2 Corinthians 11:1

Paul and the False Apostles

1 I wish you would put up with a little foolishness from me. Yes, do put up with me.^[a]

2 Corinthians 11:1 Meaning and Commentary

2 Corinthians 11:1

Would to God you could bear with me a little
The false apostles boasted so much of their gifts, abilities, and usefulness, that the apostle found himself under a necessity of saying some things in his own defence, for the honour of God, and the good of this church; which otherwise his modesty would not have permitted him, and which he saw would be accounted and censured as folly in him by others; and therefore he entreats their patience a little while, and that they would suffer him to say a few things in vindication of his character, and not be offended; though it would be in commendation of himself, which, were he not forced to, would look vain and foolish: and therefore says,

bear with me a little in my folly,
and which he presses with importunity,

and indeed bear with me;
he insists upon it, he urges it as what he must not be denied in; for could he have avoided it, he would not have done it; but such was the case, that if he did not do it, he must greatly suffer in his character and usefulness; the members of this church would be in great danger from these false apostles, and the honour and glory of Christ lay greatly at stake; which when considered, he hoped his request would be granted: the last clause may be rendered, but also ye do bear with me; signifying that they had done so already, and continued to do so, and therefore he could not but encourage himself, that they still would bear with him a little longer, and in a few things more.

2 Corinthians 11:1 In-Context

1 I wish you would put up with a little foolishness from me. Yes, do put up with me.

2 For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy, because I have promised you in marriage to one husband-to present a pure virgin to Christ.

3 But I fear that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your minds may be corrupted from a complete and pure devotion to Christ.

4 For if a person comes and preaches another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or you receive a different spirit, which you had not received, or a different gospel, which you had not accepted, you put up with it splendidly!

5 Now I consider myself in no way inferior to the "super-apostles."

Footnotes

• [a] Or Yes, you are putting up with me