Berean Standard Bible
2 Corinthians 12:11
11I have become a fool, but you drove me to it. In fact, you should have commended me, since I am in no way inferior to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.
2 Corinthians 12:11 in other versions
- King James Version (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.
- New International Version (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.
- English Standard Version (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.
- New King James Version (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.
Context of 2 Corinthians 12:11
9But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. 10That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. I have become a fool, but you drove me to it. In fact, you should have commended me, since I am in no way inferior to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing. 12The marks of a true apostle—signs, wonders, and miracles—were performed among you with great perseverance. 13In what way were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!
Read all of 2 Corinthians 122 Corinthians 12:11 word by word
Γέγονα ἄφρων ὑμεῖς με ἠναγκάσατε. ἐγὼ γὰρ ὤφειλον ὑφ᾽ ὑμῶν συνίστασθαι· οὐδὲν γὰρ ὑστέρησα τῶν ὑπερλίαν ἀποστόλων, εἰ καὶ οὐδέν εἰμι.Read the interlinear
- I have becomeγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
- a foolἄφρωνaphrōn · foolishG878
- youσύsu · youG4771
- droveἀναγκάζωanagkazō · to compelG315
- meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- In factγάρgar · forG1063
- ·ὑπόhupo · by/under: byG5259
- shouldὀφείλωopheilō opheileō · to oweG3784
- have commendedσυνίστημι, συνιστάωsunistaō sunistanō sunistēmi · to commendG4921
- I am in no way inferiorοὐδείςoudeis · noneG3762
- I am in no way inferiorὑστερέωhustereō · to lackG5302
- to thoseὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- super-apostlesὑπέρhuper · above/forG5228
- super-apostlesἀπόστολοςapostolos · apostleG652
- evenκαίkai · andG2532
- thoughεἰei · if: even thoughG1487
- I amεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 12:11
- 2 Corinthians 1:6If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which accomplishes in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we experience.
- 2 Corinthians 11:1I hope you will put up with a little of my foolishness, but you are already doing that.
- 2 Corinthians 12:12The marks of a true apostle—signs, wonders, and miracles—were performed among you with great perseverance.
- 2 Corinthians 11:5I consider myself in no way inferior to those “super-apostles.”
- 1 Corinthians 3:4For when one of you says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere men?
- Galatians 2:6But as for the highly esteemed—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism—those leaders added nothing to me.
- Luke 17:10So you also, when you have done everything commanded of you, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”
- 1 Corinthians 3:7So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.
- 1 Corinthians 15:8And last of all He appeared to me also, as to one of untimely birth.
- Ephesians 3:8Though I am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 12:11
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11I am become a fool in glorying - It is not the part of a wise or gracious man to boast; but ye have compelled me - I have been obliged to do it, in order to vindicate the cause of God. I ought to have been commended of you - You should have vindicated both myself and my ministry against the detractors that are among you. The very chiefest apostles - See 2 Corinthians 11:1. Though I be nothing - Though I have been thus set at nought by your false apostle…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 11I am become a fool in glorying - The meaning of this expression I take to be this. “I have been led along in speaking of myself until I admit I appear foolish in this kind of boasting. It is folly to do it, and I would not have entered on it unless I had been driven to it by my circumstances and the necessity which was imposed on me of speaking of myself.” Paul doubtless desired that what he had said of himself should not be regarded as an example for…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-21Verses 11-21 We owe it to good men, to stand up in the defence of their reputation; and we are under special obligations to those from whom we have received benefit, especially spiritual benefit, to own them as instruments in God's hand of good to us. Here is an account of the apostle's behaviour and kind intentions; in which see the character of a faithful minister of the gospel. This was his great aim and design, to do good. Here are noticed several…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 11"super apostles": See 11:5.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1111. in glorying--omitted in the oldest manuscripts. "I am become a fool." He sounds a retreat [Bengel]. ye--emphatic. "It is YE who have compelled me; for I ought to have been commended by you," instead of having to commend myself. am I behind--rather as Greek, "was I behind" when I was with you? the very chiefest--rather, as in 2Co 11:5, "those overmuch apostles." though I be nothing--in myself (1Co 15:9, 10).Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Corinthians 12:11
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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