New International VersionIn this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would, but as a fool.
New Living TranslationSuch boasting is not from the Lord, but I am acting like a fool.
English Standard VersionWhat I am saying with this boastful confidence, I say not as the Lord would but as a fool.
Berean Standard BibleIn this confident boasting of mine, I am not speaking as the Lord would, but as a fool.
Berean Literal BibleWhat I am saying in this confidence of boasting, I am not saying according to the Lord, but as in foolishness.
King James BibleThat which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.
New King James VersionWhat I speak, I speak not according to the Lord, but as it were, foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.
New American Standard BibleWhat I am saying, I am not saying as the Lord would, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting.
NASB 1995What I am saying, I am not saying as the Lord would, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting.
NASB 1977That which I am speaking, I am not speaking as the Lord would, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting.
Legacy Standard BibleWhat I am saying, I am not saying according to the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting.
Amplified BibleWhat I say in this confident boasting, I say not as the Lord would [with His authority], but foolishly.
Christian Standard BibleWhat I am saying in this matter of boasting, I don’t speak as the Lord would, but as it were, foolishly.
Holman Christian Standard BibleWhat I say in this matter of boasting, I don’t speak as the Lord would, but foolishly.
American Standard VersionThat which I speak, I speak not after the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of glorying.
Contemporary English VersionWhen I do all this bragging, I do it as a fool and not for the Lord.
English Revised VersionThat which I speak, I speak not after the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of glorying.
GOD'S WORD® TranslationWhat I say as I start bragging is foolishness. It's not something I would say if I were speaking for the Lord.
Good News TranslationOf course what I am saying now is not what the Lord would have me say; in this matter of boasting I am really talking like a fool.
International Standard VersionWhen I talk as a confident boaster, I am not talking with the Lord's authority but like a fool.
NET BibleWhat I am saying with this boastful confidence I do not say the way the Lord would. Instead it is, as it were, foolishness.
New Heart English BibleThat which I speak, I do not speak according to the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting.
Webster's Bible TranslationThat which I speak, I speak it not according to the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.
Weymouth New TestamentWhat I am now saying, I do not say by the Lord's command, but as a fool in his folly might, in this reckless boasting. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleIn this confident boasting of mine, I am not speaking as the Lord would, but as a fool.
World English BibleThat which I speak, I don’t speak according to the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionThat which I speak, I do not speak according to the LORD, but as in foolishness, in this the confidence of boasting;
Berean Literal BibleWhat I am saying in this confidence of boasting, I am not saying according to the Lord, but as in foolishness.
Young's Literal Translation That which I speak, I speak not according to the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this the confidence of boasting;
Smith's Literal TranslationWhat I speak, I speak not according to the Lord, but as in madness, in this first principle of boasting. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleThat which I speak, I speak not according to God, but as it were in foolishness, in this matter of glorying.
Catholic Public Domain VersionWhat I am saying is not said according to God, but as if in foolishness, in this matter of glorying.
New American BibleWhat I am saying I am not saying according to the Lord but as in foolishness, in this boastful state.
New Revised Standard VersionWhat I am saying in regard to this boastful confidence, I am saying not with the Lord’s authority, but as a fool; Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleWhat I now say, I speak not after our LORD, but as it were foolishly, on this occasion of boasting.
Aramaic Bible in Plain EnglishEverything that I speak, it is not by our Lord that I speak, but as in folly on this occasion of boasting. NT Translations Anderson New TestamentWhat I say, I say not according to the Lord, but as in folly, in this same confidence of boasting.
Godbey New TestamentWhat I say, I am not saying according to the Lord, but as it were in folly, in this confidence of glorying.
Haweis New TestamentWhat I speak, I speak not after the Lord, but as it were in folly in this confidence of boasting.
Mace New Testamentwhat I say, I say it not as an apostle, but as it were to indulge my vanity in this matter of boasting.
Weymouth New TestamentWhat I am now saying, I do not say by the Lord's command, but as a fool in his folly might, in this reckless boasting.
Worrell New TestamentWhat I am speaking I speak not according to the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting.
Worsley New TestamentWhat I speak I speak not as from the Lord, but as in weakness, in this confidence of boasting.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context Paul's Suffering and Service16I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then receive me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little. 17Inthisconfidentboasting of mine,I am not speakingasthe Lord would,butasa fool.18Since many are boasting according to the flesh, I too will boast.…
Cross References 2 Corinthians 10:8For even if I boast somewhat excessively about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than tearing you down, I will not be ashamed.
2 Corinthians 12:11I have become a fool, but you drove me to it. In fact, you should have commended me, since I am in no way inferior to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.
1 Corinthians 7:6I say this as a concession, not as a command.
1 Corinthians 9:16-18Yet when I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because I am obligated to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! / If my preaching is voluntary, I have a reward. But if it is not voluntary, I am still entrusted with a responsibility. / What then is my reward? That in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not use up my rights in preaching it.
Romans 15:15-18However, I have written you a bold reminder on some points, because of the grace God has given me / to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. / Therefore I exult in Christ Jesus in my service to God. ...
Galatians 1:11-12For I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached was not devised by man. / I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.
Philippians 3:3-4For 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— / though I myself could have such confidence. If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more:
1 Timothy 1:12-16I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, that He considered me faithful and appointed me to service. / I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man; yet because I had acted in ignorance and unbelief, I was shown mercy. / And the grace of our Lord overflowed to me, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. ...
1 Corinthians 15:9-10For I am the least of the apostles and am unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. / But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not in vain. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
Romans 12:3For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think of yourself with sober judgment, according to the measure of faith God has given you.
Jeremiah 9:23-24This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor the strong man in his strength, nor the wealthy man in his riches. / But let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, who exercises loving devotion, justice and righteousness on the earth—for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.
Proverbs 27:2Let another praise you, and not your own mouth—a stranger, and not your own lips.
Proverbs 25:27It is not good to eat too much honey or to search out one’s own glory.
Isaiah 10:15Does an axe raise itself above the one who swings it? Does a saw boast over him who saws with it? It would be like a rod waving the one who lifts it, or a staff lifting him who is not wood!
Isaiah 64:6Each of us has become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.
Treasury of Scripture That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting. I speak it. 1 Corinthians 7:6,12 But I speak this by permission,and not of commandment… foolishly. 2 Corinthians 11:18-27 Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also… 2 Corinthians 9:4 Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting. Philippians 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… Jump to Previous AuthorityBoastfulBoastingCommandConfidenceCreditFollyFoolFoolishFoolishlyFoolishnessGloryingLord'sOrderRecklessSpeakTalkingJump to Next AuthorityBoastfulBoastingCommandConfidenceCreditFollyFoolFoolishFoolishlyFoolishnessGloryingLord'sOrderRecklessSpeakTalking2 Corinthians 11 1.Out of his jealousy over the Corinthians, he enters into a forced commendation of himself,5.of his equality with the chief apostles,7.of his preaching the gospel to them freely, and without any charge to them;13.showing that he was not inferior to those deceitful workers in any legal prerogative;23.and in the service of Christ, and in all kinds of sufferings for his ministry, far superior.In this confident boasting of minePaul is addressing the Corinthian church, defending his apostolic authority against false apostles. His "confident boasting" is a rhetorical strategy to highlight the absurdity of boasting in human achievements. In the Greco-Roman world, boasting was common among philosophers and leaders to establish credibility. Paul contrasts this with the Christian virtue of humility, as seen in Jeremiah 9:23-24, where boasting is only appropriate in understanding and knowing God. I am not speaking as the Lord would
Paul acknowledges that his approach is not in line with Christ's teachings, which emphasize humility and servanthood (Matthew 20:26-28). This phrase underscores the tension between worldly wisdom and divine wisdom, a recurring theme in Paul's letters (1 Corinthians 1:18-25). By admitting this, Paul distances his method from the divine example, emphasizing that his boasting is a necessary, albeit uncomfortable, tactic to counteract the influence of false teachers. but as a fool
Paul uses irony to call attention to the foolishness of boasting. In1 Corinthians 4:10, he refers to himself as a "fool for Christ," highlighting the paradox of the Christian life, where true wisdom often appears foolish to the world. This self-deprecating term serves to undermine the false apostles who boast in their credentials and achievements. Paul’s use of "fool" aligns with the biblical theme that God uses the foolish things of the world to shame the wise (1 Corinthians 1:27). Persons / Places / Events 1. Paul the ApostleThe author of 2 Corinthians, Paul is addressing the church in Corinth. He is defending his apostleship and contrasting his ministry with that of false apostles. 2. CorinthA major city in ancient Greece, known for its wealth and immorality. The church in Corinth faced many challenges, including divisions and the influence of false teachers. 3. False ApostlesIndividuals who were misleading the Corinthian church by questioning Paul's authority and promoting a different gospel. Teaching Points Understanding Contextual BoastingPaul uses "foolish" boasting to make a point. He contrasts human boasting with boasting in the Lord, teaching us to discern when and how to speak about our achievements. Discernment in LeadershipThe Corinthian church struggled with discerning true from false apostles. This teaches us the importance of evaluating leaders by their adherence to the gospel and their fruits. Humility in ServicePaul’s approach highlights the value of humility. Even when defending his ministry, he acknowledges the foolishness of boasting, reminding us to serve with humility. The Danger of ComparisonPaul warns against comparing ourselves to others, which can lead to pride or discouragement. Instead, we should focus on our unique calling in Christ. The Role of Suffering in MinistryPaul’s hardships, which he later details, show that suffering can be a mark of true apostleship and dedication to Christ, encouraging us to persevere in trials. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1.What is the meaning of 2 Corinthians 11:17?
2.How does 2 Corinthians 11:17 challenge us to discern between human and divine wisdom?
3.What does Paul's "boasting" reveal about humility and reliance on God's truth?
4.How can we avoid speaking "as the Lord would" in our daily conversations?
5.In what ways can we ensure our words align with God's will and truth?
6.How does 2 Corinthians 11:17 connect to Proverbs' teachings on wisdom and speech?
7.Why does Paul claim to speak "not with the Lord’s authority" in 2 Corinthians 11:17?
8.How does 2 Corinthians 11:17 challenge the concept of divine inspiration of Scripture?
9.What is the significance of Paul admitting human authority in 2 Corinthians 11:17?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from 2 Corinthians 11?
11.What is the Gift of Faith?
12.Why boast about your own achievements?
13.What defines the pride of those who walk?
14.Why does Paul single out certain sins in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 if other passages, like Ephesians 2:8-9, emphasize grace and forgiveness for all?What Does 2 Corinthians 11:17 Mean In this confident boasting of mine• Paul has just declared, “Since many are boasting according to the flesh, I too will boast” (2 Corinthians 11:18). His “confident boasting” is a deliberate, ironic response to false apostles who flaunt credentials (see2 Corinthians 11:13). • Scripture consistently warns against self-praise (Proverbs 27:2); yet Paul engages in it here to unmask prideful opponents and protect the Corinthian church. • He echoes2 Corinthians 10:17—“Let him who boasts boast in the Lord”—showing that any human boasting he allows himself is only a tactical move, never his normal practice.
I am not speaking as the Lord would• Jesus never drew attention to His own accomplishments for personal acclaim; He said, “I do not seek My own glory” (John 8:50). Paul acknowledges that his present tone departs from that Christlike pattern. • By contrasting his words with “the Lord,” Paul safeguards the Corinthians from thinking that sanctified bragging is an acceptable lifestyle. The standard remains humility, asPhilippians 2:5-8 calls believers to “the mindset of Christ.” • This sentence underscores Paul’s submission to divine authority even while he momentarily steps outside the preferred mode of speech to defend the gospel.
But as a fool• In biblical vocabulary, a “fool” trusts self rather than God (Psalm 14:1). Paul adopts that label sarcastically: if the Corinthians are impressed by worldly boasting, he will play the “fool” to expose folly. • Earlier he asked, “Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you?” (2 Corinthians 12:19). By calling his approach foolish, he positions the Corinthians to evaluate boasting through a heavenly lens rather than earthly admiration (1 Corinthians 1:27-29). • This self-deprecating disclaimer ensures that any accolades landing on Paul are redirected to Christ, aligning withGalatians 6:14—“May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
summaryPaul’s words in2 Corinthians 11:17 are a calculated, ironic tactic. He momentarily adopts “confident boasting” to meet the Corinthian fascination with flashy credentials, yet immediately reminds them that such speech is unlike the Lord’s humble example and fits the profile of a “fool.” By doing so, he exposes the emptiness of worldly pride, safeguards the church from deception, and ultimately points all glory back to Christ. (17) I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly.--Better, in foolishness; as keeping up the emphatic repetition of the same word in the English as in the Greek. From one point of view the distinction drawn is the same as that which we find in 1Corinthians 7:6; 1Corinthians 7:10; 1Corinthians 7:12. There is, however, a marked difference in the subject-matter of the two cases. There he distinguishes a private opinion from a principle or rule which he feels to be divine. Here he draws the line of demarcation between human feelings and a divine inspiration. It is, of course, easy to raise questions which would be hard, if they were not also frivolous and foolish. Are we to class what he places on the lower side of the boundary-line as inspired or uninspired teaching? If the former, are we not contradicting what he writes as inspired? If the latter, are we not depriving what follows of the authority of an inspired writing? Are we not, in so doing, admitting the principle of recognising a human element mingling with the divine in other parts of Scripture as well as this? The answer to these questions, so far as they need an answer, is best found in taking St. Paul's words in their plain and natural sense, believing that his words have just the authority which he claims for them, and no more. Speaking apart from these questions, there is something almost pathetic in the consciousness which he feels that self-vindication can never, as such, come from the Spirit of God, and that it is, at the best, a pardonable human weakness. It is not wrong, or else his conscience would have forbidden it. It is not the note of the highest or noblest temper, or else he would have felt the Spirit's guidance in it. Verse 17. - Not after the Lord. "Boasting," or what might be stigmatized as such, may become a sort of painful necessity, necessitated by human baseness; but in itself it cannot be "after the Lord." There is nothing Christ-like in it. It is human, not Divine; an earthly necessity, not a heavenly example; a sword of the giant Philistine, which yet David may be forced to use. Confidence; hypostasis, as in 2 Corinthians 9:4, where exactly the same phrase occurs.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek Inἐν(en)Preposition
Strong's 1722:In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.thisταύτῃ(tautē)Demonstrative Pronoun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3778:This; he, she, it.confidentὑποστάσει(hypostasei)Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5287:From a compound of hupo and histemi; a setting under, i.e. concretely, essence, or abstractly, assurance.boasting [of mine],καυχήσεως(kauchēseōs)Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 2746:The act of boasting, glorying, exultation. From kauchaomai; boasting, in a good or a bad sense.I am not speakingλαλῶ(lalō)Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 2980:A prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb; to talk, i.e. Utter words.asκατὰ(kata)Preposition
Strong's 2596:A primary particle; down, in varied relations (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined).[the] Lord {would},Κύριον(Kyrion)Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2962:Lord, master, sir; the Lord. From kuros; supreme in authority, i.e. controller; by implication, Master.butἀλλ’(all’)Conjunction
Strong's 235:But, except, however. Neuter plural of allos; properly, other things, i.e. contrariwise.asὡς(hōs)Adverb
Strong's 5613:Probably adverb of comparative from hos; which how, i.e. In that manner.a fool.ἀφροσύνῃ(aphrosynē)Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 877:Want of sense, foolishness, impiety, wickedness. From aphron; senselessness, i.e. egotism; recklessness.
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NT Letters: 2 Corinthians 11:17 That which I speak I don't speak (2 Cor. 2C iiC 2Cor ii cor iicor) |
