2 Corinthians 2:11

King James Version (KJV)

Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

Adam Clarke
Bible Commentary

Lest Satan should get an advantage - If the man who has given sufficient proof of the sincerity of his repentance be not restored, he may be overwhelmed with sorrow, and sink into despair; and then the discipline of the Church will be represented, not as emendatory, but as leading to destruction. Of this our enemies would most gladly avail themselves, as they wish to discredit this ministry; and there is always at hand a devil to suggest evil, and prompt men to do it; for in this respect we have thorough acquaintance with his devices. Let us therefore be careful to remove, both from Satan and his partisans, all those occasions which might turn to the disadvantage or disparagement of the Gospel of Christ.

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Albert Barnes
Notes on the Whole Bible

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 Paul why they should lose no time in restoring him to the church. What the advantage was which Satan might gain, Paul does not specify. It might be this: That under pretence of duty, and seeking the purity of the church, Satan would tempt them to harsh measures; to needless severity of discipline; to an unkind and unforgiving spirit; and thus, at the same time, injure the cause of religion, and ruin him who had been the subject of discipline.

For we are not ignorant of his devices - We know his plans, his thoughts, his cunning, his skill. We are not ignorant of the great number of stratagems which he is constantly using to injure us, and to destroy the souls of people. He is full of wiles; and Paul had had abundant occasion to be acquainted with the means which he had used to defeat his plans and to destroy the church. The church, at all times, has been subjected to the influence of those wiles, as well as individual Christians. And the church, therefore, as well as individual Christians, should be constantly on its guard against those snares. Even the best and purest efforts of the church are often perverted, as in the case of administering discipline, to the worst results; and by the imprudence and lack of wisdom; by the rashness or overheated zeal; by the pretensions to great purity and love of truth; and by a harsh, severe, and censorious spirit, Satan often takes advantage of the church, and advances his own dark and mischievous designs.

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Matthew Henry
Concise Bible Commentary

The apostle desires them to receive the person who had done wrong, again into their communion; for he was aware of his fault, and much afflicted under his punishment. Even sorrow for sin should not unfit for other duties, and drive to despair. Not only was there danger last Satan should get advantage, by tempting the penitent to hard thoughts of God and religion, and so drive him to despair; but against the churches and the ministers of Christ, by bringing an evil report upon Christians as unforgiving; thus making divisions, and hindering the success of the ministry. In this, as in other things, wisdom is to be used, that the ministry may not be blamed for indulging sin on the one hand, or for too great severity towards sinners on the other hand. Satan has many plans to deceive, and knows how to make a bad use of our mistakes.

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SDA Bible Commentary (limited)
Volume 1-7

11. Lest Satan. Paul had instructed the Corinthians to deliver the sinner “unto Satan” (1 Cor. 5:4, 5), with a view to his ultimate salvation. But if the church failed to forgive and restore the repentant offender, Satan would still gain an advantage. He gains an advantage not only by leading people into sin but also by our failure to forgive them when they repent.

Devices. Or, “designs.” Satan is constantly seeking to injure and destroy the souls of men. His designs are directed particularly against the church and against individuals who aspire to follow Christ. He sometimes succeeds in perverting even the best and purest plans and efforts of individuals, and even of the church. Where the salvation of the individual is lost sight of, hearts will be embittered or driven to despair, and irritation and division will injure the church.

Satan’s designs are accomplished in rash and misguided zeal of church members, by harsh and rigid pretensions at perfection, by a critical and censorious spirit, by cold indifference to the fate of men, by tithing mint and anise and cummin and omitting the weightier matters of the law?justice, mercy, and faith (Matt. 23:23). God’s character is thus maligned and misunderstood, His cause is dishonored, and the standing of the church is seriously impaired.

The Christian deals not simply with some error of judgment and conduct in an offending brother but with a personal foe (see on Matt. 4:1). It was a personal devil that tempted our Lord in the wilderness (Matt. 4:1-11). Paul had been buffeted by a “messenger of Satan” (2 Cor. 12:7), and knew from experience the kind of adversary he had to face. He recognized the devil for what he is. His clear spiritual perception pierced the disguise used by Satan, and he overcame him by the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God (Eph. 6:16, 17; 1 John 2:14). Victory over our adversary comes by following the admonition to “put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Eph. 6:11). Compare GC 516.

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SDA Bible Commentary (limited)
Volume 1-7

Satan’s designs are accomplished in rash and misguided zeal of church members, by harsh and rigid pretensions at perfection, by a critical and censorious spirit, by cold indifference to the fate of men, by tithing mint and anise and cummin and omitting the weightier matters of the lawÃ¢â‚¬â€justice, mercy, and faith (Matt. 23:23). God’s character is thus maligned and misunderstood, His cause is dishonored, and the standing of the church is seriously impaired.

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Ellen G. White
The Faith I Live By, 313.1

Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. 2 Corinthians 2:11. FLB 313.1

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Ellen G. White
Gospel Workers 1915, 189

*****

Much depends upon the manner in which you meet those whom you visit. You can take hold of a person's hand in greeting in such a way as to gain his confidence at once, or in so cold a manner that he will think you have no interest in him. GW 189.1

We should not act as if it were a condescension to come in contact with the poor. They are as precious in God's sight as we are, and we must act as if we thought them so. Our clothing should be plain and simple, so that when we visit the poor, they will not be embarrassed by the contrast between our appearance and their own. The joy that comes to the poor is often very limited, and why should not God's workers carry rays of light into their homes? We need the tender sympathy of Jesus; then we can win our way to hearts. GW 189.2

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Ellen G. White
The Great Controversy, 508

While men are ignorant of his devices, this vigilant foe is upon their track every moment. He is intruding his presence in every department of the household, in every street of our cities, in the churches, in the national councils, in the courts of justice, perplexing, deceiving, seducing, everywhere ruining the souls and bodies of men, women, and children, breaking up families, sowing hatred, emulation, strife, sedition, murder. And the Christian world seem to regard these things as though God had appointed them and they must exist. GC 508.1

Satan is continually seeking to overcome the people of God by breaking down the barriers which separate them from the world. Ancient Israel were enticed into sin when they ventured into forbidden association with the heathen. In a similar manner are modern Israel led astray. “The god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” 2 Corinthians 4:4. All who are not decided followers of Christ are servants of Satan. In the unregenerate heart there is love of sin and a disposition to cherish and excuse it. In the renewed heart there is hatred of sin and determined resistance against it. When Christians choose the society of the ungodly and unbelieving, they expose themselves to temptation. Satan conceals himself from view and stealthily draws his deceptive covering over their eyes. They cannot see that such company is calculated to do them harm; and while all the time assimilating to the world in character, words, and actions, they are becoming more and more blinded. GC 508.2

Conformity to worldly customs converts the church to the world; it never converts the world to Christ. Familiarity with sin will inevitably cause it to appear less repulsive. He who chooses to associate with the servants of Satan will soon cease to fear their master. When in the way of duty we are brought into trial, as was Daniel in the king's court, we may be sure that God will protect us; but if we place ourselves under temptation we shall fall sooner or later. GC 509.1

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