2 Corinthians 11:12

“But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.”

In this verse, the apostle Paul is addressing a situation in which false apostles had infiltrated the Corinthian church and were spreading deceitful teachings. Paul was concerned about the impact these false apostles were having on the believers and their faith. Throughout 2 Corinthians, Paul defends his apostolic authority and seeks to refute the false teachers who were undermining his ministry.

In verse 12, Paul declares that he will continue to do what he needs to do in order to expose the false apostles and prevent them from gaining any ground. He states his intention to "cut off occasion from them which desire occasion." This means that Paul is determined to remove any opportunity or pretext for the false apostles to exert influence and deceive the Corinthians further.

By actively confronting and refuting the false apostles, Paul aimed to protect the Corinthian believers from being led astray. He wanted to ensure that the truth of the gospel and the integrity of his own ministry were preserved. Paul recognised that these false apostles were boasting and taking pride in their deceptive teachings. His desire was that they would be exposed and their true nature revealed, so that their claims to be equal or superior to Paul would be proven false.

This verse highlights Paul’s commitment to upholding the truth and defending the authenticity of his apostleship. He wanted the Corinthians to discern the difference between the genuine apostolic ministry he represented and the deceitful teachings of those who sought to mislead them.

Overall, 2 Corinthians 11:12 teaches us the importance of discernment and vigilance in identifying and confronting false teachings. It reminds us to be cautious and diligent in our pursuit of truth, guarding ourselves against deceptive influences that can undermine our faith.