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2Co_11:3. The point of comparison is the leading astray by the devil, which took place in the case of Eve (through the serpent), and was to be feared in that of the Corinthians (through the false apostles, Satan’s servants, 2Co_11:15). For Paul presupposes it as well known to his readers, that Satan had led astray Eve by means of the serpent. To him and to them the serpent was by no means either a symbol or a mystical figure of the cosmical principle (Martensen). Comp. Wis_2:23 f.; 4Ma_18:8; 1Jn_3:8; Rev_12:9; Rev_12:14 f., Rev_20:2; and see on Joh_8:44, and Grimm on Wisd. l.c. For the monstrous inventions of the later Rabbins, see Eisenmenger, Entdecktes Judenth. I. p. 830 ff.
Paul’s mention (comp. 1Ti_2:15) of Eve (not Adam) is alike in keeping with the narrative (Genesis 3) and with the comparison, since the church is represented as feminine (comp. Ignat. Eph. interpol. 17). In Rom_5:12 and 1Co_15:22, the connection demanded the mention of Adam.
ὁ ὄφις ] the well-known serpen.
ἐν τῇ πανουργ . αὐτοῦ ] instrumental. Comp. Eph_4:14; Aq. Gen_3:1 : ὁ ὄφις ἦν πανοῦργος , Ignat. Phil. 11 interpol.: ὁ σκολιὸς ὄφις κ . τ . λ .
φθαρῇ ] become corrupted, not be corrupt (Ewald). Paul expresses himself with tender forbearance; the corruption of the church by anti-Pauline doctrine (2Co_11:4) he sees as a danger.
ἀπὸ τῆς ἁπλότ . κ . τ . λ .] a pregnant phrase: lest your thoughts (comp. 2Co_3:14, 2Co_4:4, 2Co_10:5) become corrupted and led away from the simplicity towards Christ ( εἰς Χ . is not equivalent to ἐν Χ ., as the Vulgate, Beza, Calvin, and others have it). See Fritzsche, Diss. II. p. 63 f.; Buttmann, neut. Gr. p. 277 [E. T. 322]. The ἁπλότης ἡ εἰς Χ . is the quality of simple, honest fidelity in the παρθένος ἁγνή , who shares her heart with no other than with her betrothed.