What are the dangers of boasting according to 2 Corinthians 11:18? Setting the Scene “Since many are boasting according to the flesh, I too will boast.” (2 Corinthians 11:18) Paul speaks with irony. False teachers parade their credentials; he answers in kind to expose the danger of their pride. What “Boasting According to the Flesh” Means • Glorying in human pedigree, achievements, or experiences • Measuring worth by outward success rather than God’s approval • Drawing attention to self instead of to Christ crucified Why Boasting Is Spiritually Dangerous • Shifts focus from Christ to self (Galatians 6:14) • Nurtures pride that God resists (James 4:6) • Invites deceit—exaggerations grow (Acts 5:1-4) • Breeds division and envy (1 Corinthians 3:3-4) • Empties the cross of its power in our witness (1 Corinthians 1:17) Practical Fallout for the Church • Leaders become celebrities rather than servants (Mark 10:42-45) • Believers compare gifts and drift into jealousy (Proverbs 27:2) • Spiritual maturity stalls because humility is sidelined (Micah 6:8) Better Boasting: The Biblical Alternative • Boast in the Lord alone—His wisdom, strength, and justice (Jeremiah 9:23-24) • Magnify weakness so Christ’s power is seen (2 Corinthians 12:9-10) • Glory in the cross, not credentials (Galatians 6:14) Takeaway Any boast that centers on “the flesh”—human ability, status, or success—puts us on perilous ground. Paul’s ironic self-boast exposes the folly: true greatness is measured only by dependence on Christ. |
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