2 Corinthians 11:15Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

What then does "an angel of light" mean? It means an angel who has boldness to converse with God and who stands before God. But there are also angels of darkness, ministers of the devil, dark and savage. The devil has deceived many in this way, that is, by assuming the appearance of an angel of light, not by becoming one. In exactly the same way, these men wear the mask of apostles, but not their power, for they cannot possess it. Nothing is so diabolical as doing something only for appearance. Who, then, are "ministers of righteousness"? "It is we," he says, "who preach to you the Gospel that contains righteousness." Either he means this, or he means that those false apostles also arrogate to themselves the glory of righteous men. How then shall we know them?

That is, as ministers of the Gospel which contains righteousness. Or it means that they surround themselves with the glory of righteous men. But they will not escape altogether, for their end will be according to their works, that is, evil. Thus we shall know them by their works, for their end will correspond to their works.

So he transforms his ministers in various ways as ministers of righteousness, when they prove to be neither of the Twelve nor of the Seventy-two Apostles. Their end, at the very end, will be according to the works they have done here.

The apostles are ministers of righteousness, while the lying ministers of Satan claim the role of their companions in order to deceive their hearers.

It is the devil's custom to imitate what is divine. As he arrays hosts of false prophets against the prophets, so he imitates the outward appearance of Angels and deceives men. Therefore it is not surprising if they assume the persona of those called apostles and use deceit, which helps lead men astray. But they will not long delay in reaping the fruits of their undertakings.

St. Paul is authorized to speak with severity by his apostolic rank (2 Cor 10:12-12:18). The Apostle defends and proves the certainty of this high rank by pointing to his preaching without payment (2 Cor 11:1-21). "I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ." "I think that I am not in the least inferior to the chief Apostles." "Did I sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted. Because I preached the Gospel of God to you without charge?" "In everything I have kept myself, and will keep myself, from being burdensome to you. This boast shall not be taken from me in the regions of Achaia." I do this not from lack of love for you, that is, not from proud independence of you.

In exposing the hypocrisy of the false teachers, the Apostle points to its foundation in Satan. His ministers can act in no other way, and for this reason he threatens them with destruction. "It is the devil's custom to imitate the divine. As he sets troops of false prophets against the prophets, so he imitates the outward appearance of angels and deceives men. Therefore it is no wonder that they, his servants, assume the person of those called Apostles and use deceit that furthers the deception of men" (Theodoret). "Who, then, are ministers of righteousness?" Chrysostom asks, and answers in the Apostle's name: "We, who preach to you the Gospel that contains all righteousness. Either he means this, or he means that the false apostles arrogate to themselves the glory of righteous men.

In exactly the same way, these men wear the mask of Apostles, but do not possess apostolic power, because they can do nothing in reality and merely assume an appearance. This is the most diabolical work: to do everything only for appearance. Who, then, are ministers of righteousness? We, says the Apostle, who preach to you the Gospel that contains all righteousness. Either he means this, or he means that the false apostles arrogate to themselves the glory of righteous men in general, not only of Apostles. How then shall we know them? By their works, as Christ the Lord said (Mt 7:20), says Chrysostom. Yet they cannot hide themselves forever in this way. The time will come, their works will be uncovered, "and they will reap the fruits of their undertakings" (Theodoret).