2 Corinthians 11:23 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one — I am talking like a madman — with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death.

NIV: Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again.

NASB: Are they servants of Christ?—I am speaking as if insane—I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death.

CSB: Are they servants of Christ? I’m talking like a madman—I’m a better one: with far more labors, many more imprisonments, far worse beatings, many times near death.

NLT: Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again.

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.

NKJV: Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often.

Using satire and sarcasm, Paul declared he will now engage in the same foolishness as the deceptive false apostles in Corinth. He has promised to boast about his qualifications and experiences, just as they do. He began in the previous verse by pointing out that he, too, is a true Hebrew and member of God's chosen people, the Israelites. That fact may have given his opponents some credibility with the Corinthians, so he reminded them the same was true of him. That's not much of a boast in itself, however.

Opponents in Corinth may have presented themselves as servants of Christ, but Paul has already made clear they present a false version of Jesus and certainly do not act like Him. Here, Paul's claim to spiritual credentials is more specific, describing himself as a "better" servant of Christ than the false apostles. Paul's use of satire here is explicit. In fact, he says that to make such a declaration would be the words of a madman.

Paul would see such speech—were it not sarcasm—as insane because a true servant of Christ should never brag about being a better servant of Christ than another. His use of that approach, here, is for a particular effect. Beyond that, Paul doesn't boast the way anyone reading his letter might have expected. Instead of describing all the churches he has established or the great number of people he has led to faith in Christ, he begins to describe the suffering he has experienced as Christ's representative.

That his labors have been far greater may sound to modern ears like Paul is bragging about his work ethic. However, to those in Corinthian culture, one who did much laborious work was seen as a failure in life, not a success. Next, Paul adds that he has spent time in far more jails, has been beaten countless times, and has often been near death in his ministry. This would have been odd boasting indeed to Corinthian ears. From their perspective, Paul is describing a collection of failures, disasters, and losses that go beyond even the recorded episodes of such experiences in the book of Acts.

The boast is genuine, however. Paul is establishing that he has suffered as Christ Himself suffered during His life on earth. In addition, he is establishing the great weakness and fragility of his life, which will amplify the glory of God's strength demonstrated through him.

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.