2 Corinthians 11:16-21

Applebury's Comments

Scripture

2 Corinthians 11:16-21 a. I say again, Let no man think me foolish; but if ye do, yet as foolish receive me, that I also may glory a little. 17 That which I speak, I speak not after the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of glorying. 18 Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also. 19 For ye bear with the foolish gladly, being wise yourselves. 20 For ye bear with a man, if he bringeth you into bondage, if he devoureth you, if he taketh you captive, if he exalteth himself, if he smiteth you on the face. 21 I speak by way of disparagement, as though we had been weak.

Comments

Let no man think me foolish.Paul had begun this ironical appeal as if speaking in foolishness. The evidence he gave in his defense was based upon truth; the element of foolishness lies in the fact that the Corinthians knew that he was an apostle of Christ for he had performed the signs of an apostle in their midst and God knew that he loved the brethren in Christ. It should not have been necessary, therefore, to defend his apostleship against the charges of the ministers of Satan. But since it had apparently become necessary, he continued the defense of his apostleship.

I speak not after the Lord.This does not indicate that Paul was setting aside his power to speak under the direction of the Holy Spirit. He had begun his appeal by speaking in the meekness and gentleness of Christ. But there is no example in Our Lord's ministry of the type of defense which Paul was now forced to make because of conditions in Corinth resulting from charges and false claims of the super-apostles. They were boasting from a purely human point of view. They were boasting of their professional status. They were boasting of their wisdom which, of course, was the wisdom of the world. It would be foolish for the apostle to come to that basis in order to offset their claims. But he was more than a match form them even on their own grounds.

Seeing that many glory after the flesh.Since others were boasting about their human achievements, Paul would do so also. The Corinthians considered themselves wise and gladly listened to this type of boasting. They did so even though they were being enslaved by it, even though such persons were taking unfair advantage of them, even though the false teachers were exalting themselves while striking them in the face.

I speak by way of disparagement.It was a shame for the apostle to be forced to follow this line of reasoning; but since he was compelled to do so, he spoke of his weakness as demonstrated by all the things which he suffered in his service for Christ.