2 Corinthians 11:17
in 2 Corinthians 11In this confident boasting of mine, I am not speaking as the Lord would, but as a fool.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
That which I speak, I speak not after the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of glorying.
KJV
That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.
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This verse in 2 Corinthians 11
Commentary
12 notes on this verseWhat I say, he says, is not according to the Lord, that is, these words, but the purpose of these words is entirely in the Lord. And he did not say: in foolishness, but: "as if in foolishness." For to appear, and not actually to …
This site's exposition
Let no one take me for a fool
on 2 Corinthians 11:16-18
Paul enters the boast as a deliberate, ironic concession to Corinth's taste, since many are boasting according to the flesh. He stays in it only long enough to expose it, and sets it apart from ordinary apostolic speech.
This site's exposition
I am not speaking as the Lord would
Paul marks his boast as outside the Lord's manner. Albert Barnes thinks Paul more probably means he departs from the Lord's own example, since Christ never boasted.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
A commentator
Theodoret of CyrusCOMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 344 · Written before 458.
proposed
Jesus said that when we have done all, we should confess that we are no more than unprofitable servants. This is why Paul says here that he is not speaking with the Lord's authority.
"That which I speak, I speak not after the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of glorifying." Seest thou how glorying is not "after the Lord?" For He saith, "When ye shall have done all, say, We are unprofitable servants." Howbeit, by itself indeed it is not "after the Lord," but by the intention it becomes so. And therefore he said, "That which I speak," not accusing the motive, but the words. Since his aim is so admirable as to dignify the words also. For as a manslayer, though his action be of those most strictly forbidden, has often been approved from the intention; and as circumcision, although it is not 'after the Lord,' has become so from the intention, so also glorying. And wherefore then does he not use so great strictness of expression? Because he is hastening on to another point, and he freely gratifies even to superfluity those who are desirous to find a handle against him, so that he may say only the things that are profitable; for when said they were enough to extinguish all that suspicion. "But as in foolishness." Before he says, "Would that ye could bear with me in a little foolishness," but now "as in foolishness;" for the farther he proceeds, the more he clears his language. Then that thou mayest not think that he plays the fool on all points, he added, "in this confidence of glorying." In this particular he means.
God does not approve of boasting, so this mode of speaking does not come from him. But the content of what he is saying is still true.
The Medieval Church1 voice
Then when he says, What I am saying, he assigns the reason for what he had said. But he had said three things, for which he wishes to give a reason. First, for the fact that he supposed it was foolish to commend himself; secondly, …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
That which I speak,....
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
He would not have them think that boasting of ourselves, or glorying in what we have, is a thing commanded by the Lord in general unto Christians, nor yet that this is always necessary in our own vindication; though it may be lawfully used, because not contrary to the Lord, when, strictly speaking, it is not after the Lord.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
That which I speak - In praise of myself. I speak it not after the Lord - see the note on 1Co 7:12. The phrase here may mean either, I do not speak this by inspiration or claiming to be inspired by the Lord; or more probably it may mean, I do not speak this imitating the example of the Lord Jesus or strictly as becomes his follower. He was eminently modest, and never vaunted or boasted. And Paul probably means to say, “I do not in this profess to follow him entirely.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Therefore this passage gives no proof that any portion of Scripture is uninspired. It merely guards against his boasting being made a justification of boasting in general, which is not ordinarily "after the Lord," that is, consistent with Christian humility. foolishly--Greek, "in foolishness." confidence of boasting-- (2Co 9:4).
I speak it not after the Lord - Were it not for the necessity under which I am laid to vindicate my apostleship, my present glorying would be inconsistent with my Christian profession of humility, and knowing no one after the flesh.
The words behind it
16 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ὃ | ho | What | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| λαλῶ, | lalo | I am saying, | G2980 → | 294 times |
| οὐ | ou | not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| κατὰ | kata | according to | G2596 → | 468 times |
| κύριον | kurion | [the] Lord | G2962 → | 711 times |
| λαλῶ | lalo | am I saying | G2980 → | 294 times |
| ἀλλ᾽ | all᾽ | but | G235 → | 635 times |
| ὡς | hos | as | G5613 → | 500 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| ἀφροσύνῃ, | aphrosune | foolishness, | G877 → | 4 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| ταύτῃ | taute | this | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| τῇ | tea | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ὑποστάσει | hupostasei | confidence | G5287 → | |
| τῆς | tes | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| καυχήσεως. | kaucheseos | of boasting. | G2746 → | 11 times |
ὃWhat
hoG3739 →1405 times
λαλῶ,I am saying,
laloG2980 →294 times
οὐnot
ouG3756 →1664 times
κατὰaccording to
kataG2596 →468 times
κύριον[the] Lord
kurionG2962 →711 times
λαλῶam I saying
laloG2980 →294 times
ἀλλ᾽but
all᾽G235 →635 times
ὡςas
hosG5613 →500 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
ἀφροσύνῃ,foolishness,
aphrosuneG877 →4 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
ταύτῃthis
tauteG3778 →1381 times
τῇthe
teaG3588 →19766 times
ὑποστάσειconfidence
hupostaseiG5287 →
τῆς<the>
tesG3588 →19766 times
καυχήσεως.of boasting.
kaucheseosG2746 →11 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Corinthians 7:25Now about virgins, I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 7:6
I say this as a concession, not as a command.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Corinthians 4:2
Now it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.
- 1 Corinthians 7:40
In my judgment, however, she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.
- 2 Corinthians 8:8–10
I am not making a demand, but I am testing the sincerity of your love in comparison to the earnestness of others.
- 1 Corinthians 7:12
To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If a brother has an unbelieving wife and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her.
- 1 Corinthians 7:6
Through
1 Corinthians 7:12To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If a brother has an unbelieving wife and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 7:25
Now about virgins, I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.
- 1 Corinthians 7:25
Through
2 Corinthians 9:4Otherwise, if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—to say nothing of you—would be ashamed of having been so confident.
it leads to
- Romans 15:26
For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.
- 2 Corinthians 8:1–5
Now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the churches of Macedonia.
- Romans 15:26
Where this verse is studied
About 2 Corinthians
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; Charles Hodge, An Exposition of the Second Epistle to the Corinthians; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily 24 on 2 Corinthians; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theodoret of Cyrus, COMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 344; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 2 Corinthians.