Introduction: Who do you consider to be a false teacher? One who has teachings with which you disagree? One whose lifestyle is not what you think is appropriate? One who promotes a type of church service that you think is not sufficiently reverent? I think these questions are important because Paul’s definition of false teaching seems much different than the definition of false teaching that I hear today. I hear Bible teachers called “false teachers” simply because they disagree with the person calling them a “false teacher.” Let’s plunge into our study of the Bible and sort out the difference between those with whom we disagree and those who should be called “false teachers.”

I. Poor Teachers

A. Read 1 Corinthians 3:10. Who is the “skilled master builder?” (Paul is referring to himself.)

1. Does Paul expect that other “builders” (teachers) will follow him in attempting to build up church members? (Yes.)

B. Read 1 Corinthians 3:11. What is the most important work of a teacher who is building up Christians? (To lay or build on a Foundation of Jesus Christ.)

1. What do think that means? (All Christian teaching must rest on Jesus Christ—who He is, what He has done for us, and His saving gospel.)

C. Read 1 Corinthians 3:12-13. What is good about building with gold, silver, and precious stones? What is bad about building with wood, hay, and straw? (Fire is coming, and the wood, hay, and straw will not survive it.)

1. What do you think Paul means when he says “the Day” will bring fire? (Many commentators think this means the Second Coming of Jesus. Jerusalem had not yet been destroyed, so that might be what Paul means. It seems that any serious problem in a Christian’s life tests the type of teaching the Christian has accepted.)

D. Read 1 Corinthians 3:14-15. What happens to those building with gold, silver, and precious stone? What happens to those building with wood, straw, and hay? (Those building with good materials are rewarded. Those building with bad materials “suffer loss.”)

1. What happens to poor builders? What happens to those who accepted their weak materials? (The poor builder “will be saved.” The work of poor builders will not survive the fire.)

a. What do you think “work … burned up” means? The work does not survive, or the student does not survive?

2. What would you call those building with wood, straw, and hay? Would you call them “false teachers” or would you call them “poor teachers?” (Paul does not call them false, and it is important to note that they are saved. Recall that they are building their consumable material on the Foundation of Jesus Christ.)

3. These lessons are written for teachers, but I’m sure many students read them. What is the lesson for students who are being taught Biblical principles? (It is incredibly important that you choose the right teachers.)

II. False Teachers

A. Read 2 Corinthians 11:2-4. Think about this in the context of the foundation we just discussed. Are these teachers (“someone comes”) building on the foundation of Jesus Christ? (No! They are proclaiming another Jesus, a different spirit, or a different gospel.)

1. How can that be? Wouldn’t teaching about a different Jesus, Spirit, or gospel be obvious to the listener?

B. Read 2 Corinthians 11:13-15. Is the deception obvious? (Paul says that they are disguised as “servants of righteousness.” This suggests that the deception is not obvious on the surface. This also makes clear that these teachers are not honest Christians who have reached the wrong conclusion about a doctrine.)

C. Read 2 Corinthians 11:5-6. What is the surface appeal of the false teachers? (Paul seems to admit that they are better public speakers than he is. They are not, however, more knowledgeable.)

D. Read 2 Corinthians 11:7-9. What are the false teachers doing that Paul is not? (They are charging for what Paul is giving them for free.)

1. Is the payment of money a strong indicator of a false teacher? (Paul does not say that. Read 1 Corinthians 9:13-14. He writes that the teacher should be supported by the student and he says that the believers in Macedonia “supplied my need.” And that he “robbed other churches” to help those in Corinth for free. In my experience, if you pay for something you value it. When my adult daughter lived with me and I paid the expenses, she left every light on, even when she was gone. Now that she has her own house, I notice it is dark when I enter.)

E. Read 2 Corinthians 10:1-2 and 2 Corinthians 10:10. What are the false teachers suggesting is wrong with Paul? (They criticize his physical presence or demeanor and his speaking.)

1. Do you notice an important difference between the comments of Paul and those of the false teachers? (The false teachers criticize Paul’s appearance and his approach. Paul admitted that the false teachers were polished preachers.)

F. Read 2 Corinthians 10:12. What character defect does Paul find in the false teachers? (They compete against each other.)

1. What is wrong with that? I have always been a competitor. Decades ago, I was in a Bible class with a fabulous teacher. I asked myself what he did that I was not doing, and what he did that I was already doing. Paul says the competitors are “without understanding.” What is it that they do not understand?

G. Read 2 Corinthians 10:15-18. This is Paul’s answer to my prior question. What is it that the competitive boasters do not understand? (It is God who makes our ministry successful. The best teaching without the Holy Spirit working on the heart accomplishes nothing.)

H. Read Luke 16:8-9. Read the context if you are not already familiar with this parable. What is Jesus saying about His followers being “shrewd” and using “unrighteous wealth?” (This parable teaches me that I should look around for the most effective ways to teach the Bible. If a secular corporation is winning customers, I should look at what it is doing so I can improve my approach. When I see an interesting and effective teacher, I should see what I can learn to get better. I don’t think Jesus is teaching us to compromise the gospel.)

I. Now that we have considered what Paul teaches about poor teachers and false teachers, how would you summarize the difference between the two? (The test is not, “Does this person agree with me on everything?” Rather, it is “Where is this person’s teaching leading people in relation to Christ?” A false teacher substitutes human authority for Christ’s authority, distorts the gospel, and uses spiritual leadership to advance himself rather than the people he is supposed to serve.)

III. Boasting

A. Read 2 Corinthians 11:16-20. What kind of boast is this? (This is deliberately foolish and ironic boasting. Paul reminds them that they have tolerated teachers who enslave, devour, take advantage of, exalt themselves over, and even strike them.)

B. Read 2 Corinthians 11:21-23. Is it appropriate to compare credentials with other teachers? (Paul says that he is “talking like a madman” when he compares credentials. But he says it anyway – and I think it is worth saying.)

C. Read 2 Corinthians 11:24-27. What do you think of Paul’s boasting? (Paul turns the boasting of the false teachers upside down. He recites all of his suffering, and not his greatness.)

1. Would you be persuaded by Paul’s approach? (Paul is not seeking his own benefit. He is not saying that he is impressive. He is saying that Jesus is sufficient despite Paul’s weakness and the suffering he endured in ministry.)

D. Think a moment about our study last week about stewardship. Last week we learned that faithful generosity brings God’s blessing. Here Paul shows that faithful ministry may nevertheless involve suffering and may not look successful. How do we reconcile those truths? (God’s blessing does not necessarily mean immediate comfort, prosperity, or visible success. The faithful teacher seeks to promote Christ’s glory. The point of true teaching is to promote Jesus and not the teacher. God will reward the true teacher, but it might not be right now.)

E. Friend, have you learned something about poor versus false teachers? Let’s pray that the Holy Spirit helps us rightly evaluate teachers. And that the Holy Spirit keeps our own teaching faithful to Christ and His gospel.

IV. Next week: Grace, Love, and Fellowship.

Copr. 2026, Bruce N. Cameron, J.D. Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Suggested answers are found within parentheses. If you normally receive this lesson by e-mail, but it is lost one week, you can find it by clicking on this link: http://www.GoBible.org. Pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit as you study.

Print/PDF/Email