Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 2 Corinthians 11:1

"Would that ye could bear with me in a little foolishness: but indeed ye do bear with me." — 2 Corinthians 11:1 (ASV)

Paul has firmly stated that self-praise is inadmissible and worthless (cf. 3:1; 5:12; 10:12), but he realizes that the present situation demands it if his converts at Corinth are to be preserved intact for Christ (v.2). His antagonists were indulging in self-praise (5:12; 10:7, 12–18) and the Corinthians were evidently sympathetic to that.

Consequently his hand was forced (12:11); he must indulge in foolish boasting in order to win the Corinthians’ attention and gain a fair hearing. Reluctantly, he decides to employ his opponents’ methods; but unlike theirs, his motive is not personal gain but the Corinthians’ welfare (v.2). He goes on to supply three grounds for his appeal to the Corinthians to bear with him: (1) his divine jealousy for them especially when they were endangered (vv.2–3); (2) their willingness to put up with rivals who presented an adulterated message (v.4); and (3) his claim not to be in the least inferior to the “super-apostles” (v.5).