God’s Word Translation
2 Corinthians 11:21
21I’m ashamed to admit it, but Timothy and I don’t have the strength to do those things to you. Whatever other people dare to brag about, I, like a fool, can also brag about.
2 Corinthians 11:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.
- New International Version (NIV)To my shame I admit that we were too weak for that! Whatever anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about.
- English Standard Version (ESV)To my shame, I must say, we were too weak for that! But whatever anyone else dares to boast of—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast of that.
- New King James Version (NKJV)To our shame I say that we were too weak for that! But in whatever anyone is bold—I speak foolishly—I am bold also.
Context of 2 Corinthians 11:21
19You’re wise, so you’ll gladly put up with fools. 20When someone makes you slaves, consumes your wealth, seizes your property, orders you around, or slaps your faces, you put up with it. I’m ashamed to admit it, but Timothy and I don’t have the strength to do those things to you. Whatever other people dare to brag about, I, like a fool, can also brag about. 22Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I. 23Are they Christ’s servants? It’s insane to say it, but I’m a far better one. I’ve done much more work, been in prison many more times, been beaten more severely, and have faced death more often.
Read all of 2 Corinthians 112 Corinthians 11:21 word by word
κατὰ ἀτιμίαν λέγω, ὡς ὅτι ἡμεῖς ἠσθενήκαμεν· ἐν ᾧ δ᾽ ἄν τις τολμᾷ, ἐν ἀφροσύνῃ λέγω, τολμῶ κἀγώ.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- I speakλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- as concerningκατάkata · according toG2596
- reproachἀτιμίαatimia · dishonourG819
- asὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
- thoughὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
- weἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- had been weakἀσθενέωastheneō · be weak: weakG770
- Howbeitδέde · thenG1161
- ·ἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- whereinsoeverὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- ·ἄνan · ifG302
- anyτιςtis · oneG5100
- is boldτολμάωtolmaō · be boldG5111
- foolishlyἀφροσύνηaphrosunē · foolishnessG877
- Iκἀγώkagō kamoi kame · and IG2504
Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 11:21
- 2 Corinthians 10:1I, Paul, make my appeal to you with the gentleness and kindness of Christ. I’m the one who is humble when I’m with you but forceful toward you when I’m not with you.
- 2 Corinthians 13:10That’s why I’m writing this letter while I’m not with you. When I am with you I don’t want to be harsh by using the authority that the Lord gave me. The Lord gave us this authority to help you, not to hurt you.
- 2 Corinthians 11:22Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I.
- Philippians 3:3We are the ⌞true⌟ circumcised people ⌞of God⌟ because we serve God’s Spirit and take pride in Christ Jesus. We don’t place any confidence in physical things,
- 2 Corinthians 11:17What I say as I start bragging is foolishness. It’s not something I would say if I were speaking for the Lord.
Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 11:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21I speak as concerning reproach - Dr. Whitby thus paraphrases this verse: "That which I said of smiting you upon the face, I speak as concerning the reproach they cast upon you as profane and uncircumcised, whereas they all profess to be a holy nation; as though we had been weak - inferior to them in these things, not able to ascribe to ourselves those advantages as well as they. Howbeit, whereinsoever any is bold, and can justly value himself on these…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21I speak as concerning reproach - I speak of disgrace. That is, says Rosenmuller, “I speak of your disgrace, or, as others prefer it, of the disgrace of the false apostles.” Doddridge regards it as a question. “Do I speak this by way of dishonor, from an envious desire to derogate from my superiors so as to bring them down to my own level?” But to me it seems that Paul refers to what he had been admitting respecting himself - to what he had evinced in…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. 20-21The Corinthian church welcomed the intruders, even when they took advantage of and insulted them. They viewed Paul's decision not to exploit them as a sign of weakness.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. as concerning reproach--rather, "by way of dishonor (that is, self-disparagement) I say it." as though we ... weak--in not similarly (2Co 11:20) showing our power over you. "An ironical reminiscence of his own abstinence when among them from all these acts of self-exaltation at their expense" (as if such abstinence was weakness) [Alford]. The "we" is emphatically contrasted with the false teachers who so oppressively displayed their power. I speak so…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Corinthians 11:21
In the dictionaries
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries