2 Corinthians 11:30 kjv
If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.
2 Corinthians 11:30 nkjv
If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity.
2 Corinthians 11:30 niv
If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.
2 Corinthians 11:30 esv
If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.
2 Corinthians 11:30 nlt
If I must boast, I would rather boast about the things that show how weak I am.
2 Corinthians 11 30 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Cor 11:23 | ...in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more... | Paul's own suffering |
| 2 Cor 12:5 | But I will come to my revelations and my experiences. | Not boasting in himself |
| 2 Cor 12:7 | A thorn was given to me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me. | Weakness for Christ's sake |
| Gal 6:14 | But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus... | Glory in the cross |
| Phil 3:10 | That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings,... | Fellowship in sufferings |
| Rom 5:3-5 | And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience... | Glory in tribulations |
| Col 1:24 | Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind... | Rejoyce in sufferings |
| 2 Tim 2:3 | Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. | Endure hardness |
| Heb 11:36-38 | And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:... | Examples of suffering |
| Acts 14:22 | Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that... | Encouragement through hardship |
| Acts 20:23-24 | Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city unto me, that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these... | Steadfastness in afflictions |
| 1 Cor 1:18 | For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power... | Power of the cross |
| 1 Cor 1:27 | But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak... | God chooses the weak |
| 2 Cor 10:8 | For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction... | Authority for edification |
| 2 Cor 10:13 | But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath... | Measured boasting |
| 1 Pet 4:12-13 | Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice... | Rejoice in fiery trials |
| Phil 1:29 | For unto you it is given for Christ's sake, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; | Suffering for Christ |
| 2 Cor 4:8-10 | We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down,... | God's power in weakness |
| Eph 3:13 | Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. | His tribulations are their glory |
| 2 Cor 12:10 | Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am... | Taking pleasure in infirmities |
2 Corinthians 11 verses
2 Corinthians 11 30 Meaning
Paul declares his weakness for the purpose of proclaiming Christ's power through him. His boasting is not in himself, but in his afflictions endured for the gospel. These hardships serve as a testament to Christ's sustaining strength within him.
2 Corinthians 11 30 Context
This verse is found in the latter part of Second Corinthians, a letter characterized by Paul's defense of his apostleship and the gospel. In chapter 11, Paul contrasts his genuine ministry with the deceptive activities of false apostles. He details his numerous sufferings and hardships for Christ, deliberately setting them against the credentials and boasting of his opponents. He uses a form of ironic boasting ("foolishness" to his audience) to highlight their pride and superficiality, while ultimately directing all glory to God. His "weaknesses" are evidence of Christ's power working through him.
2 Corinthians 11 30 Word Analysis
- οὖν (oun): Therefore. A common conjunction, indicating a consequence or conclusion. It links this statement to the preceding descriptions of his sufferings.
- ἀσθενήμασιν (astheneasin): Infirmities, weaknesses, liabilities. The plural noun signifies multiple instances or types of weakness. It directly refers to the afflictions, dangers, and hardships previously enumerated by Paul. This word is crucial as it's the source of his boasting in Christ.
- μὴ (mē): Not. A negative particle, negating the following verb.
- καυχήσομαι (kauchesomai): I will boast, I will glory. The future middle indicative of καυχάομαι (kauchaomai), meaning to boast or exult. The middle voice can emphasize a personal participation or benefit from the boasting.
- εἰ (ei): If. A conditional particle introducing a clause.
- ἐν (en): In. A preposition indicating location or the means by which something is done.
- ἐμοὶ (emoi): Me. The dative personal pronoun.
- οὐκ (ouk): Not. Another negative particle, more emphatic than μή.
- κυρίῳ (kyriō): Lord. The dative masculine noun, referring to Jesus Christ. The boasting is "in the Lord."
Grouped Analysis:
- "ἀσθενήμασιν μὴ καυχήσομαι" (astheneasin mē kauchēsōmai): "I will not boast in weaknesses." Paul sets up a seeming paradox. He's been listing weaknesses, but he states he won't boast in them (in and of themselves).
- "εἰ δὲ καυχήσομαί τι" (ei de kauchēsōmai ti): "But if I will boast at all" or "if I am to boast in something." This conditional clause suggests that any boasting will be in a qualified manner.
- "ἐν ἐμοὶ οὐκ ἔσται" (en emoi ouk estai): "it will not be in me." This reinforces that the source of strength and true ground for boasting is external to his own abilities or person.
2 Corinthians 11 30 Bonus Section
Paul's rhetorical strategy is deeply rooted in the concept of "divine foolishness." In ancient cultures, boasts were often made concerning strength, lineage, or achievements. Paul inverts this, highlighting suffering as the very place where God's power is most brilliantly displayed. This is a consistent theme in Pauline theology, where the cross itself, an instrument of shame and suffering, becomes the ultimate source of power and salvation (1 Corinthians 1:18, 23-25). His "boasting in infirmities" is not a contradiction but an amplification of God's glory, emphasizing that divine grace is magnified when it operates through human frailty.
2 Corinthians 11 30 Commentary
Paul's declaration here is a pivotal moment in his defense. He contrasts his own insufficiencies and sufferings (his "weaknesses") with the supreme power and efficacy of Christ working through those very weaknesses. He is not boasting about his weaknesses as personal merits, but rather that his endurance and continuation in those weaknesses are direct demonstrations of Christ's power sustaining him. This stance subverts the superficial criteria of glory pursued by the false apostles. His ultimate boast is reserved for Christ alone, found particularly in the enabling power seen during his most challenging experiences. This serves as a model for believers to find strength in Christ when they face their own difficulties.