2 Corinthians 11:3

“But I fear lest by any means, etc..] Jealousy is always attended with fear, care, and solicitude, whether in things natural or spiritual. The apostle, as things were in this church, could not but express his fears, lest as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety; that is, the old serpent the devil, who made use of a serpent, the most subtle creature of all the beasts of the field, and seduced Eve from her obedience to God, to transgress his command, by eating the forbidden fruit. The apostle here speaks the language and sense of the Jews, who say f87, that, µhl dja µç çjnw ˆjç “Satan and the serpent have one name”, i.e. are the same; and that it was the old serpent (the devil), hwjl…”

“I fear-- (Co2 12:20); not inconsistent with love. His source of fear was their yielding character. subtilty--the utter foe of the "simplicity" which is intent on ONE object, Jesus, and seeks none "other," and no "other" and different Spirit (Co2 11:4); but loves him with tender SINGLENESS OF AFFECTION. Where Eve first gave way, was in mentally harboring for a moment the possibility insinuated by the serpent, of GOD not having her truest interests at heart, and of this "other" professing friend being more concerned for her than God. corrupted--so as to lose their virgin purity through seducers (Co2 11:4). The same Greek stands for "minds" as for "thoughts" (Co2 10:5, also see on Co2 10:5);…”

“But I fear - Paul had just compared the church to a virgin, soon to be presented as a bride to the Redeemer. The mention of this seems to have suggested to him the fact that the first woman was deceived and led astray by the tempter, and that the same thing might occur in regard to the church which he was so desirous should be preserved pure. The grounds of his fear were: That Satan had seduced the first woman, thus demonstrating that the most holy ones were in danger of being led astray by temptation; and, That special efforts were made to seduce them from the faith. The persuasive arts of the false teachers; the power of philosophy; and the attractive and corrupting influences of the…”

“But I fear - Love is full of these fears. Lest as the serpent - A most apposite comparison. Deceived Eve - Simple, ignorant of evil. By his subtilty - Which is in the highest degree dangerous to such a disposition. So your minds - We might therefore be tempted, even if there were no sin in us. Might be corrupted - Losing their virginal purity. From the simplicity that is in Christ - That simplicity which is lovingly intent on him alone, seeking no other person or thing. 2 Corinthians 11:4”

“11:3 The false teachers were pulling the Corinthian believers away from pure and undivided devotion to Christ. In this they are doing the work of Satan, just as the serpent did in Eden (11:14; see Gen 3:4, 13).”

“I fear: Co2 11:29, Co2 12:20, Co2 12:21; Psa 119:53; Gal 1:6, Gal 3:1, Gal 4:11; Phi 3:18, Phi 3:19 as: Gen 3:4, Gen 3:13; Joh 8:44; Ti1 2:14; Rev 12:9, Rev 20:2 so: Co2 11:13-15, Co2 2:17, Co2 4:2; Mat 24:24; Act 20:30, Act 20:31; Gal 1:6, Gal 2:4, Gal 3:1; Eph 4:14; Eph 6:24; Col 2:4, Col 2:8, Col 2:18; Th2 2:3-11; Ti1 1:3, Ti1 4:1-4; Ti2 3:1-9, Ti2 3:13; Ti2 4:3, Ti2 4:4; Tit 1:10; Heb 13:9; Pe2 2:1-14, Pe2 3:3, Pe2 3:17; Jo1 2:18, Jo1 4:1; Jde 1:4; Rev 12:9 the simplicity: Co2 1:12; Rom 12:8, Rom 16:18, Rom 16:19 2 Corinthians 11:4”