2 Corinthians 11:17Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

From many subjects he speaks, even to those willing to listen, only of what is useful. What he said was sufficient to turn aside every suspicion. "As though in foolishness." Earlier he said, "Would that you bore with me a little in my foolishness." Now he says, "as in foolishness." The farther he goes, the clearer he makes his speech. Then, so that you would not think he does everything "as in foolishness," he added, "in this confidence of boasting." So also elsewhere he said, "that we may not be put to shame," and then added, "in this confident boasting" (2 Cor 9:4). In another place he said, "Or what I plan, do I plan according to the flesh, so that with me there should be 'yes, yes' and 'no, no'?" (2 Cor 1:17). He showed that he cannot everywhere fulfill what he promises, because he does not plan according to the flesh. Yet lest someone conceive the same doubt about his teaching, he says, "God is faithful, that our word to you was not 'yes' and 'no'" (v. 18).

I do it to remove every right from covetous false apostles, who deceive you, to boast that they are like me. "For such false apostles are deceitful workers, disguising themselves as Apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself disguises himself as an angel of light." And "you, being wise men," he says ironically, "gladly endure fools. You endure it if someone enslaves you, devours you, takes from you, exalts himself, or strikes you in the face. To my shame I say that we were too weak for that." He says this to their mutual shame: to his own, ironically, and to theirs, as a rebuke. The Apostle speaks as though saying: nothing can be done; I must confess that I was incapable of the deeds just listed. In general, among you I did not possess those showy qualities with which the false apostles tried to shine. Clearly they dazzled you by them. Yet how can you not be ashamed that you cannot distinguish true dignity from false? How could you forget all that revealed in me a true Apostle of Christ?

In this way he exposes their foolishness, reproaches those who accepted them, and opens a path for his word to both. He does this so that they may not think he acts from foolishness. They boast, and you listen; then allow me also to boast. They boast much and without measure; allow me to boast at least a little. Yet for all that necessity compels me, and this is useful for you, I will still say that this matter is not according to the Lord. Let no one think to imitate me in this. I only ask this: if you consider me foolish, limit my foolishness to this part of the boasting. Do not extend it to all my deeds and words, or to all my teaching, directives, and institutions. Explaining in what part of the boasting, he says: to boast according to the flesh. Here he does not mean what he has already said, that he troubled no one in anything. He means what he is about to say below, in verse 22: that he too is a Hebrew, an Israelite, and the seed of Abraham" (Theophan). "Observe Paul's prudence," Chrysostom exclaims. "He pointed to such advantages as, by his own proof, are nothing, and only then called his boasting folly. Indeed, if it is foolish to boast of substantial goods, it is still more foolish to boast of things that mean nothing. This very thing he calls 'not according to the Lord.' For being a Hebrew and the like brings no profit. Therefore do not think that I consider this a virtue. But since they boast, I am compelled in this also to compare myself with them. He does the same elsewhere" (Phil 3:4). "You receive it if someone enslaves you." "See in what servility he reproaches the Corinthians," says Blessed Theophylact. "Do you see that now he shows the false apostles take, and not only take, but take excessively? For this is what the word 'devour' means" (Chrysostom). "If someone strikes you in the face." The Apostle said this not because the false apostles actually struck them in the face, but because they despised and dishonored them. "You suffer no less than those who are struck in the face" (Chrysostom).

He speaks as though saying: although necessity compels me, and this is useful for you, and I see what good effect my turn of speech will produce in you, nevertheless I will say that this matter is not according to the Lord. Let no one think to imitate me in this. I acknowledge praise of oneself as both a foolish thing and displeasing to the Lord. Since I am compelled to such an action, I ask only this: if you consider me foolish, limit my foolishness to this part of the boasting. Do not extend it to all my deeds and words, or to all my teaching, directives, and institutions. "Lest anyone think that he calls all his teaching foolishness, he necessarily added, 'in this part of the boasting,' that is, in these words I call myself foolish" (Theodoret). "He added this so that you would not think he does everything as in foolishness" (Chrysostom).