2 Corinthians 11:18-22

11:18 Since many ¹  are boasting according to human standards, ²  I too will boast. 11:19 For since you are so wise, you put up with ³  fools gladly. 11:20 For you put up with ⁴  it if someone makes slaves of you, if someone exploits you, if someone takes advantage of you, if someone behaves arrogantly ⁵  toward you, if someone strikes you in the face. 11:21 (To my disgrace ⁶  I must say that we were too weak for that!) ⁷  But whatever anyone else dares to boast about ⁸  (I am speaking foolishly), I also dare to boast about the same thing. ⁹  11:22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.

¹ sn Many is a reference to Paul’s opponents.

² tn Grk “according to the flesh.”

³ tn Or “you tolerate.”

⁴ tn Or “you tolerate.”

⁵ tn See L&N 88.212.

⁶ tn Or “my shame.”

⁷ sn It seems best, in context, to see the statement we were too weak for that as a parenthetical and ironic comment by Paul on his physical condition (weakness or sickness) while he was with the Corinthians (cf. 2 Cor 12:7-10; Gal 4:15).

⁸ tn The words “to boast about” are not in the Greek text, but are implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context, and this phrase serves as the direct object of the preceding verb.

⁹ tn Grk “I also dare”; the words “to boast about the same thing” are not in the Greek text, but are implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context, and this phrase serves as the direct object of the preceding verb.