2 Corinthians 11:16 - Meaning and Application

Here Paul adds another reason for what he is about to say in his own defense. He does not want them to think he is being foolish. “Let no one think me a fool,” he says (2 Corinthians 11:16). Usually, it is not fitting for a wise person to keep speaking highly of himself. Self-praise often shows pride, and it can also look foolish.

Still, Paul says, “even if you think I am a fool, accept me as one.” In other words, even if boasting seems foolish, listen carefully to what he says. He is asking for patience while he explains himself.

He then adds a warning so they do not misuse his words. What he says, he says “not according to the Lord” (2 Corinthians 11:17). He does not mean that the Lord approves of self-glorifying as a general rule for Christians. Rather, he means that this kind of speaking is not the normal way of Christ’s teaching and example. Christians should usually be humble and lowly. Yet wisdom must decide when it is right to say what God has done for us, in us, and through us.

Paul also gives a fair reason why they should allow him to boast a little. They had tolerated others who had far less reason to boast. “Since many boast according to the flesh,” he says, “I will boast also” (2 Corinthians 11:18). By “according to the flesh,” he means boasting in outward advantages, human status, or earthly honors.

But Paul is not really interested in boasting about those things, even though he had more reason than many to do so. He will instead boast in his weaknesses, as he explains later. The Corinthians thought of themselves as wise, and they might have seen it as wise to put up with weaker people. So Paul asks them to bear with him too.

His words may also be ironical: “You gladly put up with fools, since you are so wise” (2 Corinthians 11:19). If so, he means that, despite their claimed wisdom, they were willing to submit to the Jewish yoke, or let others rule over them harshly. These false teachers were also devouring them, taking advantage of them, exalting themselves over them, and even striking them in the face (2 Corinthians 11:20). They were insulting the Corinthians while also insulting Paul, as if the Corinthians had been foolish to respect him (2 Corinthians 11:21).

Since the Corinthians could so easily endure this treatment from false apostles, Paul says it is reasonable for them to endure what may seem like a foolish act from him. The situation called for it. If others were bold in wrong ways, then he could be bold too (2 Corinthians 11:21).