Paul means a Jesus other than the One who died on the cross and rose in resurrection power—a Jesus he never preached.
In 2 Corinthians 11:4, Paul contrasts 'another Jesus' with the Jesus 'whom we have not preached.' Les Feldick teaches that the false teachers at Corinth were presenting 'not the one of the cross, not the one in resurrection power' (Clip 1). The true Christ, for Paul, is defined by His death and resurrection, and any version of Jesus that omits those is another Jesus.
2 Corinthians 11:4 — This is the verse in question, where Paul warns of another Jesus, another spirit, and another gospel.
The phrase 'another Jesus' occurs in 2 Corinthians 11:4 (KJV): 'For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.' Paul does not in this verse define the false Jesus in detail, but he makes clear that the true Jesus is the One he and the apostles preached; anything else is another Jesus. He uses the same pattern for 'another spirit' and 'another gospel.' The broader Corinthian context shows why this warning was needed. In 1 Corinthians 1:12 Paul writes, 'Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.' The Corinthian believers were dividing over which teacher to follow, and some were claiming Christ as a party label. Scripture thus shows that the battle at Corinth was over the true identity and message of Jesus Christ.
Les Feldick teaches that Paul used 'another Jesus' to mean a Jesus who is not the One of the cross and not the One in resurrection power. In his exposition of 2 Corinthians 11:4, Les repeats Paul's phrase directly: 'for if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, not the one of the cross, not the one in resurrection power, but another Jesus' (Clip 1). Les's emphasis is that the cross and the resurrection are indispensable to the true Jesus. A Jesus stripped of these is another Jesus. Les also places the warning in its historical setting. Paul constantly had to defend his apostleship because false teachers were coming into Corinth, and 'the strongest element at Corinth that was in opposition to Paul and his teachings according to the mystery, were those who claimed to follow Peter. And of course right next to that are those who claim to follow the teachings of Jesus' (Clip 3). In 1 Corinthians 1:12, Les shows, the Corinthians were saying 'I am of Paul,' 'I of Apollos,' 'I of Cephas,' and 'I of Christ'—with 'I of Christ' meaning 'I'm going by what Jesus said' (Clip 4). Les's larger point is that what Jesus said during His earthly ministry was directed to Israel under the law, while Paul received revelation from the ascended Christ after the work of the cross (Clips 6, 7). To follow only the earthly Jesus—ignoring Paul's gospel of the cross and resurrection—is to follow another Jesus. That is why Les says people today who say 'I'm not going to go according to Paul, I'm going to go by what Jesus said' are repeating the Corinthian error (Clip 3).
Paul had to defend his apostleship because false teachers were coming into Corinth. Les says the strongest opposition to Paul came from those who claimed to follow Peter, and right next to them were those who claimed to follow the teachings of Jesus (Clip 3). In 1 Corinthians 1:12, Paul lists the factions—'I am of Paul,' 'I of Apollos,' 'I of Cephas,' 'I of Christ'—and Les explains that those who said 'I of Christ' meant they would go by what Jesus said, not by Paul (Clip 4).
Les directly identifies the 'another Jesus' of 2 Corinthians 11:4 as 'not the one of the cross, not the one in resurrection power' (Clip 1). This is his way of saying the true Jesus is the crucified and risen Christ. A Jesus who is presented without His death for sins and His resurrection is a different Jesus, even if the name is the same.
Les teaches that everything Jesus said in His earthly ministry was under the law and to the Jew, while Paul's message came from the ascended, glorified Christ after the cross (Clips 6, 7). Paul received direct revelation from the Lord after the work of the cross, and he repeatedly claimed he saw the Lord face to face (Clip 6). Jesus dealt with the Jew through Peter and the eleven; Paul came on the scene as the apostle of the Gentiles (Clip 2).
In 2 Corinthians 11:4, Paul links 'another Jesus' with 'another spirit' and 'another gospel'—all three are substitutes. Les does not unpack 'another gospel' in these clips, but the verse itself shows that a different Jesus comes with a different spirit and a different gospel. Scripture indicates that the true gospel Paul preached was the gospel of the cross and resurrection.
Why Paul Warned About "Another Jesus" — 2 Corinthians 11:4
Welcome to Through the Bible with Les Feldick, a 30-minute walk through the Scriptures, teaching in-depth Bible truths that change people's lives. Now, here's your host, Les Feldick. We'll get right back into 2 Corinthians and pick up where we left off in chapter 11. And oh, goodness, I think we'll just jump in at verse 4, 5.
The Cross and Resurrection Define the True Jesus
Les quotes 2 Corinthians 11:4 and identifies 'another Jesus' as a Jesus other than the one of the cross and resurrection power.
Paul as Apostle to the Gentiles
Les explains that Jesus dealt with the Jew through Peter and the eleven, while Paul came on the scene as the apostle of the Gentiles—showing the distinctness of Paul's apostleship.
False Teachers and Followers of Peter at Corinth
Les says the strongest opposition to Paul at Corinth came from those who claimed to follow Peter, with others claiming to follow the teachings of Jesus.
'I Am of Christ' Means 'I Go by What Jesus Said'
Les interprets the Corinthian slogan 'I am of Christ' as meaning 'I'm going by what Jesus said,' which was a way of rejecting Paul's apostleship.
What the Bible Really Says About Suffering and Glory
It didn't take him very long to understand who Jesus was. You know, I've shared on this program, a gentleman came to my home several years ago, and that was his first question. Who in the world is Jesus Christ? Oh, I wish more people would ask that question. Too many people don't know. People do not understand that Jesus Christ of the new is the Jehovah of the old.
Paul's Revelation From the Ascended Christ
Les teaches that Paul received his revelation from the ascended, glorified Christ after the work of the cross, not from Jesus' earthly ministry.
Words of Jesus Confined to the Jew Under Law
Les says those who say they go only by what Jesus said would not get far, because Jesus' earthly words were confined to the Jew under the law; through Paul, grace takes preeminence.
2 Corinthians 11:4: For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
This is the key verse where Paul warns of another Jesus, another spirit, and another gospel.
1 Corinthians 1:12: Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
This shows the factionalism at Corinth that led some to claim Christ as a party label instead of receiving Paul's gospel.
For Paul, the two go together. The true Jesus is the One who died on the cross and rose in resurrection power. Les says the false teachers preached a Jesus 'not the one of the cross, not the one in resurrection power' (Clip 1). A teaching that leaves out the cross and resurrection presents another Jesus, even if it uses the same name.
Les says they meant, 'I'm going by what Jesus said' rather than by Paul. He connects this to the factionalism in 1 Corinthians 1:12, where some said they were of Paul, Apollos, Cephas, or Christ (Clip 4). Les says this is still common today among people who reject Paul's letters.
Les teaches that Jesus' earthly ministry was directed to Israel while the law was still in effect. After the cross, Christ revealed the gospel of grace through Paul (Clips 6, 7). Therefore, those who go only by what Jesus said in the Gospels miss Paul's revelation of the mystery.
Watch the Teaching: Why Paul Warned About "Another Jesus" — 2 Corinthians 11:4