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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)You have made me act like a fool. You ought to be writing commendations for me, for I am not at all inferior to these “super apostles,” even though I am nothing at all.

Context of 2 Corinthians 12:11

9But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 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. 12I persevered in demonstrating among you the marks of a true apostle, including signs, wonders and miracles. 13How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never 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

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 1:6If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.
• 2 Corinthians 11:1I hope you will put up with me in a little foolishness. Yes, please put up with me!
• 2 Corinthians 12:12I persevered in demonstrating among you the marks of a true apostle, including signs, wonders and miracles.
• 2 Corinthians 11:5I do not think I am in the least inferior to those “super-apostles.”
• 1 Corinthians 3:4For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings?
• Galatians 2:6As for those who were held in high esteem—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism—they added nothing to my message.
• Luke 17:10So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’ ”
• 1 Corinthians 3:7So neither the one who plants nor the one 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 abnormally born.
• Ephesians 3:8Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless 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