2 Corinthians 12:11 - Printer Friendly

ESV: I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was not at all inferior to these super-apostles, even though I am nothing.

NIV: I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the 'super-apostles,' even though I am nothing.

NASB: I have become foolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, since I was in no respect inferior to the most eminent apostles, even though I am a nobody.

CSB: I have been a fool; you forced it on me. You ought to have commended me, since I am not in any way inferior to those "super-apostles," even though I am nothing.

NLT: You have made me act like a fool. You ought to be writing commendations for me, for I am not at all inferior to these 'super apostles,' even though I am nothing at all.

KJV: 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.

NKJV: I have become a fool in boasting; you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you; for in nothing was I behind the most eminent apostles, though I am nothing.

The Corinthians have apparently been captivated by a group of false apostles that have come among them. These deceptive teachers have been talking Paul down while talking themselves up, and it may have been working. They were likely impressive speakers with fancy-sounding arguments and perhaps colorful stories of supernatural experiences. The problem was they were teaching a false gospel, leading the Corinthian believers away from true devotion to Christ.

Part of Paul's response has been to sarcastically brag about himself, mocking the way his critics boast about themselves. Even so, his boasting has been mostly focused on his weakness and suffering for Christ. Paul now declares that he has been a fool to go even that far. Paul is so committed to maintaining Christlike humility that it pained him to defend himself by calling out his obvious qualifications as an apostle of Jesus.

He also sounds hurt on a personal level. He blames the Corinthians for forcing him to respond this way. They knew him, after all. He had founded the church and led many of them to faith in Christ. They should have praised him to the false apostles. They should have stuck up for him when the deceivers put him down. They should have known the truth: that Paul is not spiritually inferior to these men. He sarcastically refers to his critics as the "super-apostles" because of how impressive they make themselves out to be.

Paul adds that he is nothing, in himself, and yet is still not inferior to these deceptive teachers. This is a backhanded way of saying that, because the lying ones are not in Christ, they are less than nothing.

Second Corinthians 12:11–21 describes Paul's disappointment that the Corinthians did not defend him against attacks from false apostles. The believers of Corinth saw the signs and wonders God performed through him. Paul declares once again that he will not receive payment from them. A father provides for his children, not the other way around. He rejects an accusation that he or Titus plan to swindle them and expresses his concern that when he arrives in Corinth, he will find some still unrepentant of specific sins.

With as much humility as possible, Paul describes an astounding experience. He was caught up to the ''third heaven'' and received a revelation from God that he cannot reveal on earth. He refuses to brag about it, but mentions it in order to introduce the consequences of that experience. To keep Paul humble, God gave him a ''thorn in the flesh,'' some malady which the Bible does not explicitly explain. Paul has learned to be content in his suffering since God's power is made perfect in his weakness. He chastises the Corinthians for not commending him since they know him. He defends himself against a charge of crafty swindling, and he expresses concern that he will find some still living in sin when he arrives in Corinth.

Second Corinthians 12 follows Paul's sarcastic ''boasting'' about his suffering for Christ. The chapter continues with Paul refusing to take credit for an astounding revelation from God. Given a ''thorn in the flesh'' to keep him humble, Paul learned to be content with his suffering since God's power was made perfect in his weakness. Still, the Corinthians should have defended him to the false apostles and not believed lies about him swindling money from them with no evidence. He is concerned that when he comes to visit them, he will find some still unrepentant of specific sins. This leads Paul to his final warnings and the close of his letter, in chapter 13.

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.