2 Corinthians 11:21

Concerning reproach. Literally, “according to disgrace,” or “by way of disgrace.” Whether Paul speaks of his own disgrace or that of his opponents is not entirely clear. The “reproach” is obviously connected in some way with his having exhibited what had been taken as weakness.

Some Bible expositors believe that Paul is saying that if he had erred in being too humble and too patient with them, he would now seek to remove this false impression that he was “weak” by a statement of his own pre-eminence as to ancestry, position, and sufferings in comparison with those of his opponents. Those who hold this view, point to the use of the Greek aorist tense in many manuscripts, instead of the perfect tense. This would point to some single event in the past, some manifestation of weakness during a previous visit to the church at Corinth. Paul himself makes reference to such an occasion (2 Cor. 2:1; 10:10; 12:7-10, 21; cf. Gal. 4:13-15). He is not a man to avoid acknowledging his limitations. He puts on no false front to hide his weaknesses. Boasting is not natural to him. But if his patience is to be construed as weakness, he will show that he can be “bold also.”

Other Bible expositors interpret Paul’s statement in 2 Cor. 11:21 as ironical. In comparison with the tyrannical methods of his opponents (v. 20), Paul and his co-laborers would appear “weak.” “Of course I am ‘weak,’” he may be imagined as saying, “for I am not given to displaying my authority.”