2 Corinthians 12:11 BSB

2 Corinthians 12:11

I have become a fool, but you drove me to it. In fact, you should have commended me, since I am in no way inferior to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

I am become foolish: ye compelled me; for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing was I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I am nothing.

KJV

I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.

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Commentary

4 voices

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on 2 Corinthians (1107)

Again he justifies himself for boasting. Earlier he said, "receive me, even as foolish" and "as if in foolishness," but now he calls himself foolish already without the particle "as"; for having done what he desired, he boldly subjects himself to such abasement, sufficiently teaching …

The record, by era

The Nineteenth Century3 voices

Albert Barnes

1798–1870

Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)

I am become a fool in glorying - The meaning of this expression I take to be this. “I have been led along in speaking of myself until I admit I appear foolish in this kind of boasting. It is folly to do it, and I would not have entered on it unless I had been driven to it by my circumstances and the necessity which was imposed on me of speaking of myself.” Paul doubtless desired that what he had said of himself should not be regarded as an example for others to follow.

Charles Spurgeon

1834–1892

The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 1458: “A Sermon Upon One Nothing by Another Nothing” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) (1879)

THE Divine discipline had succeeded well with the Apostle Paul. There was danger of his being exalted above measure by the abundance of the Revelation which he received and, therefore, there was given him a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet him—this trial fully answered its purpose and Paul remained a lowly-minded servant of Jesus Christ. His humility comes out in the incident before us. He was compelled to defend himself and prove his Apostleship and this he does very thoroughly but very modestly.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

"I am become a fool." He sounds a retreat [BENGEL]. ye--emphatic. "It is YE who have compelled me; for I ought to have been commended by you," instead of having to commend myself. am I behind--rather as Greek, "was I behind" when I was with you? the very chiefest--rather, as in 2Co 11:5, "those overmuch apostles." though I be nothing--in myself (1Co 15:9, 10).

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

21 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
Γέγονα	Gegona	I have become	G1096 →
ἄφρων	aphrōn	a fool	G878 →
ὑμεῖς	humeis	you yourselves	G4771 →
με	me	me	G3165 →
ἠναγκάσατε.	ēnagkasate	compelled.	G315 →
ἐγὼ	egō	I myself	G1473 →
γὰρ	gar	for	G1063 →
ὤφειλον	ōpheilon	was being obliged	G3784 →
ὑφ᾽	huph᾽	by	G5259 →
ὑμῶν	humōn	you	G4771 →
συνίστασθαι·	sunistasthai	to have been commended;	G4921 →
οὐδὲν	ouden	[In] no[thing]	G3762 →
γὰρ	gar	for	G1063 →
ὑστέρησα	husterēsa	was I inferior	G5302 →
τῶν	tōn	to those	G3588 →
ὑπερλίαν	huperlian	most eminent	G5228 →G3029 →
ἀποστόλων,	apostolōn	apostles,	G652 →
εἰ	ei	if	G1487 →
καὶ	kai	even	G2532 →
οὐδέν	ouden	no [thing]	G3762 →
εἰμι.	eimi	I am.	G1510 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
Ephesians 3:8
Though I am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
leads to
- 1 Corinthians 15:9
  For I am the least of the apostles and am unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
- Colossians 1:27
  To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
- Ephesians 2:7
  in order that in the coming ages He might display the surpassing riches of His grace, demonstrated by His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
- Ephesians 3:16
  I ask that out of the riches of His glory He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being,
- 1 Timothy 1:13
  I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man; yet because I had acted in ignorance and unbelief, I was shown mercy.
Through
2 Corinthians 11:1
I hope you will bear with a little of my foolishness, but you are already doing that.
leads to
- 2 Corinthians 11:4
  For if someone comes and proclaims a Jesus other than the One we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit than the One you received, or a different gospel than the one you…
- 1 Corinthians 1:21
  For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know Him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
Through
2 Corinthians 12:6
Even if I wanted to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will credit me with more than he sees in…
leads to
- 2 Corinthians 11:16
  I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then receive me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little.

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About 2 Corinthians

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01Commentary

The record, by era

Voices on this verse

02Original language & word study

03The walk

Where the connections lead

04Related verses

05Featured studies on this passage

06About 2 Corinthians

The record, by era

Where the connections lead

Commentary

Original language & word study

The walk

Related verses

Featured studies on this passage

About 2 Corinthians