Do Not Be Deceived as Eve 2 Corinthians 11

One of the biggest problems of misunderstanding the apostle Paul is taking his writings outside the context of the text he quotes. What I mean is that we read his words as if they are a total disconnect from the context of Torah from which he preaches.

2nd Corinthians 11 is a good example of this. In Verse 3 and 4 Paul says, “But I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ (Messiah). For if one comes and preaches another Jesus (Yeshua) whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully.”

When Paul refers back to the serpent deceiving Eve in the wilderness we must go back and look at why he does so. What did the serpent do to deceive Eve? How did he do it? And, how does that event connect with being led away from the “simplicity and purity of devotion to Messiah?” And further, how does it fit with the preaching of a “different Yeshua,” or receiving a different spirit, or a “different gospel?” There has to be a solid connection between that which Eve received from YHWH, likely through Adam, and what Paul taught the Corinthians. And if that be the case the deception of a different Messiah, a departure from the simplicity and purity of Yeshua, a receiving of a different gospel has to tie in.

Was Eve given the gospel? Was she supposed to have a simple and pure devotion to Messiah? Was Eve supposed to be receiving the one and only Spirit of YHWH? I believe the answer is “yes!”

John Chapter 1 tells us clearly that Yeshua is the Creator, as does Colossians 1. Mankind was created, by the Creator, so that he/she could choose to be devoted to HIM. HE gave life and gave parameters for life from the very beginning. Eve had a choice to, either devote her life to her Creator, Yeshua Messiah, or to the enemy, the serpent; Satan, the liar and deceiver. She entered into adultery at that point. By not heeding the Voice of her Creator and, instead, heeding the voice of the enemy, she became an adulteress. And Adam, heeding Eve’s voice, became an adulterer. I believe this is the beginning of Mystery Babylon, who gives birth to all harlots. Those who believe the lie become harlots; guilty of adultery against their Creator and husband, Yeshua.

The serpent beguiled Eve into believing a lie concerning the true Messiah. By distorting the Word of the Creator he preached a different Messiah/Creator. Eve, not being devoted to Messiah; hanging on HIS every Word, was deceived, believing the lie she disobeyed (sinned, committed lawlessness) and died, as did Adam. Eve accepted a different Messiah/Creator by believing the lie instead of the “simplicity and purity” of the LIVING TORAH, Yeshua Messiah/Creator.

The serpent presented a different gospel to Eve. The gospel is the “good message,” according to the Strong’s definition of the word. The good message of the Creator in the garden was simple and pure. HE said, and I paraphrase (check it out against the Scripture), “I have created, in six days, all that you need. I have set you in a beautiful garden with plenty of food. I am here to walk with you and lead you. Walk in MY Word and live. If you disobey MY Word you will surely die.” This, I believe, is the gospel. We are to walk in the Word of YHWH; Yeshua, the Creator/Messiah. This can only be done by grace through faith. Faith means believing HIS Word. Having believed – having faith – we access grace by which we are able to walk in HIS Word – HIS Truth – HIS Torah. Paul said, “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of YHWH.” The Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation, is replete with the admonition to obey HIS Word and live. To disobey; to practice lawlessness brings death.

Revelation 22 tells us that those who have the right to the Tree of Life are ONLY those who keep HIS commandments. Failure to keep HIS commandments resulted in loss of access to the Tree of Life resulting in death!

Did Eve receive a different spirit, that the Holy Spirit? The answer is an emphatic “Yes!” In 1 John 4, the Apostle John bears witness to this. He tells us to test the spirits to see if the spirit we’re receiving is from the Creator/Messiah or if it a lying spirit. The key is whether the spirit confesses Yeshua or whether it doesn’t. The Holy Spirit, we know, will only speak the Words of Yeshua. Yeshua is the Lawgiver who came from between the feet of Judah. Yeshua is the ONE who brought Israel and the mixed multitude out of Egypt, was the Cloud and the Pillar of Fire that protected them, followed them, went before them, and led them through the wilderness. Yeshua was the one they complained against. And remember, as Paul told us all of this, so that we are to learn from their example so as to not fall as they did. The message is witness to what Paul is saying in 2 Corinthians 11. The real Yeshua, the real gospel, the True Spirit, is the same now and forever. Paul is talking about the same ONE now as was in the garden. And he’s talking about the same enemy; Satan the lying serpent as was in the garden.

In 2 Corinthians 13:1 Paul says, “This will be the third time I’m coming to you. ‘By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.’”

In 2 Corinthians 13:3 Paul says that the Corinthians seek “proof of Messiah speaking in me, who is not weak toward you, but mighty in you.”

And in 2 Corinthians 13:5 Paul exhorts them to “examine yourselves as to whether you are of the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know that know yourselves, that Yeshua Messiah is in you? – unless you are disqualified. But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified.”

Paul’s quote in Verse 1 comes from Deuteronomy 19:15. This is from Torah. Here Paul established Torah as still the diving Instruction from the Creator for living in HIM. In it we learn that all things are to be established by 2 0r 3 witnesses to be received as Truth. Paul’s writings themselves bear witness that he is consistent, and the witness of the words of Paul being true are found in the Torah and the Prophets from which he derives the proof text of his teaching. The witness is there. As he said, “This will be the third time I am coming to you.” Here are the three witnesses that all his epistles and visits show him consistent in the message of the good news.

They ask for proof of Messiah in him. His answer is that, if they have Messiah in them, bearing witness, they have the 2 witnesses needed for that proof.

And, in case they might question as to whether it is the Spirit of Messiah in them, or in Paul, the witness of the Word brings the 3rd testimony of the Truth. In Verse 5 Paul says, “Examine yourselves as to whether you are of the faith.” This is the same Paul who said, “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of YHWH.” Again we say, the only Word available at the time of Paul’s writing was the Torah and the Prophets. The testing as to whether the spirit speaking is an evil lying spirit or the True Holy Spirit of the Living Torah – Yeshua, is if the word are from the written Torah, and/or line up with it. Faith and HIS unchanging Word cannot be separated.

The witness of the Written Word, the Living Word, the Holy Spirit all agree. When we speak as they speak we agree with them. It’s how we can recognize false teachers versus the ones who teach lies – the false teacher. The false teacher teaches lawless lies. They, and their followers, apart from repentance, will hear those words of Messiah, “Depart from ME, you who practice lawlessness, for I never knew you!”

I encourage you to take the time and read Paul, Yeshua, and the other writers in the so-called New Testament (likewise inspired by the Holy Spirit) in light of the Holy Scriptures they believed, lived and proclaimed. To take them out of context is to take our Creator/Messiah Yeshua – YHWH out of context. It is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit to say that HE says anything contradictory to anything previously established in Torah!

To say that you are led by the Holy Spirit to practice lawlessness is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. I pray that, if that is your mindset, that you would take Paul’s exhortation to heart; “Examine yourselves as to whether you are of the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Yeshua Messiah is in you? – unless you are disqualified.”