Bible Strands
2 Corinthians 11:13
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul writes to the Corinthian congregation, defending his apostolic authority against rival teachers who claim equality with him (11:12). He is identifying these opponents by character.
The words — μετασχηματίζομαι (metaschēmatizomai) means "to change one's form," a word for deliberate disguise rather than mere error. The same verb root appears in 2 Corinthians 3:18 for genuine transformation into Christ's image, making the contrast between true and false transformation stark.
The thread — The "masquerading" language extends to 11:14, where Satan himself is said to disguise as an angel of light. The "false" and "deceitful workers" language parallels Galatians 1:7 (distorting the gospel) and Philippians 3:2 (workers of evil).
Why it lands — The verse demands that a reader distinguish between genuine apostolic ministry and a performance designed to be mistaken for it. It is not a question of degree but of identity: these are not imperfect apostles but impostors.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
Cross-references
- Galatians 1:7 which is not even a gospel. Evidently some people are troubling you and trying to distort the gospel of Christ.
- Revelation 2:2 I know your deeds, your labor, and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate those who are evil, and you have tested and exposed as liars those who falsely claim to be apostles.
- Philippians 3:2 Watch out for those dogs, those workers of evil, those mutilators of the flesh!
- 1 John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.
- Galatians 2:4 This issue arose because some false brothers had come in under false pretenses to spy on our freedom in Christ Jesus, in order to enslave us.
- Acts 20:30 Even from your own number, men will rise up and distort the truth to draw away disciples after them.
- 2 Corinthians 11:15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions.
- Ephesians 4:14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming.
- Colossians 2:4 I say this so that no one will deceive you by smooth rhetoric.
- Colossians 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ.