2 Corinthians 11:16-17

Paul’s Sufferings for Christ

11:16 I say again, let no one think that I am a fool. ¹  But if you do, then at least accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little. 11:17 What I am saying with this boastful confidence ²  I do not say the way the Lord would. ³  Instead it is, as it were, foolishness.

2 Corinthians 11:19

11:19 For since you are so wise, you put up with ⁴  fools gladly.

2 Corinthians 11:21

11:21 (To my disgrace ⁵  I must say that we were too weak for that!) ⁶  But whatever anyone else dares to boast about ⁷  (I am speaking foolishly), I also dare to boast about the same thing. ⁸ 

[11:16]  ¹ tn Or “am foolish.”

[11:17]  ² tn Grk “with this confidence of boasting.” The genitive καυχήσεως (kauchsew") has been translated as an attributed genitive (the noun in the genitive gives an attribute of the noun modified).

[11:17]  ³ tn Or “say with the Lord’s authority.”

[11:19]  ⁴ tn Or “you tolerate.”

[11:21]  ⁵ tn Or “my shame.”

[11:21]  ⁶ 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).

[11:21]  ⁷ 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.

[11:21]  ⁸ 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.