2 Corinthians 11:19
17 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.
For you gladly tolerate fools, since you are so wise.
20 In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or exalts himself or strikes you in the face.
21 To my shame I concede that we were too weak for that! Speaking as a fool, however, I can match what anyone else dares to boast about.
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
- For you gladly tolerate fools, since you are so wise.
- KJV
- For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.
- WEB
- For you bear with the foolish gladly, being wise.
- ASV
- For ye bear with the foolish gladly, being wise [yourselves].
- DARBY
- For ye bear fools readily, being wise.
- BLB
- For gladly you⁺ bear with fools—being wise!
- ÅB
- For dere tåler jo gjerne dårene, dere som er så kloke;
- OTB
- For dere, som er så kloke, tåler de tåpelige med glede.
- B1930
- For I tåler jo gjerne dårene, I som er så kloke;
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
1 Corinthians 4:10
We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are honored, but we are dishonored.
Read in context1 Corinthians 10:15
I speak to reasonable people; judge for yourselves what I say.
Read in context1 Corinthians 8:1
Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
Read in contextRevelation 3:17
You say, ‘I am rich; I have grown wealthy and need nothing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.
Read in context