2 Corinthians 11:21
19 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.
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.
22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.
23 Are they servants of Christ? I am speaking like I am out of my mind, but I am so much more: in harder labor, in more imprisonments, in worse beatings, in frequent danger of death.
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
- 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.
- KJV
- I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.
- WEB
- To my shame, I speak as though we had been weak. Yet in whatever way anyone is bold (I speak in foolishness), I am bold also.
- ASV
- I speak by way of disparagement, as though we had been weak. Yet whereinsoever any is bold (I speak in foolishness), I am bold also.
- DARBY
- I speak as to dishonour, as though *we* had been weak; but wherein any one is daring, (I speak in folly,) *I* also am daring.
- BLB
- I speak as to dishonor, as that we have been weak! But in that which anyone may dare—I speak in foolishness—I also dare.
- ÅB
- Med skam sier jeg det, fordi vi har vært svake; men det som noen gjør seg stor av - jeg taler i dårskap - det gjør også jeg meg stor av.
- OTB
- Til min beklagelse må jeg innrømme at vi har vært svake i sammenligning. Men i hvilken som helst respekt noen andre er dristige—jeg taler i dårskap—er jeg også dristig.
- B1930
- Med skam sier jeg det, fordi vi har vært svake; men det som nogen gjør sig stor av - jeg taler i dårskap - det gjør også jeg mig stor av.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
2 Corinthians 10:10
For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but his physical presence is unimpressive, and his speaking is of no account.”
Read in context2 Corinthians 10:1–2
Now by the mildness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am humble when face to face with you, but bold when away.
Read in context2 Corinthians 11:17
In this confident boasting of mine, I am not speaking as the Lord would, but as a fool.
Read in context2 Corinthians 11:22–27
Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.
Read in context2 Corinthians 13:10
This is why I write these things while absent, so that when I am present I will not need to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.
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 context