2 Corinthians 11:16-21

Boasting done with great reluctance -- 2 Corinthians 11:16-21: Paul did not want these brethren to think he was a fool. But even if they did accept him as a fool he needed to boast a little. Paul used his personal liberty to describe his life and his authority as an apostle. The false apostles were bragging about what they had done and Paul decided that he, as a fool, would do a little boasting himself. Many things in Paul's life were unpleasant but he endured them for the sake of the gospel. Paul described what the false apostles were doing and what the faithful brethren were doing. "And since you are so smart, you will gladly put up with a fool. In fact, you let people make slaves of you and cheat you and steal from you. Why, you even let them strut around and slap you in the face."

Paul showed that it was foolish to do so, but that he could boast about anything the false prophets could boast about. Paul admitted boldly weakness but he possessed many qualifications that helped him serve as an apostle. He boasted about enduring many physical hardships for the gospel.