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2 Corinthians 11:16

in 2 Corinthians 11

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.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

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

KJV

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

This verse in 2 Corinthians 11

Commentary

10 notes on this verse

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

Let no man think me a fool - See the note on 2Co 11:1. As the apostle was now going to enter into a particular detail of his qualifications, natural, acquired, and spiritual; and particularly of his labors and sufferings; he thinks it necessary to introduce the discourse once more as he did 2Co 11:1.

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.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers2 voices

A commentator

Ambrosiaster

COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES · Written before 384.

proposed

Paul returns here to what he said at the beginning of the chapter. What he is about to say is true, though it may make him appear to be foolish, because these truths redound to his praise. Paul is not really boasting but merely wants …

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily 24 on 2 Corinthians · Written before 407.

proposed

"Again I say." For he had even already used much preparatory corrective: 'But nevertheless I am not contented with what I have said, but I say yet again,' "Let no man think me foolish." For this was what they did-boasted without a reason.-But observe, I pray you, how often, when about to enter upon his own praises, he checks himself. 'For indeed it is the act of folly,' he says, 'to boast: but I do it, not as playing the fool, but because compelled. But if ye do not believe me, but though ye see there is a necessity will condemn me; not even so will I decline the task.' Seest thou how he showed that there was great necessity for his speaking. For he that shunned not even this suspicion, consider what violent impulsion to speak he must have undergone, how he travailed and was constrained to speak. But, nevertheless, even so he employs this thing with moderation. For he did not say, 'that I may glory.' And when about to do "a little," again he uses yet another deprecatory expression.

The Medieval Church2 voices

A commentator

Thomas Aquinas

Commentary on 2 Corinthians · Written before 1274.

proposed

Having asked the Corinthians to bear patiently with his commendation, and shown that he did this out of the zeal he had for them because that zeal was reasonable and ordinate, the Apostle now presents another reason through which he shows that, given he is …

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on 2 Corinthians · Written before 1107.

proposed

For although he was already using qualifications, he still says: I am not satisfied with what has been said, but again I say: "let no one think me foolish." For to boast simply is characteristic of foolishness; but I do this not as a fool, …

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

I say again, let no man think me a fool,....
3 more voices on this verse

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

Ordinarily, indeed, it is unbecoming a wise man to be much and often speaking in his own praise. Boasting of ourselves is usually not only a sign of a proud mind, but a mark of folly also. However, says the apostle, yet as a fool receive me; that is, if you count it folly in me to boast a little, yet give due regard to what I shall say.

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

The Greek denotes one who does not rightly use his mental powers; not having the idea of blame necessarily attached to it; one deceived by foolish vanities, yet boasting himself [TITTMANN], (2Co 11:17, 19). that I--The oldest manuscripts read, "that I, too," namely, as well as they, may boast myself.
I say again - I repeat it. He refers to what he had said in 2Co 11:1. The sense is, “I have said much respecting myself which may seem to be foolish. I admit that to boast in this manner of one’s own self in general is folly. But circumstances compel me to it. And I entreat you to look at those circumstances and not regard me as a fool for doing it.” If otherwise - If you think otherwise. If I cannot obtain this of you that you will not regard me as acting prudently and wisely. If you will think me foolish, still I am constrained to make these remarks in vindication of myself. Yet as a fool receive me - Margin, “Suffer;” see 2Co 11:1. Bear with me as you do with others. Consider how much I have been provoked to this; how necessary it is to my character; and do not reject and despise me because I am constrained to say that of myself which is usually regarded as foolish boasting. That I may boast myself a little - Since others do it and are not rebuked, may I be permitted to do it also; see 2Co 11:18-19. There is something sarcastic in the words “a little.” The sense is, “Others are allowed to boast a great deal. Assuredly I may be allowed to boast a little of what I have done.”

The words behind it

22 Greek words

Every 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.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

The walk

8 stops

Each 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 11:19

    For you gladly tolerate fools, since you are so wise.

    it leads to

    • 1 Corinthians 4:10

      We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are honored, but we are dishonored.

  • Through

    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.

    it leads to

  • Through

    2 Corinthians 11:1

    I hope you will bear with a little of my foolishness, but you are already doing that.

    it 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.

    • 2 Corinthians 11:21

      To my shame I concede that we were too weak for that! Speaking as a fool, however, I can match what anyone else dares to boast about.

    • 2 Corinthians 5:13

      If we are out of our mind, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you.

Where this verse is studied

About 2 Corinthians

The Apostle Paul in Prison, Rembrandt, 1627. Public domain.
The Apostle Paul in Prison, Rembrandt, 1627. Public domain.
This page draws on 10 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; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 2 Corinthians.