2 Corinthians 11:18 Meaning and Explanation
“Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Since many boast in worldly, outward terms, Paul says he will boast as well, meeting them on their own chosen ground.
What Does 2 Corinthians 11:18 Mean?
The false teachers gloried after the flesh, boasting in human credentials and outward advantages. Paul, pressed by their claims, announces that he too will boast on these terms, stepping for a moment onto the very ground they have chosen.
He does this not because such boasting is good but to expose its emptiness from the inside. By matching and exceeding their fleshly claims, he will show how little they finally prove. The strategy turns their weapon against them. Yet Paul's deeper aim is to redirect glory away from human achievement altogether, toward the Lord in whom alone true boasting belongs, as the rest of his words will make clear.
2 Corinthians 11:18 in the Original Language
sarx (σάρξ), 'flesh' -- human nature and its outward advantages, the worldly basis of boasting Paul will ultimately overturn.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Corinthians 11:18
What does 2 Corinthians 11:18 mean?
Since many boast in worldly, outward terms, Paul says he will boast as well, meeting them on their own chosen ground.