2 Corinthians 11:23

²¹ 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.

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.

²⁴ Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.

²⁵ Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

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: 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.
KJV: 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.
WEB: Are they servants of Christ? (I speak as one beside himself.) I am more so: in labors more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, and in deaths often.
ASV: Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as one beside himself) I more; in labors more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in deaths oft.
DARBY: Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as being beside myself) *I* above measure [so]; in labours exceedingly abundant, in stripes to excess, in prisons exceedingly abundant, in deaths oft.
BLB: Are they servants of Christ? I speak as being beside myself—I [too] above measure: in labors more abundantly, in imprisonments more abundantly, in beatings surpassingly, in deaths often.

ÅB: Er de Kristi tjenere? Jeg taler i vanvidd: Jeg er det mere; jeg har arbeidet mere, fått flere slag, vært flere ganger i fengsel, ofte i dødsfare.
OTB: Er de Kristi tjenere?—Jeg taler som om jeg er fra forstanden—jeg enda mer: i langt flere arbeider, i langt flere fengslinger, slått utallige ganger, ofte i fare for livet.
B1930: Er de Kristi tjenere? Jeg taler i vanvidd: Jeg er det mere; jeg har arbeidet mere, fått flere slag, vært flere ganger i fengsel, ofte i dødsfare.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

2 Corinthians 6:4–5
But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
Read in context
Colossians 1:24
Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:
Read in context
2 Corinthians 6:9
As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;
Read in context
2 Corinthians 1:9–10
But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:
Read in context
2 Corinthians 11:24–25
Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
Read in context
1 Corinthians 15:10
But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
Read in context
Acts 9:16
For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.
Read in context
2 Corinthians 3:6
Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
Read in context