2CO 11:16-33

Paulʼs Suffering and Service

16Again I say: let no one think me to be a fool. But if not, then receive me even as a fool, so that I myself also may boast a little. [11:17] What I am saying, I do not say according to the Lord, but as in foolishness — in this underlying enterprise of boasting. [11:18] Since many boast according to the flesh, I myself also will boast, will boast. [11:19] For you gladly bear with fools, being wise yourselves! [11:20] For you bear it if anyone enslaves you, if anyone devours you, if anyone takes from you, if anyone exalts himself, if anyone strikes you in the face. [11:21] I speak as to dishonor — as if we have been weak! But in whatever anyone may dare — in foolishness I speak — I myself also dare. [11:22] Are they Hebrews? I myself also. Are they Israelites? I myself also. Are they descendants of Abraham? I myself also. [11:23] Are they servants of Christ? — I speak as one beside myself — beyond measure I: in labors more abundantly, in imprisonments more abundantly, in beatings above measure, in deaths often. [11:24] From the Jews five times I received forty lashes minus one. [11:25] Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. [11:26] In journeyings often, in perils of rivers, in perils of robbers, in perils from my own race, in perils from the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils on the sea, in perils among false brothers — [11:27] in labor and toil, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. [11:28] Apart from the things outside, there is the daily stoppage pressing upon me — the anxiety for all the assemblies. [11:29] Who is weak and I am not weak? Who is caused to stumble and I am not burning with indignation? [11:30] If it is necessary to boast, I will boast in the things of my weakness. [11:31] The God and Father of the Lord Jesus — who is blessed forever — knows that I am not lying. [11:32] In Damascus, the governor under Aretas the king was guarding the city of the Damascenes in order to seize me, [11:33] and through a window I was lowered through the wall in a basket and escaped his hands.

In the world it was spoken into

In the Greco-Roman world, boasting was a common rhetorical practice, often tied to one’s social status, achievements, or connections. Paul’s audience in Corinth would have been familiar with this cultural norm, where speakers often highlighted their credentials to gain credibility. However, Paul subverts this expectation by boasting not in his triumphs but in his weaknesses and sufferings, a stark contrast to the typical honor-shame economy. His mention of being enslaved and struck in the face would have evoked images of social humiliation, as such treatment was reserved for the lowest classes or slaves. Paul’s emphasis on enduring daily pressure for the churches reflects the burdens of leadership in a society where patrons were expected to provide stability and protection. By framing his hardships as a mark of his service , Paul challenges the Corinthians’ assumptions about power and authority, aligning his ministry with the countercultural values of the gospel.

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How other translations render this

2CO 11:16

KJV: I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little.
BSB: I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then receive me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little.
Koinōnos: Again I say: let no one think me to be a fool. But if not, then receive me even as a fool, so that I myself also may boast a little.

2CO 11:17

KJV: That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.
BSB: In this confident boasting of mine, I am not speaking as the Lord would, but as a fool.
Koinōnos: What I am saying, I do not say according to the Lord, but as in foolishness — in this underlying enterprise of boasting.

2CO 11:18

KJV: Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.
BSB: Since many are boasting according to the flesh, I too will boast.
Koinōnos: Since many boast according to the flesh, I myself also will boast, will boast.

2CO 11:19

KJV: For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.
BSB: For you gladly put up with fools, since you are so wise.
Koinōnos: For you gladly bear with fools, being wise yourselves!

2CO 11:20

KJV: For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face.
BSB: In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or exalts himself or strikes you in the face.
Koinōnos: For you bear it if anyone enslaves you, if anyone devours you, if anyone takes from you, if anyone exalts himself, if anyone strikes you in the face.

2CO 11:21

KJV: I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.
BSB: To my shame I concede that we were too weak for that! Speaking as a fool, however, I can match what anyone else dares to boast about.
Koinōnos: I speak as to dishonor — as if we have been weak! But in whatever anyone may dare — in foolishness I speak — I myself also dare.

2CO 11:22

KJV: Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.
BSB: Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.
Koinōnos: Are they Hebrews? I myself also. Are they Israelites? I myself also. Are they descendants of Abraham? I myself also.

2CO 11:23

KJV: Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
BSB: Are they servants of Christ? (I am speaking as if I were out of my mind,) but I am so much more: in harder labor, in more imprisonments, in worse beatings, in frequent danger of death.
Koinōnos: Are they servants of Christ? — I speak as one beside myself — beyond measure I: in labors more abundantly, in imprisonments more abundantly, in beatings above measure, in deaths often.

2CO 11:24

KJV: Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
BSB: Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.
Koinōnos: From the Jews five times I received forty lashes minus one.

2CO 11:25

KJV: Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
BSB: Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked. I spent a night and a day in the open sea.
Koinōnos: Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep.

2CO 11:26

KJV: In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
BSB: In my frequent journeys, I have been in danger from rivers and from bandits, in danger from my countrymen and from the Gentiles, in danger in the city and in the country, in danger on the sea and among false brothers,
Koinōnos: In journeyings often, in perils of rivers, in perils of robbers, in perils from my own race, in perils from the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils on the sea, in perils among false brothers —

2CO 11:27

KJV: In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
BSB: in labor and toil and often without sleep, in hunger and thirst and often without food, in cold and exposure.
Koinōnos: in labor and toil, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

2CO 11:28

KJV: Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
BSB: Apart from these external trials, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.
Koinōnos: Apart from the things outside, there is the daily stoppage pressing upon me — the anxiety for all the assemblies.

2CO 11:29

KJV: Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?
BSB: Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not burn with grief?
Koinōnos: Who is weak and I am not weak? Who is caused to stumble and I am not burning with indignation?

2CO 11:30

KJV: If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.
BSB: If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.
Koinōnos: If it is necessary to boast, I will boast in the things of my weakness.

2CO 11:31

KJV: The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.
BSB: The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is forever worthy of praise, knows that I am not lying.
Koinōnos: The God and Father of the Lord Jesus — who is blessed forever — knows that I am not lying.

2CO 11:32

KJV: In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:
BSB: In Damascus, the governor under King Aretas secured the city of the Damascenes in order to arrest me.
Koinōnos: In Damascus, the governor under Aretas the king was guarding the city of the Damascenes in order to seize me,

2CO 11:33

KJV: And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.
BSB: But I was lowered in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his grasp.
Koinōnos: and through a window I was lowered through the wall in a basket and escaped his hands.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

2CO 11:17

confidence:The word translated 'confidence' here carries the sense of a firm foundation or assurance, something that provides a solid basis for belief or action. It's not merely a feeling, but a conviction rooted in reality.

2CO 11:20

enslaves,:The term used here for 'enslaves' vividly describes reducing someone to the state of a slave, completely dominating and controlling them. It implies a harsh and absolute subjugation.

2CO 11:23

Servants:The word translated 'Servants' refers to someone who serves, often in a humble or subordinate capacity, but it can also denote an official or minister. It emphasizes active service rather than just a social status.

2CO 11:28

stoppage:The word translated 'stoppage' here can also mean an insurrection, a riotous gathering, or a hostile rising against someone. It suggests a disruptive and potentially violent opposition.