New English Translation
2 Corinthians 12:11
11I have become a fool. You yourselves forced me to do it, for I should have been commended by you. For I lack nothing in comparison 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 enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” So then, I will boast most gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in me. 10Therefore I am content with weaknesses, with insults, with troubles, with persecutions and difficulties for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong. I have become a fool. You yourselves forced me to do it, for I should have been commended by you. For I lack nothing in comparison to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing. 12Indeed, the signs of an apostle were performed among you with great perseverance by signs and wonders and powerful deeds. 13For how were you treated worse than the other churches, except that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this injustice!
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
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- I am becomeγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
- a foolἄφρωνaphrōn · foolishG878
- in gloryingκαυχάομαιkauchaomai · to boastG2744
- yeσύsu · youG4771
- have compelledἀναγκάζωanagkazō · to compelG315
- meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- forγάρgar · forG1063
- oughtὀφείλωopheilō opheileō · to oweG3784
- to have been commendedσυνίστημι, συνιστάωsunistaō sunistanō sunistēmi · to commendG4921
- ofὑπόhupo · by/under: byG5259
- in nothingοὐδείςoudeis · noneG3762
- am I behindὑστερέωhustereō · to lackG5302
- the veryὑπέρhuper · above/forG5228
- chiefestλίανlian · greatlyG3029
- apostlesἀπόστολοςapostolos · apostleG652
- thoughεἰei · if: even thoughG1487
- ·καίkai · andG2532
- I beεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 12:11
- 2 Corinthians 1:6But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort that you experience in your patient endurance of the same sufferings that we also suffer.
- 2 Corinthians 11:1I wish that you would be patient with me in a little foolishness, but indeed you are being patient with me!
- 2 Corinthians 12:12Indeed, the signs of an apostle were performed among you with great perseverance by signs and wonders and powerful deeds.
- 2 Corinthians 11:5For I consider myself not at all inferior to those “super-apostles.”
- 1 Corinthians 3:4For whenever someone says, “I am with Paul,” or “I am with Apollos,” are you not merely human?
- Galatians 2:6But from those who were influential (whatever they were makes no difference to me; God shows no favoritism between people) – those influential leaders added nothing to my message.
- Luke 17:10So you too, when you have done everything you were commanded to do, should say, ‘We are slaves undeserving of special praise; we have only done what was our duty.’”
- 1 Corinthians 3:7So neither the one who plants counts for anything, nor the one who waters, but God who causes the growth.
- 1 Corinthians 15:8Last of all, as though to one born at the wrong time, he appeared to me also.
- Ephesians 3:8To me – less than the least of all the saints – this grace was given, to proclaim 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
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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