What is the meaning of 2 Corinthians 11:17? In this confident boasting of mine • Paul has just declared, “Since many are boasting according to the flesh, I too will boast” (2 Corinthians 11:18). His “confident boasting” is a deliberate, ironic response to false apostles who flaunt credentials (see 2 Corinthians 11:13). • Scripture consistently warns against self-praise (Proverbs 27:2); yet Paul engages in it here to unmask prideful opponents and protect the Corinthian church. • He echoes 2 Corinthians 10:17—“Let him who boasts boast in the Lord”—showing that any human boasting he allows himself is only a tactical move, never his normal practice. I am not speaking as the Lord would • Jesus never drew attention to His own accomplishments for personal acclaim; He said, “I do not seek My own glory” (John 8:50). Paul acknowledges that his present tone departs from that Christlike pattern. • By contrasting his words with “the Lord,” Paul safeguards the Corinthians from thinking that sanctified bragging is an acceptable lifestyle. The standard remains humility, as Philippians 2:5-8 calls believers to “the mindset of Christ.” • This sentence underscores Paul’s submission to divine authority even while he momentarily steps outside the preferred mode of speech to defend the gospel. But as a fool • In biblical vocabulary, a “fool” trusts self rather than God (Psalm 14:1). Paul adopts that label sarcastically: if the Corinthians are impressed by worldly boasting, he will play the “fool” to expose folly. • Earlier he asked, “Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you?” (2 Corinthians 12:19). By calling his approach foolish, he positions the Corinthians to evaluate boasting through a heavenly lens rather than earthly admiration (1 Corinthians 1:27-29). • This self-deprecating disclaimer ensures that any accolades landing on Paul are redirected to Christ, aligning with Galatians 6:14—“May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” summary Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 11:17 are a calculated, ironic tactic. He momentarily adopts “confident boasting” to meet the Corinthian fascination with flashy credentials, yet immediately reminds them that such speech is unlike the Lord’s humble example and fits the profile of a “fool.” By doing so, he exposes the emptiness of worldly pride, safeguards the church from deception, and ultimately points all glory back to Christ. |
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