2 Corinthians 11:20

For ye suffer if a man bring you into bondage, if a man deuoure you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himselfe, if a man smite you on the face. 2 Corinthians 11:20 (KJV)

In his second letter to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul both defends his apostleship and warns the church about false teachers who had infiltrated the community. He writes to a congregation that is already aware of the cost of discipleship and that has shown a willingness to endure suffering at the hands of others within the body of believers.

Paul acknowledges this willingness to suffer by recalling the many hardships he himself has faced—imprisonments, beatings, and threats to his life—as recorded in the surrounding verses (2 Corinthians 11:24‑27). By listing these personal trials, Paul underscores that the believers in Corinth are not alone in experiencing oppression, bondage, or even physical assault, as echoed in the vivid language of the verse that opens this study.

The core of Paul’s warning concerns false apostles who exploit believers for personal gain or authority. These impostors seek to control resources, take advantage of the generosity of the church, and boast about their own accomplishments, wisdom, or status in order to elevate themselves above the true teachings of Christ. Their deceptive actions are designed to draw believers into a pattern of dependence on the false teacher rather than on the gospel.

While the passage emphasizes spiritual deception, it does not explicitly describe physical violence against believers; the primary concern remains the spiritual harm caused by false teaching. Nevertheless, the verse’s reference to being “smite… on the face” reminds readers that such teachers may also resort to harsh treatment, reinforcing the need for vigilance.

Paul therefore exhorts the Corinthians to recognize these harmful actions, to stay alert to any influence that seeks to dominate, exploit, or exalt itself, and to remain steadfast in the true apostolic message. By doing so, the church can protect itself from both spiritual and relational abuse and continue to bear the suffering that Christ has called them to endure.