John Calvin Commentary 2 Corinthians 11:22

"Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I." — 2 Corinthians 11:22 (ASV)

He now, by enumerating particular instances, allows them to see more distinctly that he would by no means be found inferior if matters came to a contest. In the first place, he mentions the glory of his descent, of which his rivals chiefly boasted. “If,” he says, “they boast of illustrious descent, I shall be on a level with them, for I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham.”

This is a silly and empty boast, yet Paul uses three terms to express it; furthermore, he specifies, so to speak, three different marks of excellence. By this repetition, in my opinion, he indirectly reproves their folly, since they placed the entirety of their excellence in such a trivial thing. This boasting was constantly on their lips, to the point of being absolutely disgusting, as vain men are accustomed to pour out empty boasts about mere trifles.

Regarding the term Hebrews, it appears from Genesis 11:15 that it denotes descent and is derived from Heber; and further, it is probable that Abraham himself is so called in Genesis 14:13 in no other sense than this — that he was descended from that ancestor. The conjecture of those who explain the term to mean those dwelling beyond the river. is not altogether without some appearance of truth. It is true, we do not read that anyone was called so before Abraham, who had passed over the river, when he left his native country. Afterwards, the designation became customary among his descendants, as appears from the history of Joseph. The termination, however, shows that it is expressive of descent, and the passage I have quoted abundantly confirms it.