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2 Corinthians 11:21-30

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

21. I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also. 22. Are they Hebrews? so [am] I. Are they Israelites? so [am] I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so [am] I. 23. Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I [am] more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. 24. Of the Jews five times received I forty [stripes] save one. 25. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26. [In] journeyings often, [in] perils of waters, [in] perils of robbers, [in] perils by [mine own] countrymen, [in] perils by the heathen, [in] perils in the city, [in] perils in the wilderness, [in] perils in the sea, [in] perils among false brethren; 27. In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 28. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. 29. Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? 30. If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.

2 Corinthians 11:21-30 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on 2 Corinthians 11:21

Theological / Devotional

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.”

By SdaBc