Who are the false teachers Paul had in mind when he said he was not like the many who corrupt the Word?
The false teachers Paul had in mind are the kind described in Jude: corrupters who hawk an adulterated spiritual product, like hucksters selling watered-down wine not worth the price. They adulterate the Word of God. Paul contrasts himself with these false teachers, claiming he brought the absolute truth in sincerity.
Les teaches that Paul is defending his apostleship when he says he was not like the many who corrupt the Word. Les points to Jude as probably the best description anywhere in Scripture of false teachers, imagining these are the kind of people Paul had in mind. In 2 Corinthians 2:17, Paul says he did not come with a product likened to wine watered down with water, nor as a huckster hawking wares not worth half the charge. Instead, he came in complete sincerity, as of God, in the sight of God, speaking in Christ, bringing the real thing and the absolute truth.
Who was Paul referring to as the "many" who corrupt the word of God?
Paul was referring to false teachers—the "many" who adulterate and hawk the Word of God as a watered-down product. In defending his apostleship, he contrasted himself with these corrupt hucksters, saying he came in sincerity, as of God, in the sight of God, speaking in Christ.
What did Paul say he did not do in contrast to the false teachers?
Paul declared he did not come corrupting the Word of God, did not come like a raging wave foaming out shame, nor as a wandering star. Defending his apostleship, he said he did not come with false teaching or half-truth, unlike the false teachers whose message is an adulterated product.