2 Corinthians 11:22 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they offspring of Abraham? So am I.

NIV: Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I.

NASB: Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.

CSB: Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the descendants of Abraham? So am I.

NLT: Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.

KJV: Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.

NKJV: Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I.

Paul fully begins his satirical mockery of the false apostles in Corinth. He is engaging in "confident" and "foolish" boasting in order to show that he is not inferior to those attempting to lead Corinthians away from faith in Christ. Even in sarcasm, Paul's boasting will mostly point to God's grace and strength. He begins with a statement about something completely out of his control: his birth and childhood.

Paul asks if his opponents in Corinth are Hebrews, Israelites, and offspring of Abraham. The context of that question suggests this group of false apostles were "Judaizers." This was a group who thought that faith in Christ was fine so long as Gentile believers also followed Old Testament Law for their salvation. Likely, these men pointed to their identity as Hebrews and descendants of Abraham to give them credibility with the Corinthians as members of God's chosen people. Most of the people in Corinth were Gentiles—non-Jews—so they may have been persuaded by this.

This statement counters any argument the Corinthians should think that these men are superior to Paul. He is also a Hebrew, an Israelite, and a descendant of Abraham. While Paul was a Roman citizen raised in the town of Tarsus, he was also from Hebrew-speaking parents and later became a Pharisee. None of his opponents could compete with his Jewish credentials.

Second Corinthians 11:16–33 includes Paul's long list of ways he has suffered in his service to Christ. He describes this as crazy talk, mocking the arrogant style of the false apostles. In truth, the Corinthians probably would have thought of these as signs of failure, weakness, and loss. Paul is shocked that they are so willing to be mistreated by the false apostles. This abuse was something Paul was ''too weak'' to do in his Christlike service for them. Paul's discussion of his weakness will lead to his conclusion in the following chapter that Christ is strongest in him when he is weak.

Second Corinthians 11 compares the believers in Corinth to a betrothed bride. It also pictures them as Eve facing temptation from the snake in the garden in Genesis 3. Paul's job as their spiritual father is to protect them from the lies of false apostles. These deceivers disguise themselves as servants of righteousness in the same way that Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Paul is shocked the Corinthians put up with such harsh treatment from these men. He sarcastically pretends to brag about himself as the false teachers do about themselves. Instead, he boasts mostly about the ways he has endured suffering in his service to Christ.

Chapter 11 follows Paul's warning in the previous chapter. There, he vowed to be as bold as needed when he comes to see them in person. He describes himself as a protective spiritual father trying to save the Corinthians from the deceptions of the false apostles to teach a false gospel about a false Jesus. He is shocked the Corinthians put up with their harsh treatment and says he has decided to foolishly boast in order to compete with the false apostles. His boasting about his service to Christ, though, is mostly a long list of all the ways he has suffered for Christ. That theme continues into chapter 12, where Paul explains just how much his suffering has improved his walk with Christ.

Second Corinthians returns to similar themes as those Paul mentioned in his first letter to this church. Paul is glad to hear that the church in Corinth has heeded his advice. At the same time, it is necessary for Paul to counter criticisms about his personality and legitimacy. Most of this text involves that subject. The fifth chapter, in contrast, contains comforting words which Christians have quoted often in times of hardship. Paul also details his expectations that the church in Corinth will make good on their promise to contribute to the needs of suffering believers in Jerusalem.