2 Corinthians 11:16-21 (WEL) Let me repeat. Let no one take me as a fool, and if you do, at least put up with me as a fool so that I can boast a little. 17 What I’m talking about now, I’m not talking according to the Lord, but foolishly in this confident boasting. 18 Since many brag according to the flesh, boasting in their fleshly attributes, I will brag a little, too. 19 For you gladly put up with fools, since you are so wise. 20 For you put up with a man if he enslaves you, eats you alive, takes from you, exalts himself, or slugs you on the face. 21 I am ashamed to admit that we were too weak, but in whatever someone is bold (I am speaking foolishly), I am bold, too.
V16 Let me repeat. Let no one take me as a fool, and if you do, at least put up with me as a fool so that I can boast a little.
Paul would rather be known as a fool who is a true Apostle than be a false apostle bragging about his wisdom. Compare 1 Corinthians 1:20-25.
Bible Knowledge Commentary:
“Like most people, the Corinthians were slow to absorb the truth that divine standards differ radically from those of the world. Paul had tried to make this clear in his former letter concerning the message of the Cross: the wisdom of God is foolishness to the world (1 Corinthians 1:18-25). If, however, the Corinthians persisted in looking at things from the world’s point of view, he would accommodate himself to their perspective. But he would still try to lead them to realize that divine accreditation should be seen not against the backdrop of human greatness but human weakness. The marks of an apostle were the marks of Christ, including weakness and suffering (2 Corinthians 13:4; cf. Isaiah 53:3-4; Mark 9:12). In this passage (2 Corinthians 11:16-12:10) Paul recounted his frailties and with poignant irony said, in essence, “These are the credentials of an apostle” (cf. 1 Corinthians 4:9-13).”
V17 What I’m talking about now, I’m not talking according to the Lord, but foolishly in this confident boasting.
Boasting is a foolishness.
The Greek word for foolishly is G877 ἀφροσύνη aphrosúne (the word fool in verse 16 is related), which means senselessness, even lack of comprehension and/or (AMG’s Comprehensive Dictionary of New Testament Words) “lack of wisdom, of common sense.”
Thinking in worldly standards instead of God’s standards leads to dangers. Paul wants them to think according to God’s ways. The best pastor, teacher, and scholar is not one who has great degrees and public acclaim, but the one who holds God and His words, standards, rules, worldview, etc., to be superior.
Being a great scholar is wonderful, but let us always judge character and truth based on God’s standards—the Bible.
V18 Since many brag according to the flesh, boasting in their fleshly attributes, I will brag a little, too.
The many refers to these false teachers with worldly, natural, and sin nature attributes.
These false teachers exhibit their sin nature = me first and God last, none, or less important.
Paul and the authentic Apostles exhibit their born-again nature = God’s will first.
(Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary) “I will glory also—that is, I also will boast of such fleshly advantages, to show you that even in these I am not their inferiors, and therefore ought not to be supplanted by them in your esteem; though these are not what I desire to glory in (2 Corinthians 10:17).”
V19 For you gladly put up with fools, since you are so wise.
A rebuke because the Corinthians are listening to these false apostles instead of the authentic teaching of the Apostles.
V20 For you put up with a man if he enslaves you, eats you alive, takes from you, exalts himself, or slugs you on the face.
This describes the tyrant leader. People tend to become like the god they serve. These false teachers seek to enslave (a controlling nature), eat you alive (steals and kills your personality, your life, your reason, etc.), take from you (steals by donations, pleas, false promises, etc., similar to the prosperity gospel), exalts himself (the teacher on the pedestal having almost greater authority than God), and slugs you in the face (all sorts of abuse).
V21 I am ashamed to admit that we were too weak, but in whatever someone is bold (I am speaking foolishly), I am bold, too.
Human weakness is glorified by God’s strengthening grace. Don’t let human weakness stop you from living the Christian life or serving the Lord Jesus.
We learn:
- We learn that what the world considers great credentials, God considers foolishness. See 1 Corinthians 1:21 and 1 Corinthians 3:19.
- Some traits of true vs. false apostles.
Questions:
- What is the standard you use to judge a teacher’s soundness in the faith?
- How would others judge what you say and teach?