John Calvin Commentary 2 Corinthians 11:16

"I say again, let no man think me foolish; but if [ye do], yet as foolish receive me, that I also may glory a little." — 2 Corinthians 11:16 (ASV)

I say again The Apostle has a twofold design. He has it partly in view to expose the disgusting vanity of the false Apostles, since they were such extravagant trumpeters of their own praises; and further, to expostulate with the Corinthians, because they compelled him to the necessity of glorying, contrary to his own inclinations.

“I say again,” he says. For he had abundantly shown previously that there was no reason why he should be despised. He had also shown at the same time that he was very unlike others, and therefore his grounds for glorying ought not to have been judged by their standard. Thus he again shows for what purpose he had until now gloried—that he might clear his apostleship from contempt; for if the Corinthians had done their duty, he would not have said one word about this matter.

Otherwise now as a fool “If you consider me a fool, allow me at least to make use of my right and liberty—that is, to speak foolishly in the manner of fools.” Thus he reproves the false Apostles, who, while they were exceedingly silly in this respect, were not merely tolerated by the Corinthians, but were received with great applause.

He afterwards explains what kind of folly it is—the publishing of his own praises. While they did so without end and without measure, he intimates that it was a thing to which he was unaccustomed; for he says, for a little while.

For I take this clause as referring to time. The meaning, then, is that Paul did not wish to continue it long; instead, for the moment, he took on, as it were, the role of another and immediately afterward laid it aside. This is just as we are accustomed to pass over lightly those things that are irrelevant to our purpose, while fools occupy themselves constantly (ἐν παρέργοις) in matters of lesser importance.