2 Corinthians 11:16-33

16 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. 17 What I am saying with this boastful confidence, I say not as the Lord would but as a fool. 18 Since many boast according to the flesh, I too will boast. 19 For you gladly bear with fools, being wise yourselves! 20 For you bear it if someone makes slaves of you, or devours you, or takes advantage of you, or puts on airs, or strikes you in the face. 21 To my shame, I must say, we were too weak for that!

But whatever anyone else dares to boast of—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast of that. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they offspring of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. 24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?

30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. 32 At Damascus, the governor under King Aretas was guarding the city of Damascus in order to seize me, 33 but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his hands.

(ESV)

STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?

  • What is the writer saying?
  • How do I apply this to my life?

💡How to do your quiet time


Despite Paul’s dislike for human comparisons, he continues what he calls a foolish comparison to show that, even with the false teachers’ self-proclaimed qualifications, he remained more qualified than them. He admits that his speaking here is not following the example of Christ’s humility. But he is not sinning, instead, he can be considered to be answering a fool according to his folly (Prov 26:5). The false teachers had been boasting in the flesh and foolishly the Corinthians had allowed them in. They gladly put up with fools and their resulting mistreatment. By tolerating the false teachers they were made slaves perhaps financially but spiritually through the legalism they taught. Figuratively they were struck on the face as they were humiliated by these false teachers. The false apostles had accused Paul of being weak in person. If the way they acted was the requirement of being an apostle, then Paul was too weak for that.

Paul then presented a long list of his heritage and sufferings. The false apostles probably boasted in their heritage and Paul shows that he even surpasses some of those. Paul then boasts in his ministry. He didn’t focus on the triumphs of his ministry but the difficulties. He endured many afflictions as he served to take the gospel to the ends of the earth. What he lists here exceeds what we see in the book of Acts reminding us that Acts is only a partial biography of his missionary work. Not only did he suffer at the hands of others but he refused payment and support for his work on most occasions, chose to work hard night and day, and found himself lacking food, clothing, and adequate shelter. Ultimately Paul was driven by a deep concern for others. He lived what he taught, “If one member suffers, all suffer together…” (1 Cor 12:26). Even though Paul chose to boast, he could only boast in his weaknesses—because that is where he saw the power of God manifest most clearly (2 Cor 12:9)

Paul concluded this section with a mention of his escape through a window via a basket in Damascus. This event was symbolic of his conversion. He went to Damascus with boldness and left in humility and weakness. The false teachers were still like the unconverted Saul.

What are your Christian credentials? If someone asks you for your testimony, what is it you highlight? What are the things in your life that point to Christ?


Major Stories of the Bible Reading Plan

Celebration in Heaven: Revelation 19-20