Charles Ellicott Commentary 2 Corinthians 11:14

"And no marvel; for even Satan fashioneth himself into an angel of light." — 2 Corinthians 11:14 (ASV)

For Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.—The present tense of the original text excludes the idea that reference is made to any specific incident (such as the appearance of Satan among “the sons of God,” from Job 1:6) recorded in the Old Testament or in tradition. The thought is rather that Satan is always transforming himself in this way.

If we are to look for any specific allusion, we may find a possible explanation in the words though we, or an angel from heaven, in Galatians 1:8.

These words suggest the thought, as at least a probable inference, that the Judaizing teachers had claimed the authority of an angelic message for the gospel they preached. They may have set this against the authority of the angelic visions St. Luke recorded in the case of Cornelius (Acts 10:2).

Furthermore, it is probable that the Christ-party at Corinth, distinct from that of Cephas, had affinities with the Jewish sect of the Essenes. We know that the Essenes were devoted to the worship of angels (Josephus, Wars, ii. 8, § 6) and placed great importance on revelations conveyed through their ministry.

On this supposition, St. Paul may, in his characteristic allusive way, be implying that these individuals were mistaking a satanic apparition for an angelic one.

Something of this nature is evidently implied by the emphasis St. Paul places on his own visions and revelations in 2 Corinthians 12:1.