2 Corinthians 11:23 Meaning and Explanation
“Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →If they claim to be ministers of Christ, Paul claims it more, proving it by his far greater labors, beatings, imprisonments, and brushes with death.
What Does 2 Corinthians 11:23 Mean?
Paul reaches the heart of his boast. To the claim of being ministers of Christ he answers, speaking as a fool, that he is more so. But his proof is not status or success; it is suffering: greater labors, more severe beatings, more frequent imprisonments, and repeated dangers of death.
Here the whole logic of his boasting turns upside down. He measures faithful ministry not by honors gained but by hardships borne for the gospel. This is the way of the cross, where the servant follows a crucified Lord. The catalog that begins here shows that the true mark of a minister of Christ is willingness to suffer for His name, pouring out one's life for the sake of others.
2 Corinthians 11:23 in the Original Language
diakonos (διάκονος), 'minister' -- a servant; Paul measures this office not by prestige but by costly labor and suffering for Christ.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Corinthians 11:23
What does 2 Corinthians 11:23 mean?
If they claim to be ministers of Christ, Paul claims it more, proving it by his far greater labors, beatings, imprisonments, and brushes with death.