2 Corinthians 2:11

New Testament Epistle (Pauline) ASV (1901)

What does 2 Corinthians 2:11 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “that no advantage may be gained over us by Satan: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

that no advantage may be gained over us by Satan: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
2 Corinthians 2:11 — American Standard Version

Context — 2 Corinthians 2

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
11that no advantage may be gained over us by Satan: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Lest Satan should get an advantage of us, etc..] Or make gain of us, or we should be circumvented by him; a metaphor taken from covetous persons, who take every occasion, and make use of every advantage to circumvent and deceive persons in trading with them: Satan gets an advantage of the churches, when church discipline is brought into neglect and contempt, or turned into tyranny; or when he can draw off any person from a church, or keep him out of it: wherefore the apostle's argument is, that since the incestuous person had true repentance for his sin, he ought to be forgiven, comforted, and received into the church; lest by too great severity, and a too long continuance of the censure on…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Literally, "That we may have no advantage gained over us by Satan," namely, by letting one of our members be lost to us through despair, we ourselves furnishing Satan with the weapon, by our repulsive harshness to one now penitent. The loss of a single sinner is a common loss; therefore, in Co2 2:10, he said, "for your sakes." Paul had "delivered" the offender "to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the Spirit might be saved" (Co1 5:5). Satan sought to destroy the spirit also: to let him do so, would be to give him an advantage, and let him overreach us. not ignorant of his devices--"Ignorant" and "devices" are words akin in sound and root in Greek: we are not without knowledge of…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Lest Satan - The devil. The name Satan denotes an adversary, an accuser, an enemy. It is the usual proper name which is given to the devil, the great adversary of God and man. Should get an advantage of us - The literal translation of the Greek would be, “That we may not be defrauded by Satan.” (Ἵνα μὴ πλεονεκτηθῶμεν ὑπὸ τοῦ Σατανᾶ Hina mē pleonektēthōmen hupo Satana). The verb used here denotes to have more than another; then to gain, to take advantage of one, to defraud. And the idea is, that they should at once re-admit the penitent offender to their communion, lest if they did not do it, Satan would take advantage of it to do injury to him and them. It is a reason given by…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Lest Satan - To whom he had been delivered, and who sought to destroy not only his flesh, but his soul also. Get an advantage over us - For the loss of one soul is a common loss. 2 Corinthians 2:12”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“2:11 If we exercise forgiveness, as Paul did, Satan will not outsmart us by making us either too lax over sin or too rigorous in punishing offenders. • familiar with his evil schemes: Cp. 11:3, 14; Eph 6:11.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Co2 11:3, Co2 11:14; Ch1 21:1, Ch1 21:2; Job 1:11, Job 2:3, Job 2:5, Job 2:9; Zac 3:1-4; Luk 22:31; Joh 13:2; Act 1:25; Co1 7:5; Eph 6:11, Eph 6:12; Ti2 2:25; Pe1 5:8; Rev 2:24; Rev 12:9-11, Rev 13:8 2 Corinthians 2:12”
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Sources and verification