2 Corinthians 11:21
19 For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.
20 For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face.
I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.
22 Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.
23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
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 his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.
Read in context2 Corinthians 10:1–2
Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:
Read in context2 Corinthians 11:17
That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.
Read in context2 Corinthians 11:22–27
Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.
Read in context2 Corinthians 13:10
Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.
Read in contextPhilippians 3:3–6
For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
Read in context