2 Corinthians 11:1
in 2 Corinthians 11I hope you will bear with a little of my foolishness, but you are already doing that.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Would that ye could bear with me in a little foolishness: but indeed ye do bear with me.
KJV
Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.
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This verse in 2 Corinthians 11
Commentary
13 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Would to God - Greek, “I would” (Ὄφελον Ophelon). This expresses earnest desire, but in the Greek there is no appeal to God. The sense would be well expressed by “O that,” or “I earnestly wish.” Ye could bear with me - That you would bear patiently with me; that you would hear me patiently, and suffer me to speak of myself. In my folly - Folly in boasting. The idea seems to be, “I know that boasting is generally foolish, and that it is not to be indulged in.
This site's exposition
bear with a little of my foolishness
on 2 Corinthians 11:1-2
Paul names the coming boast foolishness, aphrosyne, and gives its motive. His godly jealousy, zelos theou, is a father's, who promised you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
Paul says that he is being foolish when he starts to talk about himself but that he is forced to do so because these people were harboring unworthy thoughts, when they of all people ought to be thinking well of him.
A commentator
Theodoret of CyrusCOMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 340 · Written before 458.
proposed
Paul realizes that wise people do not boast of themselves, but he has been forced to do so.
Being about to enter upon his own praises he uses much previous correction. And he does this not once or twice, although the necessity of the subject, and what he had often said, were sufficient excuse for him. For he that remembereth sins which God remembered not, and who therefore saith that he was unworthy of the very name of the Apostles, even by the most insensate is seen clearly not to be saying what he is now going to say, for the sake of glory. For if one must say something startling, even this would be especially injurious to his glory, his speaking something about himself; and to the more part it is offensive. But nevertheless he regarded not timidly any of these things, but he looked to one thing, the salvation of his hearers. But still in order that he might not cause harm to the unthinking by this, by saying, I mean, great things of himself, he employs out of abundant caution these many preparatory correctives, and says, "Would that ye could bear with me," whilst I play the fool in some little things, yea, rather, "ye do indeed bear with me." Beholdest thou wisdom? For when he says, "would that," it is as putting it at their disposal: but when he even asserts [that they do], it is as confiding greatly in their affection, and as declaring that he both loves and is loved. Yea, rather, not from bare love merely, but from a sort of warm and insane passion he says that they ought to bear with him even when he plays the fool.
The Medieval Church2 voices
Intending to begin a discourse about his own praises, he made many qualifications, avoiding what is offensive to others in self-praise. Necessity compelled him to this, and the fear that it would harm his disciples if they began to despise him while regarding the false …
After defending himself against the false charges placed against him by the false apostles, the Apostle, in order to refute them, that is, the false apostles, and render his own testimony more honorable, now commends himself to the Corinthians. In regard to this he does …
6 more voices on this verse
The Reformation1 voice
Not as if he were a fool in glorying; for he was constrained to it by necessity, and besides, he restrained himself in such a manner, that no one could justly regard him as going beyond bounds; but as it is an unseemly thing to herald one's own praises, and a thing that is foreign to the inclinations of a modest man, he speaks by way of concession.
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
He calls this folly, because too often it is really no better. In his case it was necessary; yet, seeing others might apprehend it to be folly in him, he desires them to bear with it. Note, As much against the grain as it is with a proud man to acknowledge his infirmities, so much is it against the grain with a humble man to speak in his own praise.
Would to God you could bear with me a little,....
He mentions, in his own necessary vindication, his equality with the other apostles, and with the false apostles in this particular of preaching the gospel to the Corinthians freely, without wages,
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Would to God--Translate as Greek, "I would that." bear with me--I may ask not unreasonably to be borne with; not so the false apostles (2Co 11:4, 20). my--not in the oldest manuscripts. folly--The Greek is a milder term than that for "foolishness" in 1Co 3:19;
Would to God ye could bear with me - Οφελον ηνειχεσθε μου μικρον. As the word God is not mentioned here, it would have been much better to have translated the passage literally thus: I wish ye could bear a little with me. The too frequent use of this sacred name produces a familiarity with it that is not at all conducive to reverence and godly fear. In my folly - In my seeming folly; for, being obliged to vindicate his ministry, it was necessary that he should speak much of himself, his sufferings, and his success. And as this would appear like boasting; and boasting is always the effect of an empty, foolish mind; those who were not acquainted with the necessity that lay upon him to make this defense, might be led to impute it to vanity. As if he had said: Suppose you allow this to be folly, have the goodness to bear with me; for though I glory, I should not be a fool, 2Co 12:6. And let no man think me a fool for my boasting, 2Co 11:16.
The words behind it
10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ὄφελον | hophelon | I wish | G3785 → | |
| ἀνείχεσθέ | aneichesthe | you were bearing with | G430 → | 15 times |
| μου | mou | me | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| μικρόν | mikron | little | G3398 → | |
| τι | ti | a | G5100 → | 528 times |
| ἀφροσύνης· | aphrosunes | of foolishness; | G877 → | 4 times |
| ἀλλὰ | alla | but | G235 → | 635 times |
| καὶ | kai | indeed | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἀνέχεσθέ | anechesthe | you do endure | G430 → | 15 times |
| μου. | mou | me. | G3165 → | 1936 times |
ὌφελονI wish
hophelonG3785 →
ἀνείχεσθέyou were bearing with
aneichestheG430 →15 times
μουme
mouG3165 →1936 times
μικρόνlittle
mikronG3398 →
τιa
tiG5100 →528 times
ἀφροσύνης·of foolishness;
aphrosunesG877 →4 times
ἀλλὰbut
allaG235 →635 times
καὶindeed
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἀνέχεσθέyou do endure
anechestheG430 →15 times
μου.me.
mouG3165 →1936 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
2 Corinthians 11:4For 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…
it leads to
- Galatians 1:6–8
I am amazed how quickly you are deserting the One who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—
- 1 Corinthians 3:11
For no one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
- 1 Timothy 2:5
For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
- Ephesians 4:4–5
There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called;
- Galatians 1:6–8
Through
1 Corinthians 1:21For 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.
it leads to
- Luke 10:21
At that time Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them…
- Romans 1:20–22
For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse.
- Matthew 11:25
At that time Jesus declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.
- Luke 10:21
Through
2 Corinthians 5:13If we are out of our mind, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you.
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 11:16–17
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.
- 2 Corinthians 11:16–17
Where this verse is studied
About 2 Corinthians
This page draws on 12 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 Calvin, Commentaries; John Chrysostom, Homily 23 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 340; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 2 Corinthians.