2 Corinthians 11:16 kjv
I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little.
2 Corinthians 11:16 nkjv
I say again, let no one think me a fool. If otherwise, at least receive me as a fool, that I also may boast a little.
2 Corinthians 11:16 niv
I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then tolerate me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting.
2 Corinthians 11:16 esv
I repeat, let no one think me foolish. But even if you do, accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little.
2 Corinthians 11:16 nlt
Again I say, don't think that I am a fool to talk like this. But even if you do, listen to me, as you would to a foolish person, while I also boast a little.
2 Corinthians 11 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Cor 11:1 | "O that you would bear with me in a little foolishness—indeed you bear with me!" | Opening statement for this section |
| 2 Cor 11:12 | "But what I am doing I will continue to do, that I may cut off opportunity from those who desire opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about." | Paul's reason for continued defense |
| 1 Sam 17:45 | "David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin..." | Contrast in boasting sources |
| Gal 1:8-9 | "But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed." | Warning against false teachings |
| Phil 3:4-6 | "...if anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless." | Paul's credentials he could boast about |
| Jer 9:23-24 | "Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts, boast of this, that he understands and knows me..." | True grounds for boasting |
| Rom 1:22 | "Claiming to be wise, they became fools..." | Folly of human wisdom |
| 1 Cor 4:10 | "We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ." | Shared identity in foolishness |
| 1 Cor 1:27-28 | "But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, but God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong..." | God's wisdom in foolishness |
| Acts 20:33 | "I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel." | Integrity of ministry |
| John 10:33 | "The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.”" | Accusations against Jesus |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." | Believers' true identity |
| 2 Cor 10:8 | "For even if I boast a little regarding the authority that the Lord gave for building you up and not for tearing you down, I shall not be ashamed." | Authority for building up |
| Gal 2:6-7 | "And from those who seemed to be of repute (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality) those who seemed influential added nothing to me. On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised..." | Recognition of apostolic authority |
| Eph 3:8 | "To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the nations the unsearchable riches of Christ..." | Humility alongside grace |
| 1 Thess 2:6 | "...nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others." | Seeking God's glory, not man's |
| Rev 21:14 | "And in the city there were twelve gates, and on the gates twelve names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel." | Twelve tribes represent foundational identity |
| Acts 26:4-5 | "My manner of life from my youth, spent in my own nation and at Jerusalem, all Jews know. They know also that from the first I associated with the Pharisees, the strictest sect of our Jewish religion." | Paul's Jewish credentials |
| 2 Cor 3:1 | "Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you?" | Contrast with letters of commendation |
| 2 Cor 12:11 | "I have become a fool. You forced me to it. For I ought to have been commended by you. For I was not at all inferior to these super-apostles, even though I am nothing." | Acknowledgment of necessity |
| 1 Cor 3:19 | "For the wisdom of this world is folly with God." | Wisdom of world vs. God's wisdom |
2 Corinthians 11 verses
2 Corinthians 11 16 Meaning
Paul declares he is speaking foolishly, compelled by others' boasting and false claims. He acknowledges that this self-commendation appears foolish to them.
2 Corinthians 11 16 Context
In this chapter, Paul is defending his apostleship and ministry against the subtle criticisms and false claims of "super-apostles" or "false apostles" who were infiltrating the Corinthian church. These individuals were likely emphasizing their superior intellect, rhetorical skills, or personal connections, seeking to draw the Corinthians away from Paul's apostolic authority. Paul, often by necessity, has to engage in a degree of self-commendation, which he admits appears foolish. He states this is done not out of arrogance but to expose the falsehood of his detractors and to protect the Corinthians from being misled. His lengthy "fool's talk" culminates in chapter 12 with the account of his heavenly visions, ultimately pointing to God's power manifested in weakness.
2 Corinthians 11 16 Word analysis
- "I say," - (Greek: ego legō - ἐγὼ λέγω) Expresses personal assertion. Paul begins by owning his words.
- "foolishly" - (Greek: aphrosynē - ἀφροσύνῃ) Indicates want of sense, folly, or want of understanding. It's a state of being foolish.
- "I am being" - (Greek: ginomai - γίνομαι) Means to become or to be made. Implies a passive state forced upon him.
- "mad" - (Greek: exēstēkenai - ἐξέστηκεναι) Literally, to be driven out of one's mind, astonished, or beside oneself. Highlights the extreme nature of what he's compelled to do.
- "you" - (Greek: hymeis - ὑμεῖς) Plural "you," referring to the Corinthian believers.
- "compelled" - (Greek: aneagen - ἀναγκάζει) Means to compel, urge, or constrain by force, necessity, or urgency. Paul attributes his self-commendation to external pressure.
- "me." - Paul emphasizes that the action is done to him.
- "For I ought to have been commended" - (Greek: egō gar ēdei opheilōn - ἐγὼ γὰρ ἤδη ὀφείλων) Paul states that rightfully, the Corinthians should have commended him, implying they failed to do so or recognized the wrong people.
- "by you:" - Directing the responsibility back to the Corinthians.
- "though I am" - (Greek: kaiper ōn - καίπερ ὢν) Though I am indeed.
- "nothing," - (Greek: ouptos - οὐτὸς) Not anything, insignificantly small. A profound statement of humility, acknowledging his lack of inherent merit apart from Christ.
- "not a whit" - (Greek: oud'ein tōi elachistōi - οὐδ'εῖν τῷ ἐλαχίστῳ) Not in the least. Reinforces his assertion of being "nothing" in terms of self-sufficiency.
2 Corinthians 11 16 Bonus section
The phrase "though I am nothing" (Greek: ouk eis ho elachistōs) is a profound expression of humility. Paul does not claim to be genuinely "nothing" in Christ, but rather that in the eyes of the world's standards of boasting (as exhibited by the false apostles), his personal credentials are insignificant when compared to Christ's work through him. It echoes his statement in 1 Corinthians 4:10, "We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong." His self-deprecation serves to exalt Christ and redirect the focus from human agency to divine power.
2 Corinthians 11 16 Commentary
Paul acknowledges that his current discourse might sound like boasting, a practice he labels as foolishness. However, he explains that this compulsion to speak about himself arises from the pressure exerted by the false apostles and their followers within the Corinthian church. He asserts that the Corinthians themselves should have recognized and spoken about his genuine apostolic credentials. Despite his claim of being "nothing" and not being inferior, he presents this not as boasting in himself but as a necessity to counteract the deceptive influence of others and to defend the truth of the Gospel. His underlying intent is to expose the superficiality of the false apostles' claims and to highlight that true authority comes from God, not human achievements or rhetoric.