2 Corinthians 11:3
in 2 Corinthians 11I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is toward Christ.
KJV
But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
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This verse in 2 Corinthians 11
Commentary
15 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
But I fear - Paul had just compared the church to a virgin, soon to be presented as a bride to the Redeemer. The mention of this seems to have suggested to him the fact that the first woman was deceived and led astray by the tempter, and that the same thing might occur in regard to the church which he was so desirous should be preserved pure.
This site's exposition
just as Eve was deceived
on 2 Corinthians 11:3-4
Paul applies the deception of Genesis 3 to Corinth: just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, minds may be led astray. Haplotes, simplicity, is singleness of devotion, a bride's undivided loyalty drawn away by a smoother speaker.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
Hence Paul speaks against people who are like those I have mentioned, saying: "You have then these promises, beloved; let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." "For I am jealous for you with a divine jealousy, for I betrothed you to one husband to present a pure virgin to Christ." The Church cannot marry another, having obtained a bridegroom; but each of us individually has the right to marry the woman he wishes according to the law; I mean here first marriage. "I am afraid lest, as the serpent in his craftiness deceived Eve, so also your thoughts may be corrupted from the simplicity which is toward Christ," said the apostle as a very careful and conscientious teacher.
Paul is saying that glory has been given to him not so that he might praise himself but so that he might cast blame on those who, in the name of Christ, were preaching against Christ and by whom the Corinthians were being seduced.
But, to come now to Moses, why, I wonder, did he merely at the time when Joshua was battling against Amalek, pray sitting with hands expanded, when, in circumstances so critical, he ought rather, surely, to have commended his prayer by knees bended, and hands beating his breast, and a face prostrate on the ground; except it was that there, where the name of the Lord Jesus was the theme of speech-destined as He was to enter the lists one day singly against the devil-the figure of the cross was also necessary, (that figure) through which Jesus was to win the victory?
"But I fear lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is toward Christ." "For although the destruction be yours [alone], yet is the sorrow mine as well." And consider his wisdom. For he does not assert, although they were corrupted; and so he showed when he said, "When your obedience is fulfilled," and "I shall bewail many which have sinned already;" but still he does not leave them to get shameless. And therefore he says, "lest at any time." For this neither condemns nor is silent; for neither course were safe, whether to speak out plainly or to conceal perpetually. Therefore he employs this middle form, saying, "lest at any time." For this is the language neither of one that entirely distrusts, nor entirely relies on them, but of one who stands between these two. In this way then he palliated, but by his mention of that history threw them into an indescribable terror, and cuts them off from all forgiveness. For even although the serpent was malignant, and she senseless, yet did none of these things snatch the woman from punishment. "Beware then," he says, "lest such be your fate, and there be naught to screen you. For he too promising greater things, so deceived." Whence it is plain that these too, by boasting and puffing themselves up, deceived. And he does not say, "Lest by any means as Adam was deceived:" but shows that those men are but women who are thus abused, for it is the part of woman to be deceived. […]
A commentator
Philoxenus of Mabbug13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 4 -- On Faith: First Discourse on Simplicity · Written before 523.
proposed
And again Paul saith, "I fear lest, as the serpent led Eve astray in its guile, your mind should be corrupted from the simplicity that is towards Christ;" and here again he teacheth us that whosoever believeth in Christ, it is meet for him to …
8 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church2 voices
For though it is you who are perishing, it is I who fear. He does not say openly: you will be corrupted, although they were already corrupted, but expressed it indefinitely: "I fear lest your minds should be corrupted." For that one also deceived by …
But because the Corinthians could say: it is not necessary for you to protect us, and your zeal is not reasonable, because we can take care of ourselves very well, he discloses the cause of his zeal saying, but I am afraid that as the …
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
So your minds - We might therefore be tempted, even if there were no sin in us. Might be corrupted - Losing their virginal purity. From the simplicity that is in Christ - That simplicity which is lovingly intent on him alone, seeking no other person or thing.
But I fear lest by any means,.... Jealousy is always attended with fear, care, and solicitude, whether in things natural or spiritual. The apostle, as things were in this church, could not but express his fears, lest as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety; that is, the old serpent the devil, who made use of a serpent, the most subtle creature of all the beasts of the field, and seduced Eve from her obedience to God, to transgress his command, by eating the forbidden fruit.
He tells them he was jealous over them with godly jealousy; he was afraid lest their faith should be weakened by hearkening to such suggestions as tended to lessen their regard to his ministry, by which they were brought to the Christian faith.
He mentions, in his own necessary vindication, his equality with the other apostles, and with the false apostles in this particular of preaching the gospel to the Corinthians freely, without wages,
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
The same Greek stands for "minds" as for "thoughts" (2Co 10:5, also see on 2Co 10:5); intents of the will, or mind. The oldest manuscripts after "simplicity," add, "and the purity" or "chastity." in Christ--rather, "that is towards Christ."
As the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty - This is a strong reflection on the false apostle and his teaching: he was subtle, πανουργος and by his subtlety (πανουργια, from παν, all, and εργον, work; his versatility of character and conduct, his capability of doing all work, and accommodating himself to the caprices, prejudices, and evil propensities of those to whom he ministered) he was enabled to corrupt the minds of the people from the simplicity of the Gospel of Christ; or, to follow the metaphor, he had seduced the pure, chaste, well educated virgin, from her duty, affection, and allegiance to her one only true husband, the high priest, Jesus Christ. And here he seems to intimate that the serpent had seduced the mind of Eve from her affections and allegiance to Adam, her true husband; and certainly from God, her creator and governor. See at the end of the chapter (note).
The words behind it
27 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| φοβοῦμαι | phoboumai | I am afraid | G5399 → | |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| μή | me | lest | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| πως | pos | perhaps | G4458 → | 16 times |
| ὡς | hos | as | G5613 → | 500 times |
| ὁ | ho | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ὄφις | ophis | serpent | G3789 → | |
| ἐξηπάτησεν | exepatesen | deceived | G1818 → | |
| Εὕαν | heuan | Eve | G2096 → | |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| τῇ | tea | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πανουργίᾳ | panourgia | craftiness | G3834 → | |
| αὐτοῦ, | autou | of him, | G846 → | 5565 times |
| φθαρῇ | phtharea | may be corrupted | G5351 → | |
| τὰ | ta | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| νοήματα | noemata | minds | G3540 → | 6 times |
| ὑμῶν | humon | of you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ἀπὸ | apo | from | G575 → | 640 times |
| τῆς | tes | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἁπλότητος | haplotetos | simplicity | G572 → | 8 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τῆς | tes | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἁγνότητος | hagnotetos | purity | G54 → | |
| τῆς | tes | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| εἰς | eis | in | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| τὸν | ton | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Χριστόν. | christon | Christ. | G5547 → | 523 times |
φοβοῦμαιI am afraid
phoboumaiG5399 →
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
μήlest
meG3361 →1066 times
πωςperhaps
posG4458 →16 times
ὡςas
hosG5613 →500 times
ὁthe
hoG3588 →19766 times
ὄφιςserpent
ophisG3789 →
ἐξηπάτησενdeceived
exepatesenG1818 →
ΕὕανEve
heuanG2096 →
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
τῇthe
teaG3588 →19766 times
πανουργίᾳcraftiness
panourgiaG3834 →
αὐτοῦ,of him,
autouG846 →5565 times
φθαρῇmay be corrupted
phthareaG5351 →
τὰthe
taG3588 →19766 times
νοήματαminds
noemataG3540 →6 times
ὑμῶνof you
humonG4771 →2973 times
ἀπὸfrom
apoG575 →640 times
τῆςthe
tesG3588 →19766 times
ἁπλότητοςsimplicity
haplotetosG572 →8 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τῆςthe
tesG3588 →19766 times
ἁγνότητοςpurity
hagnotetosG54 →
τῆς<the>
tesG3588 →19766 times
εἰςin
eisG1519 →1755 times
τὸν<the>
tonG3588 →19766 times
Χριστόν.Christ.
christonG5547 →523 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 John 4:1Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.
it leads to
- 1 Thessalonians 5:21
but test all things. Hold fast to what is good.
- 2 Peter 2:1
Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on…
- 1 Timothy 4:1
Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons,
- 1 Thessalonians 5:21
Through
Colossians 2:8See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ.
it leads to
- 1 Timothy 6:20
O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid irreverent, empty chatter and the opposing arguments of so-called “knowledge,”
- Ephesians 5:6
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.
- Matthew 7:15
Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
- 1 Timothy 6:20
Through
Galatians 1:6I am amazed how quickly you are deserting the One who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 11:4
For if someone comes and proclaims a Jesus other than the One we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit than the One you received, or a different gospel than the one you…
- 2 Corinthians 11:4
Through
Ephesians 4:14Then we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming.
it leads to
- Hebrews 13:9
Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace and not by foods of no value to those devoted to…
- Hebrews 13:9
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies4
About 2 Corinthians

Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on 15 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); Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Second Epistle to the Corinthians; Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata Book 3; Frederic Godet, Commentary on the Epistles to the Corinthians; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily 23 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; Philoxenus of Mabbug, 13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 4 -- On Faith: First Discourse on Simplicity; Tertullian, An Answer to the Jews; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 2 Corinthians.
