2 Corinthians 11:1

2 COR. 11

This chapter, along with the first 10 verses of the next chapter, is printed in the English Revised Version (1885) in but two paragraphs, the general theme of which is Paul's Apostolic Labors and Sufferings. This is sometimes called Paul's Boasting Chapter. A large number of different subjects are touched upon, and it ranks as one of the most interesting passages in the New Testament.

Would that ye could bear with me in a little foolishness. (2 Corinthians 11:1)

Paul was about to speak of his own labors, sufferings and qualifications; and, to him, it was distasteful and somewhat embarrassing to do so; however, the false apostles who had intruded themselves into the Corinthian scene had spoken of the apostle so adversely, and the rather naive Corinthians had shown such vulnerability to their seductions, that Paul destroyed them in the withering attack recorded here, reluctantly meeting them upon their own grounds, and, in a sense, stooping to their level of personal boasting in order to do it.

His enemies were only a minority of the Corinthian church; and even these "are divided into two classes, the leaders and the led; and Paul does not always keep these separate in his mind."[1] Yet in this chapter, "He clearly appealed to those who were led and denounced those who led them."[2] The great majority at Corinth had Paul's confidence. He believed they would bear with him and not misunderstand his motives. Carver said, "Again he is giving voice to his underlying confidence in the church at Corinth, as expressed in 2 Corinthians 7:4,14,16; 2 Corinthians 8:24, and 2 Corinthians 9:2."[3] Some would understand this verse as imperative, a plea that the Corinthians would bear with Paul (as in English Revised Version (1885) margin); but the preferred meaning is, "Yet my prayer is not necessary, for you do, in fact, bear with me."[4] Thus the unity of this epistle is evident in the fact that "His confidence in the Corinthians, his `boldness' on their behalf, shines clearly through."[5]

A little foolishness ... God's word commands that a fool should be answered according to his folly (Proverbs 26:5), and this was exactly the thing Paul proposed to do here.

[1] J. W. McGarvey, Second Epistle to the Corinthians (Cincinnati, Ohio: The Standard Publishing Company, 1916), p. 225.

[2] Ibid.

[3] Frank C. Carver, Beacon Bible Commentary (Kansas City, Missouri: Beacon Hill Press, 1968), Vol. 8, p. 601.

[4] R. V. G. Tasker, The Second Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1958), p. 144.

[5] Philip E. Hughes, Paul's Second Epistle to the Corinthians (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1962), p. 373.