2 Corinthians 11:13

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

2 Corinthians 11:13, King James Version

2 Corinthians 11:13 in other translations

BSB	For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.
WEB	For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as Christ’s apostles.
ASV	For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, fashioning themselves into apostles of Christ.
YLT	for those such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ,
DARBY	For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.
BBE	For such men are false Apostles, workers of deceit, making themselves seem like Apostles of Christ.
Webster	For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

What does 2 Corinthians 11:13 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

13. For--reason why he is unwilling they should be thought like him [Bengel]. such--they and those like them. false apostles--those "overmuch apostles" (see on 2Co 11:5) are no apostles at all. deceitful workers--pretending to be "workmen" for the Lord, and really seeking their own gain.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 13. For such are false apostles. They have no claim to the apostolic office. They are deceivers. They pretend to be apostles; but they have no Divine commission from the Redeemer. Paul had thus far argued the case without giving them an explicit designations deceivers. But here he says that men who had conducted [themselves] thus; who had attempted to impose on the people; who had brought another gospel, whatever pretences they might have--and he was not disposed to deny that there was much that was plausible--were really impostors, and the enemies of Christ. It is morally certain, from 2Cor 11:22, that these men were Jews; but why they had engaged in the work of preaching, or why they had gone to Corinth, cannot with certainty be determined.

Deceitful workers. Impostors. Men who practise various arts to impose on others. They were crafty, and fraudulent, and hypocritical. It is probable that they were men who saw that great advantage might be taken of the new religion; men who saw the power which it had over the people, and who saw the confidence which the new converts were inclined to repose in their teachers; perhaps men who had seen the disciples to the Christian faith commit all their property to the hands of the apostles, or who had heard of their doing it, (comp. Acts 4:34,35,) and who supposed that by pretending to be apostles also they might come in for a share of this confidence, and avail themselves of this disposition to commit their property to their spiritual guides. To succeed, it was needful as far as possible to undermine the influence of the true apostles, and take their place in the confidence of the people. Thence they were "deceitful (δολιοι) workers," full of trick, and cunning, and of plausible arts to impose on others.

Transforming themselves, etc. Pretending to be apostles. Hypocritical and deceitful, they yet pretended to have been sent by Christ. This is a direct charge of hypocrisy. They knew they were deceivers; and yet they assumed the high claims of apostles of the Son of God.

(d) "false apostles" Gal 2:4, 2Pet 2:1, 1Jn 4:1, Rev 2:2 (e) "deceitful workers" Php 3:2, Tit 1:10,11

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 13 For such are false apostles - Persons who pretend to be apostles, but have no mission from Christ. Deceitful workers - They do preach and labor, but they have nothing but their own emolument in view. Transforming themselves - Assuming as far as they possibly can, consistently with their sinister views, the habit, manner, and doctrine of the apostles of Christ.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Corinthians 11:5-15

It is far better to be plain in speech, yet walking openly and consistently with the gospel, than to be admired by thousands, and be lifted up in pride, so as to disgrace the gospel by evil tempers and unholy lives. The apostle would not give room for any to accuse him of worldly designs in preaching the gospel, that others who opposed him at Corinth, might not in this respect gain advantage against him. Hypocrisy…

Read the full comment on 2 Corinthians 11:5-15 →

2 Corinthians 11:13 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

οἱhoi<the>G3588

γὰρgarForG1063

τοιοῦτοιtoioutoisuch [are]G5108

ψευδαπόστολοι,pseudapostoloifalse apostles,G5570

ἐργάταιergataiworkersG2040

δόλιοι,dolioideceitful,G1386

μετασχηματιζόμενοιmetaschēmatizomenoidisguising themselvesG3345

εἰςeisasG1519

ἀποστόλουςapostolousapostlesG652

Χριστοῦ·Christouof Christ;G5547

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 Corinthians 11:13

Galatians 1:7
Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
Revelation 2:2
I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
1 John 4:1
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Philippians 3:2
Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.
Galatians 2:4
And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:
Acts 20:30
Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
2 Corinthians 11:15
Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
Colossians 2:8
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Ephesians 4:14
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Colossians 2:4
And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.
Revelation 19:20
And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
2 John 1:7-11
For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: …

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

false.
15; 2:17; 4:2; Mt 25:24; Ac 15:1,24; 20:30; Ro 16:18; Ga 1:7; 2:4; 4:17
Ga 6:12; Eph 4:14; Php 1:15,16; Col 2:4,8; 1Ti 1:4-7; 4:1-3; 6:3-5
2Ti 2:17-19; 3:5-9; 4:3,4; 2Pe 2:1-3; 1Jo 2:18; 4:1; 2Jo 1:7-11; Jude 1:4
Re 2:2,9,20; 19:20
deceitful.
Php 3:2; Tit 1:10,11

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

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.
2 Corinthians 11:13
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
2 Corinthians 11:14
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

Read all of 2 Corinthians 11

2 Corinthians 11:13 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Porque éstos son falsos apóstoles, obreros fraudulentos, transfigurándose en apóstoles de Cristo.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Car de tels hommes sont de faux apôtres, des ouvriers trompeurs, se transformant en apôtres de Christ;
German Elberfelder 1871	Denn solche sind falsche Apostel, betrügerische Arbeiter, welche die Gestalt von Aposteln Christi annehmen.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Nam ejusmodi pseudoapostoli sunt operarii subdoli, transfigurantes se in apostolos Christi.