2 Corinthians 11:18
in 2 Corinthians 11Since many are boasting according to the flesh, I too will boast.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.
KJV
Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.
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This verse in 2 Corinthians 11
Commentary
11 notes on this versePlainly, a Christian will "glory" even in the flesh; but (it will be) when it has endured laceration for Christ's sake, in order that the spirit may be crowned in it, not in order that it may draw the eyes and sighs of youths after it.
This site's exposition
receive me, that I may boast myself a little
on 2 Corinthians 11:16-18
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: Paul restates the frame of verse 1 as he moves into the boast's actual content, and the bench reads the repetition as necessary since what follows will sound, on its surface, exactly like the self-commendation he condemned at 10:12. That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting: he distances even the coming boast from ordinary apostolic speech, marking it as a concession to Corinth's own taste rather than his normal mode. Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also: the commentators note the deliberate irony, Paul will fight fire with fire only long enough to expose what the fire actually is.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
Because many boast according to the flesh, and I will boast too: This is what he says, because some of the Jews who believed presumed that they were children of Abraham. This is to boast according to the flesh, to claim nobility for themselves. They …
"Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also." What is, "after the flesh?" Of things external, of high birth, of wealth, of wisdom, of being circumcised, of Hebrew ancestry, of popular renown. And behold wisdom. He sets down those things which he shows to be nothings, and then, folly also. For if to glory in what are really good things be folly, much more is it so [to glory in] those that are nothing. And this is what he calls, "not after the Lord." For it is no advantage to be a Hebrew, or any such like things soever. 'Think not, therefore, that I set these down as a virtue; no; but because those men boast I also am compelled to institute my comparison on these points.' Which he does also in another place, saying, "If any man thinketh that he may trust in the flesh, I more:" and there, it is on their account that trusted in this. Just as if one who was come of an illustrious race but had chosen a philosophic life, should see others priding themselves greatly on being well-born; and being desirous of taking down their vanity, should be compelled to speak of his own distinction; not to adorn himself, but to humble them; so, truly, does Paul also do.
The Medieval Church2 voices
He indicates the reason why he commends himself and glories, when he says, since many boast of worldly things, I too will boast. Here it should be noted that the false apostles, because they were Jews, gloried according to the flesh, saying that they were …
That is – by external merits, noble birth, by the fact that they are circumcised and their ancestors are Jews. For this is what he calls boasting "not in the Lord"; for what is the benefit of being a Jew? Therefore, I do not consider …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
But he would not glory in those things, though he had as much or more reason than others to do so. But he gloried in his infirmities, as he tells them afterwards.
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Seeing that many glory after the flesh,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Seeing that many glory ... - The false teachers in Corinth. They boasted of their birth, rank, natural endowments, eloquence, etc.; see 2Co 11:22. Compare Php 3:3-4. I will glory also - I also will boast of my endowments, which though somewhat different yet pertain in the main to the “flesh” also; see 2Co 11:23 ff.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
I will glory also--that is, I also will boast of such fleshly advantages, to show you that even in these I am not their inferiors, and therefore ought not to be supplanted by them in your esteem; though these are not what I desire to glory in (2Co 10:17).
Seeing that many glory after the flesh - Boast of external and secular things.
The words behind it
7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἐπεὶ | epei | Since | G1893 → | |
| πολλοὶ | polloi | many | G4183 → | 367 times |
| καυχῶνται | kauchontai | boast | G2744 → | 37 times |
| κατὰ | kata | according to | G2596 → | 468 times |
| σάρκα, | sarka | flesh, | G4561 → | 146 times |
| κἀγὼ | kago | I myself also | G1473 →G2532 → | 839 times |
| καυχήσομαι. | kauchesomai | will boast. | G2744 → | 37 times |
ἐπεὶSince
epeiG1893 →
πολλοὶmany
polloiG4183 →367 times
καυχῶνταιboast
kauchontaiG2744 →37 times
κατὰaccording to
kataG2596 →468 times
σάρκα,flesh,
sarkaG4561 →146 times
κἀγὼI myself also
καυχήσομαι.will boast.
kauchesomaiG2744 →37 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 12:9But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of…
it leads to
- Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
- 2 Corinthians 12:10
That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
- Isaiah 40:29–31
He gives power to the faint and increases the strength of the weak.
- 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,
- Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
- Philippians 4:13
Through
2 Corinthians 12:11I 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
- 2 Corinthians 11:5
I consider myself in no way inferior to those “super-apostles.”
- 2 Corinthians 11:1
I hope you will bear with a little of my foolishness, but you are already doing that.
- 2 Corinthians 11:5
Through
2 Corinthians 11:12But I will keep on doing what I am doing, in order to undercut those who want an opportunity to be regarded as our equals in the things of which they boast.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 9:12
If others have this right to your support, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not exercise this right. Instead, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of…
- 1 Corinthians 9:12
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 2 Corinthians; 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; Tertullian, On the Apparel of Women Book II; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 2 Corinthians.