2 Corinthians 11:17
15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions.
16 I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then receive me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little.
In this confident boasting of mine, I am not speaking as the Lord would, but as a fool.
18 Since many are boasting according to the flesh, I too will boast.
19 For you gladly tolerate fools, since you are so wise.
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- In this confident boasting of mine, I am not speaking as the Lord would, but as a fool.
- KJV
- That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.
- WEB
- That which I speak, I don’t speak according to the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting.
- ASV
- That which I speak, I speak not after the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of glorying.
- DARBY
- What I speak I do not speak according to [the] Lord, but as in folly, in this confidence of boasting.
- BLB
- What I am speaking, I am not speaking according to the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting.
- ÅB
- Det jeg her taler, det taler jeg ikke etter Herrens vilje, men som i dårskap, idet jeg roser meg så tillitsfullt.
- OTB
- Det jeg sier, sier jeg ikke som Herren ville, men heller i en ånd av dårskap, med denne selvtilliten av skryt.
- B1930
- Det jeg her taler, det taler jeg ikke efter Herrens vilje, men som i dårskap, idet jeg roser mig så tillitsfullt.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
1 Corinthians 7:12
To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If a brother has an unbelieving wife and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her.
Read in contextPhilippians 3:3–6
For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—
Read in context2 Corinthians 9:4
Otherwise, if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—to say nothing of you—would be ashamed of having been so confident.
Read in context1 Corinthians 7:25
Now about virgins, I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.
Read in context2 Corinthians 11:18–27
Since many are boasting according to the flesh, I too will boast.
Read in context1 Corinthians 7:6
I say this as a concession, not as a command.
Read in context