2 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 11
Paul’s Boast of His Apostolic Calling. 2 Cor 11, 16–33.
The apostle’s commendation of himself: V.21. I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit, whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also. V.22. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. V.23. Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
Powerful irony and forceful reproach are contained in the first words of this section; for he truly must seem weak to the Corinthians in comparison with such spiritual bosses: To the disgrace (of you) I say it, as though it were so that we had become weak.
It was a shame to the Corinthians that the apostle was obliged to write this way, as though he and his fellow-laborers appeared weak in comparison with the false apostles. The latter were regarded very highly in their eyes, from them they endured the most humiliating conduct, while the real teachers, to whom they owed all their spiritual riches, were despised in their eyes.
The apostle now changes to a tone of masterful assertion in bringing out his own claims: But in whatever things any one is bold, dares to boast, (I speak it foolishly), I also dare to boast.
His whole life since his conversion, the whole course of his ministry, will justify him, will show what labors and sufferings he has borne. The apostle speaks in an altogether general way; he challenges any of the false teachers, although he regards his boasting as an act of foolishness. Thereby he intimates, as Luther says, that the opponents, that have nothing to show that will in any way compare with his record, are worse than fools with their bragging.
For his own person, Paul begins with the very lowest advantage: Hebrews are they? I also. Israelites are they? I also. The seed of Abraham are they? I also.
What the false teachers extolled beyond measure Paul places in the lowest place; even in this meanest and lowest advantage they were not ahead of him. For he was a Hebrew, a member of the Jewish nation, who retained the Jewish language and customs; he was an Israelite, a member of God’s chosen people of the Old Testament; he was a descendant of Abraham, he inherited the Messianic promises given to Abraham. In this point, therefore, the false apostles could not exalt themselves above Paul.
But there is a more important comparison: Ministers of Christ they are? That was their boast, and Paul, for the sake of argument, lets it stand, saying, however, in turn: As one beside himself I speak, I am more.
The great humility of the apostle compels him to use this strong word, accusing himself of madness for presuming to boast in this sacred matter. Nevertheless he insists that he is a servant of Christ in a higher degree than his opponents: he has a much better right to call himself a minister of the Lord.
This assertion he proves not by the success which he has had in his labors, not by naming the number of souls that were gained by his preaching, but by a reference to his labors and his self-denial. For that is the test of a minister’s faithfulness, that he denies himself for the sake of his Lord, that he cheerfully takes upon himself the shame and disgrace, the trials and sufferings and tribulations that are wont to accompany his office.
Thus Paul was able to say of himself: In labors more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in deaths often. That was a summary of his sufferings: Not only now and then, but continually he was struggling under the load of his labors; not once, but often he was in prison, not only in Philippi. Acts 16. 23, but also at other places, as the later epistles show; time and again he was subjected to beatings; frequently he was in perils of death. In all these facts the false teachers cannot stand a comparison, for they had had no such experiences in their work.