2 Corinthians 11:16

2 Corinthians 11:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little.
• New International Version (NIV)I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then tolerate me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting.
• English Standard Version (ESV)I repeat, let no one think me foolish. But even if you do, accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little.
• New King James Version (NKJV)I say again, let no one think me a fool. If otherwise, at least receive me as a fool, that I also may boast a little.

Context of 2 Corinthians 11:16

14That should not surprise you! Even Satan can change himself to look like an angel who belongs to the light. 15So do not be surprised when Satan's servants do the same thing. They can also seem to be serving God. They may seem to be doing good things, but really what they do is bad. So God will punish them in the end. I say this again: nobody should think that I am a fool. But even if you do think that, still listen to me. Give me a chance to praise myself a little, as a fool would do. 17When I say good things about myself like this, it is not how the Lord would talk. No, these are the words of a fool. 18But many other people are using human ideas to praise themselves. So I will also do that.

2 Corinthians 11:16 word by word

Πάλιν λέγω, μή τίς με δόξῃ ἄφρονα εἶναι· εἰ δὲ μή γε, κἂν ὡς ἄφρονα δέξασθέ με, ἵνα κἀγὼ μικρόν τι καυχήσωμαι.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• I sayλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• againπάλινpalin · againG3825
• Letδοκέωdokeō · to thinkG1380
• noμήmē · notG3361
• manτιςtis · oneG5100
• meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• ·εἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• a foolἄφρωνaphrōn · foolishG878
• ifεἰei · if: elseG1487
• otherwiseδέde · thenG1161
• otherwiseεἰ δὲ μή(γε)ei de mē(ge) · but if not; otherwiseG1490
• yetκἄνkan · and/even ifG2579
• asὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
• receiveδέχομαιdechomai · to receiveG1209
• thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• ·κἀγώkagō kamoi kame · and IG2504
• I may boast myselfκαυχάομαιkauchaomai · to boastG2744
• a littleμικρόςmikros mikroteros · smallG3398

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 11:16

• 2 Corinthians 11:1Please be patient with me! I am speaking like a fool. I know that you are being patient with me already!
• 2 Corinthians 11:21But we were not brave enough to do things like that to you. Should I be ashamed of that? But other people are brave enough to praise themselves. So I will also be proud of the same things. (Now I am talking like a fool!)
• 2 Corinthians 12:6If I did want to praise myself, that would not make me a fool. No, because I would be saying true things. But I will not say good things about myself. I want everyone to think properly about me. People should look at how I live. They should think about what I say. That is enough for them to decide about me.

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 11:16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16Let no man think me a fool - See the note on 2 Corinthians 11:1. As the apostle was now going to enter into a particular detail of his qualifications, natural, acquired, and spiritual; and particularly of his labors and sufferings; he thinks it necessary to introduce the discourse once more as he did 2 Corinthians 11:1.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16I say again - I repeat it. He refers to what he had said in 2 Corinthians 11:1. The sense is, “I have said much respecting myself which may seem to be foolish. I admit that to boast in this manner of one‘s own self in general is folly. But circumstances compel me to it. And I entreat you to look at those circumstances and not regard me as a fool for doing it.” If otherwise - If you think otherwise. If I cannot obtain this of you that you will not regard…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-21Verses 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…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16-29Paul acts like a boastful fool (see also 12:11–13) to show his real qualifications as a suffering apostle. The intruders' arrogance forces Paul to write in a way that mirrors their behavior, using irony.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. I say again--again taking up from 2Co 11:1 the anticipatory apology for his boasting. if otherwise--but if ye will not grant this; if ye will think me a fool. yet as a fool--"yet even as a fool receive me"; grant me the indulgent hearing conceded even to one suspected of folly. The Greek denotes one who does not rightly use his mental powers; not having the idea of blame necessarily attached to it; one deceived by foolish vanities, yet boasting…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Corinthians 11:16

• Minister, Christian

In the dictionaries

• Abase
• Above
• Corrupt
• Fear
• Jealous
• Peril
• Receive
• Save
• Apollos
• Corinthians, Second Epistle to the

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 11

• 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