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2 Corinthians

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2 Corinthians 11

1Would that ye could bear with me in a little foolishness: but indeed ye do bear with me.

1Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.

Commentary · verse 1

Paul gave a disclaimer. He was very intentional with his words and was willing to consider he could be wrong. About what?

2For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy: for I espoused you to one husband, that I might present you as a pure virgin to Christ.

3But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is toward Christ.

2For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

3But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

Commentary · verses 2-3

After Paul gave the disclaimer in asking the Corinthians to bear with him in a little foolishness, he said he feared that it was possible their minds may be corrupted. This was a continuation of the theme from the previous chapter: offensive spiritual warfare is done with a good thought process with words.

4For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or if ye receive a different spirit, which ye did not receive, or a different gospel, which ye did not accept, ye do well to bear with him.

5For I reckon that I am not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.

4For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

5For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.

Commentary · verses 4-5

Paul did not see himself as the chiefest Apostle. Paul was humble.

6But though I be rude in speech, yet am I not in knowledge; nay, in every way have we made this manifest unto you in all things.

7Or did I commit a sin in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I preached to you the gospel of God for nought?

6But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things.

7Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?

Commentary · verses 6-7

Paul asked if he had offended them by being humble.

8I robbed other churches, taking wages of them that I might minister unto you; 9and when I was present with you and was in want, I was not a burden on any man; for the brethren, when they came from Macedonia, supplied the measure of my want; and in everything I kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.

8I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.

9And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.

Commentary · verses 8-9

Paul made sure he was not a burden to the Corinthians.

10As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this glorying in the regions of Achaia.

11Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth.

12But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them that desire an occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.

10As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.

11Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth.

12But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.

Commentary · verses 10-12

Paul was focused on doing God's Will. Paul was focused on loving the Corinthians: the right HOW.

13For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, fashioning themselves into apostles of Christ.

14And no marvel; for even Satan fashioneth himself into an angel of light.

13For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

14And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

Commentary · verses 13-14

Do not marvel over false apostles because Satan himself transformed into an angel of light. This spoke to the importance of knowing and doing a right HOW/WHY. Satan had a right WHAT (angel of light) with a wrong or no HOW/WHY. Satan was/is a deceiver.

15It is no great thing therefore if his ministers also fashion themselves as ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

15Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Commentary · verse 15

It is easy then for Satan's ministers/servants to also have a right WHAT with a wrong or no HOW/WHY. This verse stated that those who deceived others were doing Satan's work, whether they were aware of it or not. Satan's work is deception.

16I say again, Let no man think me foolish; but if ye do, yet as foolish receive me, that I also may glory a little.

17That which I speak, I speak not after the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of glorying.

18Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.

19For ye bear with the foolish gladly, being wise yourselves.

20For ye bear with a man, if he bringeth you into bondage, if he devoureth you, if he taketh you captive, if he exalteth himself, if he smiteth you on the face.

16I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little.

17That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.

18Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.

19For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.

20For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face.

Commentary · verses 16-20

Paul was speaking about the physical and calling it "foolishness."

Commentary · verses 21-27

Verses 21-27: Paul continued to speak "foolishness," this time concerning himself and the Israelites/believers, in order to prove a point.

21I speak by way of disparagement, as though we had been weak. Yet whereinsoever any is bold (I speak in foolishness), I am bold also.

22Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.

23Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as one beside himself) I more; in labors more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in deaths oft.

21I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.

22Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.

23Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.

Commentary · verse 23

Paul was comparing himself according to physical attributes with others who the Corinthians could be tempted to follow, including themselves. Paul was of the seed of Abraham (Hebrew/Israelite) that was a minister of Christ. Less than halfway through Paul speaking "foolishness" he reminded the reader that he was speaking foolishness ("I speak as one beside himself"). It seemed that Paul did not enjoy doing this but did so to prove a point that would benefit the Corinthians.

24Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.

25Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day have I been in the deep; 26in journeyings often, in perils of rivers, in perils of robbers, in perils from my countrymen, in perils from the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27in labor and travail, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

24Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.

25Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

26In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

27In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

Commentary · verse 27

Paul described the physical suffering he endured as a way for people to know they should not boast. If anyone was to boast it would be Paul and when Paul did, he qualified it by stating it was "foolishness."

28Besides those things that are without, there is that which presseth upon me daily, anxiety for all the churches.

29Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is caused to stumble, and I burn not?

30If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things that concern my weakness.

28Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

29Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?

30If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.

Commentary · verses 28-30

If Paul did boast, it would be in his weakness. Why? Because when Paul was weak, he was strong through grace.

Doctrines on this passage

31The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed for evermore knoweth that I lie not.

32In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king guarded the city of the Damascenes in order to take me: 33and through a window was I let down in a basket by the wall, and escaped his hands.

31The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.

32In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:

33And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.

Commentary · verses 31-33

Theme of Chapter 11: Paul qualified his presentation of his physical attributes by calling it "foolishness." Paul presented all of his physical qualifications to humble the Corinthians, and then stated that he would not boast of his strengths, but of his weaknesses.

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