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For you bear with the foolish gladly, being wise.
Verse Takeaways
1
A Lesson in Sarcasm
Nearly every commentator agrees that this verse is one of Paul's most sarcastic statements. He isn't genuinely complimenting the Corinthians on their wisdom. Instead, he is ironically pointing out that for people who consider themselves so wise, they have foolishly and even "gladly" tolerated the empty boasting of false teachers.
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Book Overview
2 Corinthians
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8
18th Century
Presbyterian
For ye suffer fools gladly. You tolerate or endure those who are really fools. This is perhaps, says Dr. Bloomfield, the most sarcastic se…
Gladly (ηδεως). Irony again. Cf. καλος in 11:4 (). So as to φρονιμο οντες (being wise).
19th Century
Anglican
Ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.—He falls back into the strain of irony of [Reference 1 Corinthians…
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(19–21a) Probably no verses in the letter are more scathingly ironical than these. Not only do the Corinthians humor fools; they do so “gladly,” be…
16th Century
Protestant
For ye bear with fools willingly. He calls them wise — in my opinion, ironically. He was despised by them, which would n…
17th Century
Reformed Baptist
For you suffer fools gladly They bore with the false apostles, who were fools; were continually proclaiming their folly, …
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It is the duty and practice of Christians to humble themselves, in obedience to the command and example of the Lord; yet prudence must direct which…
13th Century
Catholic
After asking the Corinthians to bear patiently with his self-commendation, and showing that he did this out of a zeal for them that was both reason…