"Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him." (2Cor.11:1-4)
I. Means The word "means" - a turn, i.e. (by implication) mode or style (especially with preposition or relative prefix as adverb, like); figuratively, deportment or manners or character:—(even) as, conversation, (+ like) manner, (+ by any) means, way. (Strong's Con. NT#5158) While we are being preparing to be presented as a chaste virgin, we must be on alert (watch / pray) that by any "means" we would be deceive
A. Deportment
1. In the English Dictionary a. Noun - a person's behavior or manners b. Thesaurus - behavior, conduct, performance; manners, practices, actions.
2. Conversation a. Greek - Life style (Heb.13:7) behavior:—conversation. [Strong's NT#391] (Gal.1:13, Eph.4:22, 1Tim.4:12, Heb.13:7, James.3:13, 1Peter.1:15; 2:12; 3:2, 16, 2Peter.2:7; 3:11) b. Remember "them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation." behavior:—conversation. [Strong's NT#391] Their everyday (habitual, lifestyle) behavior (Heb.13:7, 17) Their consistent fruit (Matt.7:15-20) Is it Jesus Christ? (Heb,13:8) Is it everything that Jesus is? (John.1:1-14, Matt.5:17-19, Gal.3:24 / Rom.3:21-31, 9:1-10) d. We are to know those that labor among us(1Thes.5:12-13) because there are tares among wheat (the Church) today. (Matt.13:24-30, 36-43, Jude.1:1-4,Isa.29:13, Deut.13:1-3, 2Cor.11:4, 13-15) (1) The tares are "the children of the wicked one" (Matt.13:38) (2) The wheat (the good seed are the children of the kingdom (Matt.13:38) (3) Note: The tares were planted among the wheat while the servants slept. (Matt.13:25) Jude says, (Jude.1:4) they "crept in unawares" (settled in alongside, i.e. lodge stealthily [Strong's NT#3921]
Note: The Thessalonians were told that Jesus is returning (1Thes.4:13-18) and they needed (1Thes.5:1-6) to watch (Don't sleep)because... - the spirit of antichrist is already in the world, (1John.2:18-20, 27; 4:1-4) - and that antichrist shall come (2Thes.2:1-3) before Jesus returns (4) These "tares" are spots "plucked up by the roots" (Matt.13:29-30, 40, Jude.1:1-11, 2Peter.2:1-12 Eph.5:27) (a) Spots - going the way of Cain (Gen.4:1-4, 1John.3:12-13, Heb.11:4)
(b)Spots - going the way of Balaam for rewards / money (Num.22-24, 2Peter.2:12-16, Rev.2:14) (c) Spots perished in the gainsaying of Core? (Kohath) Gen.46:10-12, Num.3:27-32; 4:1-15; 16:1-45) (5) Solution: Let them grow together until... (Matt.13:28, 1Thes.5:12-13)
3. Paul said. "Follow me as I follow Christ. (1Cor.11:1) Christ must be preeminent! The leader does not replace Christ, their example should continually point us [through their behavior / lifestyle]to Christ and NOT to themselves. (Note: Matt.7:14-18)
a. What is following Christ? (1) I will do and say the same thing as Christ (Matt.28-30 equally yoked 2Cor.6:14-18) This is done by the study of God's written Word which tells you what Jesus says, and what Jesus does. (2) Christ must have preeminence in all things. (Col.1:18) not any personalities. (1Cor.1:12-13, Acts.10:34)
b. The context of 1 and 2 Corinthains False leadership had come into the Corinthian church with another Jesus, gospel and another spirit (1Cor.11:1-15) (1) They were commending themselves (2Cor.3:1, Matt.) (2) Paul's answer was "Ye (you) are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men" (2Cor.3:2) Note: The Fruit / evidence / everyone can see, not just a handful of people / not just in his circle, but "all men." (2Cor.3:2) (3) These "certain men" had slipped in (settled in alongside, i.e. lodge stealthily [Strong's NT#3921] into the Church. (Jude.1:1-4) NOTE; "by any means!"
c. It's not what you say it's what you do Matt.7:15-20)" (Heb.13:7, 1Thes.5:12-13, 1Thes.5:21) Lifestyle / fruit / example - Jesus Christ) (1) The leader that has be taken from the people / saints (Num.1:47-54;2:17 / 1Cor.10:1-11) (2) To be among the people / saints, for the people / saint (Luke.22:24-26) (3) To serve the congregation are both to be (2Cor.1:23-24)
Both are to worship, looking at Jesus. (Heb.12:2)
d. The congregation still needs to take responsibility for their own walk before the Lord.
e. Those that labor amongst us will be accountable for their example
2. Manner - as the "manner of some is" "Manner" - a usage (prescribed by habit or law):—custom, manner, be wont.• [Custom in Eng. Dict - a thing that one does habitually] This lifestyle / behavior. "for their very works [fruit, evidence] sake" (1Thes.5:13)