2 Corinthians 11:15

It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Paul writes to the Corinthian believers to warn them against false apostles who distort the gospel. He delivers this instruction immediately after noting that Satan himself disguises himself as an angel of light.

The words — διάκονοι (diakonoi) literally means "servants" or "ministers," denoting those who claim spiritual office. The particle οὖν (oun) translates "therefore," anchoring the warning to the preceding description of deceptive appearances.

The thread — The text links deceptive service and final judgment to Philippians 3:19, 2 Corinthians 3:9, and Revelation 9:11. These passages collectively trace a pattern of false ministry that claims righteousness but faces corresponding destruction.

Why it lands — The verse states that outward spiritual claims will be judged by their ultimate outcomes. It requires readers to test ministry by its final result rather than its initial appearance.

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

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.

Cross-references

Philippians 3:19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and their glory is in their shame. Their minds are set on earthly things.
2 Corinthians 3:9 For if the ministry of condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry of righteousness!
Revelation 9:11 They were ruled by a king, the angel of the Abyss. His name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek it is Apollyon.
Isaiah 9:14 So the LORD will cut off Israel’s head and tail, both palm branch and reed in a single day.
Jeremiah 23:14 And among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing: They commit adultery and walk in lies. They strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns his back on wickedness. They are all like Sodom to Me; the people of Jerusalem are like Gomorrah.”
Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
Acts 13:10 and said, “O child of the devil and enemy of all righteousness, you are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery! Will you never stop perverting the straight ways of the Lord?
2 Corinthians 11:23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am speaking as if I were out of my mind.) I am so much more: in harder labor, in more imprisonments, in worse beatings, in frequent danger of death.
2 Peter 2:3 In their greed, these false teachers will exploit you with deceptive words. The longstanding verdict against them remains in force, and their destruction does not sleep.
2 Peter 2:13 The harm they will suffer is the wages of their wickedness. They consider it a pleasure to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deception as they feast with you.