2 Corinthians
Chapter 11
Paul Pretends to Be Foolish by Arguing
May you bear with me through some little foolishness! Please bear with me!
I confess that I share God’s jealousy for you, for I have promised you in marriage to Christ, the only spouse, to present you to him as a pure virgin.
And this is my fear: the serpent that seduced Eve with cunning could also corrupt your minds and distract you from Christian sincerity.
Someone now comes and preaches a different Jesus, one different from the one we preach, or offers you a different spirit than the one you received, along with a different gospel than the one you accepted—and you agree!
I don’t see how I am lesser than those super-apostles.
Does my speaking leave much to be desired? Perhaps, but not my knowledge, as I have clearly demonstrated to you in every way.
Maybe my mistake was humbling myself to lift you up, or giving you the gospel for free.
I reached out to other churches and used the support I received from them to serve you.
When I was with you, even though I was in need, I did not become a burden to anyone. The friends from Macedonia provided me with what I needed. I have made sure not to be a burden to you in any way, and I will keep doing so.
By the truth of Christ in me, I will not allow anyone in the land of Achaia to hinder this boasting of mine.
Why? Is it because I don’t love you? God knows I do!
Yet I do, and I will keep doing so to silence anyone eager to appear equal to me: this is my glory.
In reality, they are false apostles and deceivers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.
It is not surprising: if Satan disguises himself as an angel of light,
his servants can easily disguise themselves as ministers of salvation until they face the consequences of their actions.
Boasting as a Feigned Fool
I repeat: Don’t mistake me for a fool, but if you do, please bear with me as I sing my own praises a little.
I won’t speak with the Lord’s authority but as a fool, highlighting my own good points.
Just as some boast about their human advantages, I will do the same.
Fortunately, you are pretty tolerant of fools, you who are so wise!
You endure being enslaved, exploited, robbed, treated with contempt, and slapped in the face.
What a shame that I acted so weakly with you! But if others are so bold, I will also dare, even if I speak like a fool.
Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.
Are they ministers of Christ? (I begin to talk like a madman) I am even more. Better than they are, because of my many labors. Better than they are, with the time I spent in prison. The beatings I endured are unmatched. How many times have I faced near death?
Five times, the Jews sentenced me to thirty-nine lashes.
Three times, I was beaten with a rod. Once, I was stoned. Three times, I was shipwrecked, and once, I spent a night and a day adrift on the open sea.
I have continually faced dangers while traveling—due to rivers, bandits, my fellow Jews, or pagans; I’ve been in danger in the city, in the open country, at sea; from false brothers.
I have worked and often labored without sleep. I have been hungry, thirsty, starving, cold, and without shelter.
Besides these and other matters, I also worry daily about all the churches.
Who is weak, that I do not feel weak too? Whoever falls, am I not burning inside?
If I need to boast, let me list the times I was weak.
The God and Father of Jesus the Lord—blessed be forever!—knows I am telling the truth.
At Damascus, the governor under King Aretas had the city guarded to arrest me,
and I was forced to be lowered in a basket through a window in the wall. That’s how I escaped his grasp.
Commentaries
He Pretends to Be Foolish by Arguing.
What Paul expresses in this passage might seem like the foolishness of a fool. However, by accepting it and calling it foolishness, he exorcises, purifies, and turns it into a weapon in his argument against his opponents. It is no coincidence that this part of the letter is called ‘the discourse of folly.’ The Apostle is willing to do anything in defense of the Gospel he preaches, even to present himself as a ‘fool’ boasting about himself.
Boasting as a Feigned Fool.
Paul takes on the role of a fool to share the joys and sorrows, strengths and weaknesses of his ministry. In reality, he highlights more weaknesses than strengths. This pretend foolishness gives us an impressive view of a constant model for apostles and Christian leaders.
Only the ‘cross of Christ’ that an apostle bears confirms his legitimacy and the authority of his apostolate. This is the core lesson Paul teaches us here. He concludes by calling God as his witness that everything he has said is true, and he states that if he has anything to boast about, it is his weakness.