2 Corinthians 12:11

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

9And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. I have become foolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, for in no respect was I inferior to the most eminent apostles, even though I am a nobody. 12The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles. 13For in what respect were you treated as inferior to the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not become a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!

2 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
• foolishἄφρωνaphrōn · foolishG878
• you yourselvesσύsu · youG4771
• compelledἀναγκάζωanagkazō · to compelG315
• me. Actuallyγάρgar · forG1063
• I shouldὀφείλωopheilō opheileō · to oweG3784
• have been commendedσυνίστημι, συνιστάωsunistaō sunistanō sunistēmi · to commendG4921
• in noοὐδείςoudeis · noneG3762
• was I inferiorὑστερέωhustereō · to lackG5302
• apostlesἀπόστολοςapostolos · apostleG652
• evenκαίkai · andG2532
• thoughεἰei · if: even thoughG1487
• I amεἰμίeimi · to beG1510

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 12:11

• 2 Corinthians 1:6But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer;
• 2 Corinthians 11:1I wish that you would bear with me in a little foolishness; but indeed you are bearing with me.
• 2 Corinthians 12:12The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles.
• 2 Corinthians 11:5For I consider myself not in the least inferior to the most eminent apostles.
• 1 Corinthians 3:4For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not mere men?
• Galatians 2:6But from those who were of high reputation (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)--well, those who were of reputation contributed nothing to me.
• Luke 17:10So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.’”
• 1 Corinthians 3:7So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.
• 1 Corinthians 15:8and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.
• Ephesians 3:8To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable 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

• Humility
• Minister, Christian
• Paradox

In the dictionaries

• Backbiting
• Crafty
• Excuse
• Gain
• Grace
• Perfect
• Revelation
• Sufficient
• Thorn
• Unspeakable

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