῦ | autou | of his | G846 → | 5565 times |
| τὰ | ta | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| νοήματα | noemata | schemes | G3540 → | 6 times |
| ἀγνοοῦμεν.¶ | agnooumen | we are ignorant. | G50 → | 22 times |
ἵναso that
inaG2443 →668 times
μὴnot
meG3361 →1066 times
πλεονεκτηθῶμενwe may be outwitted
pleonektethomenG4122 →5 times
ὑπὸby
hupoG5259 →219 times
τοῦ<the>
touG3588 →19766 times
σατανᾶ·Satan;
satanaG4567 →36 times
οὐnot
ouG3756 →1664 times
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
αὐτοῦof his
autouG846 →5565 times
τὰ<the>
taG3588 →19766 times
νοήματαschemes
noemataG3540 →6 times
ἀγνοοῦμεν.¶we are ignorant.
agnooumenG50 →22 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
1 Peter 5:8Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
it leads to
- Ephesians 6:11
Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes.
- James 4:7
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
- Ephesians 4:27
and do not give the devil a foothold.
- Job 2:2
“Where have you come from?” said the LORD to Satan. “From roaming through the earth,” he replied, “and walking back and forth in it.”
- 1 Peter 1:13
Therefore prepare your minds for action. Be sober-minded. Set your hope fully on the grace to be given you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
- Ephesians 6:11
Through
2 Corinthians 4:4The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
it leads to
- John 12:40
“He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so that they cannot see with their eyes, and understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.”
- Acts 26:18
to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified…
- 2 Corinthians 3:14
But their minds were closed. For to this day the same veil remains at the reading of the old covenant. It has not been lifted, because only in Christ can it be removed.
- John 12:40
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About 2 Corinthians
This page draws on 14 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; Chip Ingram, Are You on Satan's Agenda? (article); Didymus the Blind, PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homilies on Second Corinthians; John Chrysostom, Homily 4 on 2 Corinthians; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 2 Corinthians.