2 Corinthians 11:17 Meaning and Explanation
“That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Paul admits that this boasting is not in the manner of the Lord but is spoken, as it were, in foolishness.
What Does 2 Corinthians 11:17 Mean?
With unusual candor Paul distinguishes his present manner of speech from his ordinary one. To boast like this is not the way of the Lord, who emptied Himself rather than exalt Himself. Paul knows it and says so, framing the whole passage as a kind of foolishness he has been driven to.
This honesty is itself instructive. Paul will not pretend that self-promotion is Christlike, even when circumstances require him to engage in it. He keeps the standard of the Lord clearly in view even as he steps, for a moment, outside it. The humility lies in naming the boast for what it is. By confessing the manner, he keeps his readers' eyes on the better way of Christ.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Corinthians 11:17
What does 2 Corinthians 11:17 mean?
Paul admits that this boasting is not in the manner of the Lord but is spoken, as it were, in foolishness.