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

9Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 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. 12When I was with you, I certainly gave you proof that I am an apostle. For I patiently did many signs and wonders and miracles among you. 13The only thing I failed to do, which I do in the other churches, was to become a financial burden to you. Please forgive me for 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 1:6Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer.
• 2 Corinthians 11:1I hope you will put up with a little more of my foolishness. Please bear with me.
• 2 Corinthians 12:12When I was with you, I certainly gave you proof that I am an apostle. For I patiently did many signs and wonders and miracles among you.
• 2 Corinthians 11:5But I don’t consider myself inferior in any way to these “super apostles” who teach such things.
• 1 Corinthians 3:4When one of you says, “I am a follower of Paul,” and another says, “I follow Apollos,” aren’t you acting just like people of the world?
• Galatians 2:6And the leaders of the church had nothing to add to what I was preaching. (By the way, their reputation as great leaders made no difference to me, for God has no favorites.)
• Luke 17:10In the same way, when you obey me you should say, ‘We are unworthy servants who have simply done our duty.’”
• 1 Corinthians 3:7It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow.
• 1 Corinthians 15:8Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him.
• Ephesians 3:8Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in 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