Boasting as a Fool
December 22, 2021
Commentary
What Paul is about to do in this passage is contrary to his character. It runs cross grain to every fiber of his being. But the spiritual welfare of a congregation in danger of being led astray is at stake, and it becomes necessary to boast myself a little. He never had any problem boasting about Christ and telling of His sufferings, but he was always hesitant to speak of his own painful experience as a servant of the Lord. However, because the spiritual welfare of a congregation in danger of being led astray is at stake, he feels it is necessary to write about himself and boast in his experiences (v. 16). Paul is not denying the inspiration of his words but instead he is admitting that, by boasting, he was being very unlike the Lord (v. 17). He felt that he had to do it to prove his love for the Corinthians.
While it amounts to nothing, if one wishes to discuss personal qualifications, Paul will advance his own (vv. 18-22). Paul seems to be saying, since boasting is the “in thing” in your fellowship, then I will boast. Perhaps he had the principle of Proverbs 26:5 in mind where it says: “Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.” These false teachers did not seem to be ashamed to boast to help themselves and to get what they could out of the church. Paul, on the contrary, was boasting so that he might help the church.
Application
It is much better for me to seek the praise of God rather than the praise of people.
2 Corinthians 11:16– 21 (NET)
16 I say again, let no one think that I am a fool. But if you do, then at least accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little. 17 What I am saying with this boastful confidence I do not say the way the Lord would. Instead it is, as it were, foolishness. 18 Since many are boasting according to human standards, I too will boast. 19 For since you are so wise, you put up with fools gladly. 20 For you put up with it if someone makes slaves of you, if someone exploits you, if someone takes advantage of you, if someone behaves arrogantly toward you, if someone strikes you in the face. 21 (To my disgrace I must say that we were too weak for that!) But whatever anyone else dares to boast about (I am speaking foolishly), I also dare to boast about the same thing.