Chapter
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Verse

2 Corinthians 11:16

ESV I repeat, let no one think me foolish. But even if you do, accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little.
NIV I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then tolerate me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting.
NASB Again I say, let no one think me foolish; but if you do, receive me even as foolish, so that I also may boast a little.
CSB I repeat: Let no one consider me a fool. But if you do, at least accept me as a fool so that I can also boast a little.
NLT Again I say, don’t think that I am a fool to talk like this. But even if you do, listen to me, as you would to a foolish person, while I also boast a little.
KJV I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little.

What does 2 Corinthians 11:16 mean?

Corinthian culture was competitive. This was true in sports, but also in philosophy and performance. People expected speakers to be entertaining, dramatic showmen. They assumed such men would boast about their accomplishments, their education, and their skillful arguments. They also expected these intellectual competitors to tear down their philosophical opponents. That was a sign of strength and confidence in one's position.

Paul's contrasting approach seems to have confused the Corinthians. In person, especially, he may not have been impressive. He also tended not to brag about himself or his own achievements. He nearly always pointed to the power of Christ and the grace of God, while openly acknowledging his own suffering. In the culture of Corinth, this looked like weakness. Perhaps this was why the Corinthians were so captivated by Paul's impressive-sounding, confident opponents.

Beginning in this verse, Paul, for the sake of argument, agrees to compete on the terms of his opponents and the culture. He asks his readers not to think he is really so foolish as to talk as a boastful fool would talk—his intent is merely to make a valid point. When he does start "boasting," in the following verses, his boasts continue to be about things beyond his control: his birth, his life before Christ, his suffering, the things God has shown him, and God's strength through him. Paul makes a mockery of his opponent's self-glorifying boasting by imitating it to reveal his own weakness and God's great power.
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