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Verse

2 Corinthians 11:15

ESV So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.
NIV It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.
NASB Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.
CSB So it is no great surprise if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will be according to their works.
NLT So it is no wonder that his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. In the end they will get the punishment their wicked deeds deserve.
KJV 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.
NKJV Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

What does 2 Corinthians 11:15 mean?

Paul is unmasking false teachers that have been working among the Corinthians. These liars are attempting to turn believers against Paul to gain loyalty. Paul has bluntly called them false apostles and deceitful workmen. In the previous verse, he compared them to Satan, who disguises himself as an angel of light.

These false teachers, also, have presented themselves to the Corinthians as workers for good with impressive speaking and presentation skills. Paul now calls them the very servants of Satan. Like the Devil, they pretend to be servants of righteousness. They pretend to preach Christ and His gospel, but instead preach a false version of both.

Clearly, this is not merely a group of Christian teachers disputing with Paul over subtle points of doctrine. This is not even a group of unbelievers with sincere disagreements about what is true. These false teachers are intentional in their deception of the Christians in Corinth. They are deliberately pretending to be something they are not in order to gain something for themselves.

Paul writes, ominously, that their end will fit their deeds. This statement of fact should warn the Corinthians from getting too close to these men. Paul says in brief terms that their judgment is coming. Paul writes often about God's judgment for those who practice unrighteousness (Romans 2:6; Galatians 6:7–9; Philippians 3:18–19).
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