II Corinthians 11:3 “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”
Paul does not, here, expand upon “the simplicity that is in Christ”; but, he makes his meaning very clear. In context, Paul exhorts them and us to remain faithful to our Church-Kingdom Husband, Jesus Christ (II Corinthians 11:2) and to reject all false Christs (II Corinthians 11:4) and false doctrines and false practices. Thus, he associates “the simplicity that is in Christ” with obedience and loving submission to Jesus Christ and to Him only. It is certain that, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12). Even a casual study of the Word of God educates us so that “we are not ignorant of” Satan’s “devices.” (II Corinthians 2:11). Paul illustrates his warning and caution to us by associating the devil’s attempts to entice us to be unfaithful to our Lord with how “the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty”. The “serpent” “beguiled Eve” by telling her that “God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:5). Also, Eve “saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise”, so “she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat” (Genesis 3:6). That is, the “serpent” began his enticement by casting doubt upon the Word of God and then he told Eve that disobedience (unfaithfulness to God) is okay because it will make you wise as gods. Once the “serpent” captured her attention, she then saw that disobedience (unfaithfulness to God) was “good” to her taste, “pleasant to the eyes”, something to “be desired”, and it would make you “wise”. Paul’s point is that no matter how enticing “another gospel” (II Corinthians 11:4) may be, we are to remain faithful to our Church-Kingdom Husband, Jesus Christ; that is faithful to His Doctrine, to His prescribed Church Practice, and to His Commandments for our Daily Behavior! We must also never forget that Adam and Eve suffered severe consequences for their unfaithfulness!