2 Corinthians 11:16

My Notes

What Does 2 Corinthians 11:16 Mean?

"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 begins his 'fool's speech' (11:16-12:10) with a DISCLAIMER: don't think me a fool. But IF you do — then at least receive me AS a fool, so I can boast a little. The preface is IRONIC: Paul is about to 'boast' — something he considers FOOLISH (verse 17 — 'I speak it not after the Lord') — because the Corinthians respond to boasting. He adopts the CORINTHIAN VALUE SYSTEM (boasting) to make a POINT within their framework.

The phrase "let no man think me a fool" (mē tis me doxē aphrona einai — let no one consider me to be foolish/senseless) is the REQUEST Paul knows will be VIOLATED: what follows IS foolish (by Paul's own admission). The boasting is NOT 'after the Lord.' It's a concession to the Corinthian love of impressive credentials. Paul doesn't WANT to boast. He boasts because the Corinthians have FORCED it — they're comparing Paul unfavorably to super-apostles who DO boast.

The "as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little" (kan hōs aphrona dexasthe me, hina kagō mikron ti kauchēsōmai — even as a fool receive me, that I also may boast a little) is the IRONIC CONCESSION: if you must treat me as foolish, then at least give me the fool's PRIVILEGE — the right to boast. The 'a little' (mikron) understates what follows — Paul will boast EXTENSIVELY about his sufferings (11:23-29). The 'little' is ironic. The boasting will be enormous.

Reflection Questions

• 1.What 'foolish' boasting might you need to engage in — about weakness, not strength?
• 2.What does Paul adopting a role he despises (boasting) to reach people who value it teach about communication?
• 3.How does boasting about SUFFERINGS subvert the whole concept of boasting?
• 4.What 'little' thing are you understating that's actually the most powerful testimony you have?

Devotional

Don't think me a fool. But if you must — then let this fool boast a little. Paul begins the most ironic section of his letters with a DISCLAIMER about what he's about to do: boast. He doesn't WANT to boast. The Corinthians' love of impressive credentials has FORCED it. The boasting is a concession to THEIR values, not an expression of HIS.

The 'let no man think me a fool' is the request Paul knows will be IGNORED: what follows IS foolish — Paul admits it (verse 17). The boasting Paul is about to perform contradicts his OWN values. But the Corinthians have been impressed by 'super-apostles' who boast about their credentials. Paul must enter the BOASTING ARENA he despises in order to compete for the Corinthians' attention. The fool's game is the only game the Corinthians understand.

The 'as a fool receive me' is the IRONIC adoption of a role: Paul PLAYS the fool — adopts the boasting-persona the Corinthians respect — in order to SUBVERT it. The boasting that follows (11:23-29) will be about SUFFERINGS, not achievements. Paul will 'boast' about beatings, shipwrecks, imprisonments, and weakness. The fool's boasting will turn boasting UPSIDE DOWN. The credentials Paul presents are the OPPOSITE of what the super-apostles present.

The 'boast myself a little' UNDERSTATES massively: the 'little' (mikron) becomes EXTENSIVE — 11:23-29 is one of the longest catalogues of suffering in the New Testament. The 'little boasting' is the biggest inventory of pain Paul ever records. The understatement is the irony. The 'little' is enormous. The fool's boasting is the most powerful defense in the letter.

What 'foolish' boasting might you need to engage in — and could the boasting be about weakness rather than strength?

Commentary

Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.

Cross References

Related passages throughout Scripture