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Paul’s Suffering and Service
In this part of 2 Corinthians, Paul speaks in a way he calls foolish because he answers boasting with boasting. Yet his list does not highlight comfort or status. It highlights suffering, danger, care for churches, and weakness.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
These verses are part of Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. In this passage, he responds to people who boast “after the flesh” and whom the Corinthians have tolerated, even when they act harshly. Paul then sets out his own credentials, hardships, daily concern, and one escape from danger.
2 Corinthians 11:16–33Main takeaway
Paul answers boasting by pointing to suffering, service, and weakness rather than personal greatness.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Paul begins with reluctant boastingPaul asks not to be thought foolish, but if people do think that, he asks to be received so he may boast a little.
Explanation
Paul asks not to be thought foolish, but if people do think that, he asks to be received so he may boast a little. He says this kind of talk is “in foolishness”. Since many boast “after the flesh”, Paul responds in the same form, while exposing how empty that kind of boasting can be.
02He contrasts himself with harsh leadersPaul says the Corinthians have put up with foolish people while thinking themselves wise. He describes the sort of man they tolerate: one who brings them into bondage, devours them, takes them captive, exalts himself, or strikes them.
Explanation
Paul says the Corinthians have put up with foolish people while thinking themselves wise. He describes the sort of man they tolerate: one who brings them into bondage, devours them, takes them captive, exalts himself, or strikes them. Then Paul says that, if boldness is the standard, he can speak boldly too.
03His credentials are shown in hardshipPaul matches shared identity terms like Hebrew, Israelite, and offspring of Abraham. But when he speaks of being a servant of Christ, he points to labour, prison, beatings, danger, and hardship.
Explanation
Paul matches shared identity terms like Hebrew, Israelite, and offspring of Abraham. But when he speaks of being a servant of Christ, he points to labour, prison, beatings, danger, and hardship. The repeated list shows an overflowing life of suffering: lashes, rods, stoning, shipwreck, travel dangers, hunger, thirst, cold, and lack of clothing.
04He boasts in weakness and careAlongside outward troubles, Paul says daily pressure comes from anxiety for all the assemblies.
Explanation
Alongside outward troubles, Paul says daily pressure comes from anxiety for all the assemblies. He feels the weakness of others and burns with indignation when someone is caused to stumble. So, if he must boast, he will boast in what concerns weakness. He seals his truthfulness before God, then gives the example of escaping Damascus in a basket.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01Why does Paul keep calling this boasting “foolishness” even while he does it?
Look at how he frames his words in 2 Corinthians 11:16-18 and notice that he is answering people who boast “after the flesh”, not presenting boasting as an ideal.
02What kind of people had the Corinthians been tolerating?
Use Paul’s description in 2 Corinthians 11:20 to list the actions he criticises and to see why this matters in the argument.
03What does Paul choose to boast about, and what does that show about his ministry?
Compare the long hardship list with his statement in 2 Corinthians 11:30 and his concern in 2 Corinthians 11:28-29.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
2 Corinthians 11:16–33
16I say again, let no one think me foolish. But if so, yet receive me as foolish, that I also may boast a little.
17That which I speak, I don’t speak according to the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting.
18Seeing that many boast after the flesh, I will also boast.
19For you bear with the foolish gladly, being wise.
20For you bear with a man if he brings you into bondage, if he devours you, if he takes you captive, if he exalts himself, or if he strikes you on the face.
21To my shame, I speak as though we had been weak. Yet in whatever way anyone is bold (I speak in foolishness), I am bold also.
22Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the offspring of Abraham? So am I.
23Are they servants of Christ? (I speak as one beside himself.) I am more so: in labors more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, and in deaths often.
24Five times I received forty stripes minus one from the Jews.
25Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I suffered shipwreck. I have been a night and a day in the deep.
26I have been in travels often, perils of rivers, perils of robbers, perils from my countrymen, perils from the Gentiles, perils in the city, perils in the wilderness, perils in the sea, perils among false brothers;
27in labor and travail, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, and in cold and nakedness.
28Besides those things that are outside, there is that which presses on me daily: anxiety for all the assemblies.
29Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is caused to stumble, and I don’t burn with indignation?
30If I must boast, I will boast of the things that concern my weakness.
31The God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, he who is blessed forever more, knows that I don’t lie.
32In Damascus the governor under King Aretas guarded the Damascenes’ city, desiring to arrest me.
33I was let down in a basket through a window by the wall, and escaped his hands.