2 Corinthians 11:13
New International Version
For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.

New Living Translation
These people are false apostles. They are deceitful workers who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ.

English Standard Version
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.

Berean Standard Bible
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.

Berean Literal Bible
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.

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

New King James Version
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.

New American Standard Bible
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.

NASB 1995
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.

NASB 1977
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.

Legacy Standard Bible
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.

Amplified Bible
For such men are counterfeit apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.

Christian Standard Bible
For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.

American Standard Version
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, fashioning themselves into apostles of Christ.

Contemporary English Version
Anyway, they are no more than false apostles and dishonest workers. They only pretend to be apostles of Christ.

English Revised Version
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, fashioning themselves into apostles of Christ.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
People who brag like this are false apostles. They are dishonest workers, since they disguise themselves as Christ's apostles.

Good News Translation
Those men are not true apostles--they are false apostles, who lie about their work and disguise themselves to look like real apostles of Christ.

International Standard Version
Such people are false apostles, dishonest workers who are masquerading as apostles of the Messiah.

Majority Standard Bible
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.

NET Bible
For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.

New Heart English Bible
For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as Christ's apostles.

Webster's Bible Translation
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

Weymouth New Testament
For men of this stamp are sham apostles, dishonest workmen, assuming the garb of Apostles of Christ.

World English Bible
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as Christ’s apostles.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
for those such [are] false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ,

Berean Literal Bible
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.

Young's Literal Translation
for those such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ,

Smith's Literal Translation
For such the falsely sent, crafty workers, being transformed into the sent of Christ.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
For such false apostles are deceitful workmen, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For false apostles, such as these deceitful workers, are presenting themselves as if they were Apostles of Christ.

New American Bible
For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, who masquerade as apostles of Christ.

New Revised Standard Version
For such boasters are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For they are false apostles, and deceitful workers, posing as apostles of Christ.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
For these are false Apostles and treacherous workers and they liken themselves to the Apostles of The Messiah.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ;

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

Haweis New Testament
For such are fake apostles, deceitful labourers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.

Mace New Testament
for these are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguised so as to pass for true apostles.

Weymouth New Testament
For men of this stamp are sham apostles, dishonest workmen, assuming the garb of Apostles of Christ.

Worrell New Testament
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ;

Worsley New Testament
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transformed into apostles of Christ.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Paul and the False Apostles
12But I will keep on doing what I am doing, in order to undercut those who want an opportunity to be regarded as our equals in the things of which they boast. 13For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.…

Cross References
Matthew 7:15
Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

Galatians 1:7-9
which is not even a gospel. Evidently some people are troubling you and trying to distort the gospel of Christ. / But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be under a curse! / As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be under a curse!

2 Peter 2:1
Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.

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.

Acts 20:29-30
I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. / Even from your own number, men will rise up and distort the truth to draw away disciples after them.

Romans 16:17-18
Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Turn away from them. / For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.

2 Timothy 3:5
having a form of godliness but denying its power. Turn away from such as these!

2 Timothy 4:3-4
For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. / So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

Jude 1:4
For certain men have crept in among you unnoticed—ungodly ones who were designated long ago for condemnation. They turn the grace of our God into a license for immorality, and they deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus 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.

Jeremiah 14:14
“The prophets are prophesying lies in My name,” replied the LORD. “I did not send them or appoint them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a false vision, a worthless divination, the futility and delusion of their own minds.

Ezekiel 13:6-9
They see false visions and speak lying divinations. They claim, ‘Thus declares the LORD,’ when the LORD did not send them; yet they wait for the fulfillment of their message. / Haven’t you seen a false vision and spoken a lying divination when you proclaim, ‘Thus declares the LORD,’ even though I have not spoken? / Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: Because you have uttered vain words and seen false visions, I am against you, declares the Lord GOD. ...

Deuteronomy 13:1-3
If a prophet or dreamer of dreams arises among you and proclaims a sign or wonder to you, / and if the sign or wonder he has spoken to you comes about, but he says, “Let us follow other gods (which you have not known) and let us worship them,” / you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. For the LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love Him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Isaiah 9:15-16
The head is the elder and honorable man, and the tail is the prophet who teaches lies. / For those who guide this people mislead them, and those they mislead are swallowed up.

Micah 3:5
This is what the LORD says: “As for the prophets who lead My people astray, who proclaim peace while they chew with their teeth, but declare war against one who puts nothing in their mouths:


Treasury of Scripture

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

false.

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.

2 Corinthians 2:17
For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:2
But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

deceitful.

Philippians 3:2
Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.

Titus 1:10,11
For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: …

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Apostles Assuming Christ Christ's Deceit Deceitful Disguising Dishonest Fashioning Garb Making Seem Stamp Themselves Workers Workmen
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Apostles Assuming Christ Christ's Deceit Deceitful Disguising Dishonest Fashioning Garb Making Seem Stamp Themselves Workers Workmen
2 Corinthians 11
1. Out of his jealousy over the Corinthians, he enters into a forced commendation of himself,
5. of his equality with the chief apostles,
7. of his preaching the gospel to them freely, and without any charge to them;
13. showing that he was not inferior to those deceitful workers in any legal prerogative;
23. and in the service of Christ, and in all kinds of sufferings for his ministry, far superior.














For such men
This phrase introduces a specific group of individuals that Paul is addressing. In the context of 2 Corinthians, Paul is confronting those who are misleading the Corinthian church. Historically, the early church faced challenges from individuals who claimed authority and teaching that were contrary to the apostolic doctrine. The Greek word used here, "toioutoi," emphasizes the particular nature of these men, setting them apart from true apostles.

are false apostles
The term "false apostles" is derived from the Greek "pseudapostoloi," which combines "pseudo" (false) and "apostoloi" (apostles). This indicates individuals who claim to be sent by Christ but are not. In the early church, the role of an apostle was foundational, as they were eyewitnesses to Christ's resurrection and were directly commissioned by Him. These false apostles were undermining the true gospel by presenting themselves as legitimate messengers of Christ.

deceitful workers
The phrase "deceitful workers" comes from the Greek "dolioi ergatai," which conveys the idea of craftiness and trickery. These individuals were not merely mistaken; they were intentionally misleading others for personal gain or influence. The historical context of the Corinthian church shows that such deceit was a significant threat to the unity and purity of the Christian community.

masquerading as apostles of Christ
The word "masquerading" is translated from the Greek "metaschēmatizomenoi," which means to change one's outward form or appearance. This implies a deliberate act of deception, where these individuals were presenting themselves as something they were not. The imagery here is powerful, suggesting that these false apostles were like actors wearing a mask, pretending to be genuine representatives of Christ. This deception is a reminder of the spiritual warfare that believers face, as Satan himself is described as an angel of light in the following verses.

(13) For such are false apostles . . .--St. Paul's estimate of the character of his rivals is now given in unsparing language as the reason why he desires to deprive them of any claim which may give them an adventitious superiority to him. In the term "false apostles" we have the explanation of the "apostles extraordinary" of 2Corinthians 11:5. These "crafty workers" were carrying on a system of imposture, trying to assume the character of being, in a higher sense than he was, "Apostles of Christ." This again throws light both on the words "if any man trusts that he is Christ's" of 2Corinthians 10:7, and on the "I am of Christ" of 1Corinthians 1:12.

Verse 13. - For such are false apostles. This, with 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16 and Philippians 3:2, is one of St. Paul's most passionate outbursts of plain speaking. "Now at length" says Bengel, "he calls a spade a spade." They were "false apostles" (Revelation 2:2), because a true apostle delivers the message of another, while these cared only for self (Romans 16:18). Deceitful workers. Workmen who cheat their employers (2 Corinthians 2:17; 2 Corinthians 4:2). Transforming themselves. The verb is the same as in 1 Corinthians 4:6 and Philippians 3:21, and does not occur elsewhere in the New Testament.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
For
γὰρ (gar)
Conjunction
Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.

such men [are]
τοιοῦτοι (toioutoi)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 5108: (including the other inflections); from toi and houtos; truly this, i.e. Of this sort (to denote character or individuality).

false apostles,
ψευδαπόστολοι (pseudapostoloi)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 5570: A false or pretended apostle. From pseudes and apostolos; a spurious apostle, i.e. Pretended pracher.

deceitful
δόλιοι (dolioi)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 1386: Treacherous, deceitful, fraudulent. From dolos; guileful.

workers,
ἐργάται (ergatai)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2040: A field-laborer; then: a laborer, workman in general. From ergon; a toiler; figuratively, a teacher.

masquerading
μετασχηματιζόμενοι (metaschēmatizomenoi)
Verb - Present Participle Middle - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3345: From meta and a derivative of schema; to transfigure or disguise; figuratively, to apply.

as
εἰς (eis)
Preposition
Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.

apostles
ἀποστόλους (apostolous)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 652: From apostello; a delegate; specially, an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ.

of Christ.
Χριστοῦ (Christou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 5547: Anointed One; the Messiah, the Christ. From chrio; Anointed One, i.e. The Messiah, an epithet of Jesus.


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NT Letters: 2 Corinthians 11:13 For such men are false apostles deceitful (2 Cor. 2C iiC 2Cor ii cor iicor)
2 Corinthians 11:12
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