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Numbers 11:29
And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD'S people were prophets,and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!

Joshua 7:7
And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord GOD, wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side Jordan!

2 Kings 5:3
And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lordwere with the prophet thatis in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy.

bear with me a.

2 Corinthians 11:4
For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, orif ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear withhim.

Acts 18:14
And when Paul was now about to openhis mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, Oye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you:

Hebrews 5:2
Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.

in.

2 Corinthians 11:16,17,19,21
I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little…

2 Corinthians 5:13
For whether we be beside ourselves,it is to God: or whether we be sober,it is for your cause.

2 Corinthians 12:11
I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.

bear with me.

but you are already doing that
Paul acknowledges that the Corinthians have already been enduring his previous letters and teachings, which some might have considered foolish or hard to accept. This phrase indicates a relationship where Paul feels confident in their patience and willingness to listen, despite the challenges. Historically, Corinth was a major city in Greece, known for its wealth and moral challenges, which made the church there susceptible to false teachings. Paul's relationship with the Corinthians was complex, marked by both affection and frustration, as seen in his earlier letters (1 Corinthians 1:10-13). This ongoing dialogue shows the pastoral care Paul had for the church, akin to a shepherd guiding his flock, a type of Christ's relationship with the Church.

• Paul begins this section with a warm, almost playful appeal: “I wish you would bear with me in a little foolishness” (2 Corinthians 11:1).

• The “foolishness” he speaks of is his upcoming “boasting” about his ministry, something he normally considers unwise (compare2 Corinthians 10:17–18; 11:16–18).

• By labeling it “foolish,” Paul reinforces his humility:

– He knows that true commendation comes from the Lord, not self-promotion (Proverbs 27:2;1 Corinthians 4:7).

– Yet, for the Corinthians’ protection, he must refute false apostles; so he reluctantly engages in what sounds like personal boasting (2 Corinthians 11:12–15).

• This gentle request also shows pastoral tenderness—he never bulldozes the church but invites their patience as he defends the gospel entrusted to him (1 Thessalonians 2:7-8).

• Paul quickly adds, “but indeed you are bearing with me,” affirming their present willingness to hear him out.

• He appeals to the affection already established:

– Earlier they “opened wide” their hearts to him (2 Corinthians 6:11-13).

– They had responded well to his earlier letter of correction and expressed renewed zeal (2 Corinthians 7:8-11, 15-16).

• By recognizing their ongoing patience, Paul:

– Encourages them to continue discerning truth amid competing voices (Acts 20:29-31).

– Sets a tone of mutual trust, reminding them they have a history of standing with him (Philippians 4:14-16).

• This tenderness guards against defensiveness; instead of scolding, he commends their endurance and invites them to keep partnering for gospel purity (Galatians 4:12-15).

2 Corinthians 11:1 captures Paul’s humble strategy: he must defend his ministry against destructive impostors, yet he dislikes self-boasting and calls it “foolishness.” With pastoral warmth he asks the church to tolerate this brief departure from his usual modesty—something they’re already inclined to do. The verse sets the stage for the passionate defense that follows, all to safeguard the believers’ simple, pure devotion to Christ.

(1)Would to God.--As the words "to God" are not in the Greek, it would be better to treat them as the general expression of a wish:Would that ye could bear.

Ye could bear with me a little in my folly.--There are two catch-words, as it were, which characterise the section of the Epistle on which we are now entering: one is of "bearing with," or "tolerating," which occurs five times (2Corinthians 11:1;2Corinthians 11:4;2Corinthians 11:19-20), and "folly," which, with its kindred "fool," is repeated not less than eight times (2Corinthians 11:1;2Corinthians 11:16-17;2Corinthians 11:19;2Corinthians 11:21;2Corinthians 12:6;2Corinthians 12:11). It is impossible to resist the inference that here also we have the echo of something which Titus had reported to him as said by his opponents at Corinth. Their words, we must believe, had taken some such form as this: "We really can bear with him no longer; his folly is becoming altogether intolerable." . . .