2 Corinthians 11:1

1 Wolde to god ye coulde suffre me a lytell in my folysshnes: yee and I praye you forbeare me.

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 Wolde to god ye coulde suffre me a lytell in my folysshnes: yee and I praye you forbeare me.

2 For I am gelous over you with godly gelousy. For I coupled you to one man to make you a chaste virgen to Christ.

3 But I feare lest as the serpent begyled Eve thorow his sutteltie even so youre wittes shuld be corrupte from the singlenes that is in Christ.

4 For if he that commeth preache another Iesus then hym whom we preached: or if ye receave another sprete then that which ye have receaved: other another gospell then that ye have receaved ye myght right wel have bene content.

5 I suppose that I was not behynde ye chefe apostles.