Commentaries:
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2 Corinthians 11:3
Simplicity means single, without ulterior motive, pure, sincere, and unambiguous. Vincent's Word Studies (vol. 3, p. 346), defines it as "single-hearted loyalty." It is the opposite of deceit, guile, error, and wandering.
Some things in God's Word are difficult to understand (II Peter 3:16), but the Bible nowhere tries to produce doubt, confusion, or division by any means (I Timothy 6:3-5; II Timothy 2:14). Even Balaam knew that "God is not a man, that He should lie" (Numbers 23:19)! Jesus says, "[God's] word is truth" (John 17:17). The doctrines of God follow a logical and true sequence, locking together like a picture puzzle to comprise the true gospel.
John W. Ritenbaugh
Damnable HeresiesRelated Topics: Balaam | Balaam's Sin | God's Word is Truth | Puzzle Analogy | Simplicity | Sincerity | Single-mindedness | Singleness Of Purpose | Word of God
2 Corinthians 11:1-4
Paul had to deal with the Corinthian congregation because they had fallen under the sway of false apostles (see II Corinthians 11:13). These false ministers had convinced many of the brethren that they knew more and better than the apostle through whom they had heard, believed, learned, and been converted to the gospel. They were in the process of throwing aside what they had learned from Paul in favor of what they were hearing from these new "apostles."
John W. Ritenbaugh
Damnable HeresiesRelated Topics: Apostasy | Apostasy, Process of | Corinthian Church | Damnable Heresies | False Apostles | False Doctrine | False Ministers/Prophets | False Teachers | False Teaching | Heresies, Damnable | Heresy | Heresy, Smuggling inOther Forerunner Commentary entries containing 2 Corinthians 11:3:
Genesis 3:1-5
Ezekiel 28:12-17
Romans 3:10-18
1 John 5:7-8
Revelation 2:5
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What Does 2 Corinthians 11:3 Mean?
Simplicity means single, without ulterior motive, pure, sincere, and unambiguous—single-hearted loyalty. It stands opposite to deceit, guile, error, and wandering. Its Greek antonyms are crafty, twisted, deceitful, or wandering. Though some things in God's Word are difficult (II Peter 3:16), the Bible never produces doubt, confusion, or division. God is not a man that He should lie (Numbers 23:19), and His word is truth (John 17:17). His doctrines lock together like a picture puzzle to comprise the true gospel. God says what He means; He does not hide things through double meanings, though He requires searching and digging. The Corinthians' pure, single-minded devotion to Christ was threatened by false teaching. As Eve lost her focus listening to the serpent, believers too can become overcrowded and confused.