Every Thought Obedient To Christ, Ron Ward
A PURE VIRGIN BRIDE TO CHRIST
Passage: 2Corinthians 11:1~6  
Key verse: 2
Paul and the False Apostles
11 I hope you will put up with(A) me in a little foolishness.(B) Yes, please put up with me! 2 I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband,(C) to Christ, so that I might present you(D) as a pure virgin to him. 3 But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning,(E) your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached,(F) or if you receive a different spirit(G) from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel(H) from the one you accepted, you put up with it(I) easily enough.
5 I do not think I am in the least inferior to those “super-apostles.”[a](J) 6 I may indeed be untrained as a speaker,(K) but I do have knowledge.(L) We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way.
Footnotes
- 2 Corinthians 11:5 Or to the most eminent apostles
Cross references
- 2 Corinthians 11:1 : ver 4, 19, 20; Mt 17:17
- 2 Corinthians 11:1 : ver 16, 17, 21; 2Co 5:13
- 2 Corinthians 11:2 : Hos 2:19; Eph 5:26, 27
- 2 Corinthians 11:2 : S 2Co 4:14
- 2 Corinthians 11:3 : Ge 3:1-6, 13; 1Ti 2:14; Rev 12:9
- 2 Corinthians 11:4 : 1Co 3:11
- 2 Corinthians 11:4 : Ro 8:15
- 2 Corinthians 11:4 : Gal 1:6-9
- 2 Corinthians 11:4 : S ver 1
- 2 Corinthians 11:5 : 2Co 12:11; Gal 2:6
- 2 Corinthians 11:6 : S 1Co 1:17
- 2 Corinthians 11:6 : S 2Co 8:7; Eph 3:4
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
1. A match-maker for Jesus (1-2)
God's people in the Old Testament are sometimes referred to as God's Bride (Isa 54:5). In the New Testament, the Church is called the Bride of Christ. A pure virgin means one who is wholly committed in heart, mind and body to her husband, Jesus. Who is pure? Jesus shed his blood to cleanse us from sin and make us pure. Paul was a match-maker to bring people to Jesus. We are united with Jesus in his death and resurrection. We are saved by him alone. We need no other gospel, nor do we need Jesus plus anything else. There is one gospel; I have one heart and one Savior.
2. Paul's godly jealousy (3-6; 2a)
Paul knew that the devil is very smart, and young Christians are vulnerable. They can be led astray if someone speaks with eloquent and moving words, suggesting that believers need something more than the simple gospel of Jesus to be saved. We need only to receive Jesus into our hearts as Savior and Lord, and love him and trust him. (Jn 1:12,13)
Prayer: Lord, give me a pure heart to love and trust my true husband Jesus.
One Word: Only Jesus