Albert Barnes Commentary 2 Corinthians 11:23

"Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as one beside himself) I more; in labors more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in deaths oft." — 2 Corinthians 11:23 (ASV)

Are they ministers of Christ? Though Jews by birth, they still claimed to be the ministers of the Messiah.

I speak as a fool. As if he had said, "Bear in mind, in what I am now about to say, that the one who speaks is accused of being a fool in boasting. Do not consider it improper that I should act in this role; and since you regard me as such, allow me to speak like a fool."

His frequent reminding them of this charge was particularly suited to humble them for having ever made it, especially when they were reminded, by an enumeration of his trials, of the character of the one against whom the charge was brought.

I am more. Paul was not inclined to deny that they were true ministers of Christ. But he had higher claims to the office than they did.

He had been called to it in a more remarkable manner, and he had shown, by his labours and trials, that he had more of the true spirit of a minister of the Lord Jesus than they did.

He therefore goes into detail to show what he had endured in endeavouring to spread the knowledge of the Saviour—trials which he had borne, probably while they had been living in comparative ease and comfort, free from suffering and persecution.

In labours more abundant. This refers to the kind of labour necessary in propagating the gospel. Probably he had by now been engaged in the work for a much longer time than they had, and had been far more indefatigable in it.

In stripes. This means in receiving stripes; that is, he had been more frequently scourged (2 Corinthians 11:24).

This was a proof of his being a minister of Christ, because outstanding devotion to Him, at that time, necessarily subjected a person to frequent scourging.

The ministry is one of the very few callings—perhaps it stands alone in this—where it is proof of peculiar qualification for office that a person has been treated with all manner of contempt, and has even been often publicly whipped. What other office admits such a qualification as this?

Above measure. Exceedingly; far exceeding them. He had received far more than they did; and he judged, therefore, that this was one evidence that he had been called to the ministry.

In prisons more frequent. Luke, in the Acts of the Apostles, mentions only one imprisonment of Paul before the time when this epistle was written. That was at Philippi, with Silas (Acts 16:23 and following).

However, we are to remember that many things were omitted by Luke. He does not profess to give an account of all that happened to Paul, and an omission is not a contradiction.

For anything that Luke says, Paul may have been imprisoned often. He mentions his having been in prison once; he does not deny that he had been in prison many times besides. (See the comments on 2 Corinthians 11:24).

In deaths oft. That is, exposed to death; or suffering pain equal to death. (See the comments on 2 Corinthians 1:9).

No one familiar with the history of Paul can doubt that he was often in danger of death.

Regarding the term "fool," it can be understood as "as one foolish." For "more abundant," see 1 Corinthians 15:10. For "above measure," see Acts 9:16; 20:23; 21:11.

For "deaths oft," see 1 Corinthians 15:30–32. The word "oft" here means "often."