2 Corinthians 11:4 Meaning and Explanation
“For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Paul exposes the irony that the Corinthians readily tolerate teachers who bring a different Jesus, spirit, and gospel than the one they first received.
What Does 2 Corinthians 11:4 Mean?
Paul names what the intruders are actually offering: another Jesus, another spirit, another gospel. With biting irony he notes how easily the Corinthians put up with such things, far more readily than they bear with him, who gave them the true message.
Behind the irony lies a serious warning. The gospel is not endlessly adjustable; there is one Jesus, one Spirit, one good news that saves. To accept a counterfeit is no small thing. Paul's tone presses his readers to test what they are being told against what they first believed and found to be life. Faithfulness means guarding the message exactly as it was delivered.
2 Corinthians 11:4 in the Original Language
heteros (ἕτερος), 'another' -- another of a different kind, not merely one more of the same, sharpening the warning against a counterfeit gospel.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Corinthians 11:4
What does 2 Corinthians 11:4 mean?
Paul exposes the irony that the Corinthians readily tolerate teachers who bring a different Jesus, spirit, and gospel than the one they first received.