Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 2 Corinthians 11:2

"For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy: for I espoused you to one husband, that I might present you [as] a pure virgin to Christ." — 2 Corinthians 11:2 (ASV)

With a “jealousy” (GK 2419) that sprang from God and was like God’s own jealousy for his people (e.g., Hosea 2:19–20; 4:12; 6:4; 11:8), Paul was jealous for his converts’ undivided loyalty to Christ in the interval between their conversion (= betrothal to Christ) and their glorification (= presentation to Christ). He pictures himself as the father of the bride (cf. 1 Corinthians 4:15; 2 Corinthians 12:14), whose ultimate goal was to present “the church of God in Corinth” (1:1) as a pure virgin to her husband at his appearance (cf. 4:14; Ephesians 5:27). Human jealousy is a vice, but to share divine jealousy is a virtue. There is a place for a spiritual father’s passionate concern for the exclusive and pure devotion to Christ of his spiritual children (11:29).