2 Corinthians 11:21

11:16-21 It is the duty and practice of Christians to humble themselves, in obedience to the command and example of the Lord; yet prudence must direct in what it is needful to do things which we may do lawfully, even the speaking of what God has wrought for us, and in us, and by us. Doubtless here is reference to facts in which the character of the false apostles had been shown. It is astonishing to see how such men bring their followers into bondage, and how they take from them and insult them.

As concerning reproach (κατὰ ἀτιμίαν) Better, Rev., by way of disparagement. Intensely ironical. Yes, you have borne with these enslavers and devourers and smiters. I could never ask you to extend such toleration to me. I speak as one without position or authority, having shown myself weak as you know. I speak foolishly (ἐν ἀφροσύνῃ) Rev., in foolishness. My pretensions are equal to theirs, but, of course, it is folly to advance them, and they amount to nothing. Yet, even speaking in this foolish way, I possess every qualification on which they plume themselves.

I speak as concerning {l} reproach, as though we had been {m} weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also. (l) As if he said, In respect of that reproach which they do to you, which surely is as evil as if they beat you. (m) Paul is called weak, in that he seems to be to the Corinthians a vile and abject man, a beggarly craftsman, a most wretched and miserable idiot, whereas in reality God's mighty power was made manifest in that.

I speak as to those reproaches they cast on me, who am by them represented to you as though I were weak and contemptible; as indeed I am, as to my person, but not as to my doctrine, and the miracles I have wrought amongst you. And being some of them are so confident in boasting what they are, and what they have done and suffered; let me be a little bold as well as they, in telling you what I am, and what I have done and suffered.

2 Corinthians 11:21 . Κατὰ ἀτίμιαν , in the way of ignominy [ as concerning reproach ]) as if I were already considered as one dishonoured [‘despised’]. See 1 Corinthians 4:10 , and from the same passage we may also compare the term weak with this before us, and wise , φρόνιμοι , at 2 Corinthians 11:19 . Comp. with the use of κατὰ here, the καθʼ ὑστέρησιν , in respect of, in the way of, want , Php 4:11 .— ὡς ὅτι ἡμεῖς ἠσθενήσαμεν ) as though we had been weak in mind, having nothing, of which we might boast and in which we might show boldness. The antithesis follows: but wherein soever any one is bold: the weak and dishonoured [ ἄτιμοι ] cannot boast, but still I will be bold; comp. 2 Corinthians 11:30 .— ἐν ἀφροσύνῃ , foolishly ) So he terms it κατʼ ἄνθρωπον , after the manner of men: comp. v. 16; and for the sake of modesty.

2 Corinthians 11:21 . κατὰ ἀτιμίαν λέγω κ . τ . λ .: by way of disparagement, sc. , humbly of myself, I say that we, i.e. , I myself, ἡμεῖς being ironically emphasised, have been weak, i.e. , I have not attempted to enforce my authority in any of these directions ( cf. 2 Corinthians 10:10 and 1 Corinthians 2:3 ). He now changes his tone from irony to direct and masterful assertion, and in the splendid passage which follows he makes the “boast” which he has been leading up to with such prolonged explanations.— ἐν ᾧ δʼ ἄν κ . τ . λ .: and yet whereinsoever any man is bold ( I speak in foolishness —this he is careful to add once more; see 2 Corinthians 11:17 ), I am bold also. His whole life will justify him.

Verse 21. - I steak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. The sense is uncertain, but if with the Revised Version we render it, "I speak by way of disparagement," the verse may be understood as an ironical admission that, if absence from these violent and self-assertive proceedings be a sign of weakness, he has been weak. He proceeds to correct the ironical admission in the next clause. The meaning can hardly be, "I admit the disgraces I have suffered" (comp. 2 Corinthians 6:8 ), because he is speaking of the Corinthians, not of himself. I am bold also. If they derive their right to this audacious and overweening line of conduct from any privileges of theirs, there is not one of these privileges which I too may not claim. 2 Corinthians 11:21

21. as concerning reproach—rather, "by way of dishonor (that is, self-disparagement) I say it." as though we … weak—in not similarly (2Co 11:20) showing our power over you. "An ironical reminiscence of his own abstinence when among them from all these acts of self-exaltation at their expense" (as if such abstinence was weakness) [Alford]. The "we" is emphatically contrasted with the false teachers who so oppressively displayed their power. I speak so as though WE had been weak when with you, because we did not show our power this way. Howbeit (we are not really weak; for), whereinsoever any is bold … I am bold also.

21. I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak ] Literally, after reproach (or dishonour, see ch. 2 Corinthians 6:8 , and see note on 2 Corinthians 11:17 ), “to my reproach” (Stanley), or perhaps ‘about the dishonour that has been cast upon me,’ that I ventured to do none of these things, because I dared not. The ‘we’ is emphatic. We , the true ministers of Christ, incurred the reproach of weakness while among you (see ch. 2 Corinthians 10:10 , and 1 Corinthians 4:10 ), for we ventured upon no such evidences of our power. And this ‘weakness’ has been alleged against us as proof positive that we are no true Apostles of Christ. ‘As though’ implies that St Paul does not admit the justice of the accusation. But he passes it by, and proceeds to shew that he, too, can shew boldness upon occasion. whereinsoever any is bold ] There is no ground upon which the ‘false Apostles’ have based their authority which St Paul could not also advance: there are few on which his title to the respect of his flock is not greater than theirs.

I am bold also ] St Paul is not here so much thinking of his boldness in asserting his Apostolic authority (ch. 2 Corinthians 10:2 ; 2 Corinthians 10:11 ) as of his boldness in asserting his personal claims on the allegiance of the Corinthian Christians; for now, though not ‘after the Lord,’ but ‘after the flesh,’ he commences that eloquent and impassioned description of his ministerial labours and experiences, which has done more than any other passage in Scripture to bring the person of the great Apostle before us, and to endear him to the Christian conscience.

(21) I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. —Better, I speak it as a matter of reproach to myself, as though we were weak. The irony becomes more intense than ever. He has named these acts of outrage, he says, as though by way of self-disparagement. “ We ” (the pronoun is strongly emphasised) “were too infirm to venture on such things.” The taunt flung at his bodily infirmities is still present to his thoughts, and he assumes, in the bitterness of his irony, that it was through them he had been kept from like acts of self-asserting authority. Then he resumes his contrast, still dwelling on the offensive words, “folly” or “insanity,” which had been used of him: “Yes, but on every ground of daring—I know you will see my insanity again in this—I have as much right to dare as they.”