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Verse

2 Corinthians 11:19

ESV For you gladly bear with fools, being wise yourselves!
NIV You gladly put up with fools since you are so wise!
NASB For you, being so wise, tolerate the foolish gladly.
CSB For you, being so wise, gladly put up with fools!
NLT After all, you think you are so wise, but you enjoy putting up with fools!
KJV For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.
NKJV For you put up with fools gladly, since you yourselves are wise!

What does 2 Corinthians 11:19 mean?

Paul has written that he is about to do something foolish. Like his opponents in Corinth, he too will boast "according to the flesh" or in order to bring glory to himself. He's very clear that this is being done—almost with sarcasm—to prove a point. He has described worldly bragging as something fools do, not something the Lord would expect. To further prove his point, Paul's "boasting" will mostly focus on God's power through him in his weakness and not about any achievements of his own.

The Corinthians should tolerate his boasting—they have gladly put up with fools teaching falsehoods about Jesus! The Corinthians do so, Paul adds, because they are so wise. He is being satirical, as he was when he wrote about their great wisdom in 1 Corinthians 4:10. There he said sarcastically that he and his associates were "fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ."

It is possible the Corinthians thought themselves wise enough to admire Paul's impressive-sounding opponents and decide for themselves what was true and what was not. Paul wryly says they should be willing to hear his foolishness out, as well.
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