2 Corinthians 11:30 Meaning and Explanation
“If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →If he must boast, Paul declares he will boast only in the things that show his weakness.
What Does 2 Corinthians 11:30 Mean?
After cataloging his sufferings, Paul states the principle behind his strange boasting. If boast he must, he will glory not in strength or success but in the very things that reveal his weakness. This overturns every ordinary notion of what is worth boasting about.
Here the gospel logic shines clearly. God's power is made perfect in weakness, and so the servant glories in his frailty, that the strength may be plainly God's and not his own. Paul's weakness becomes the showcase for Christ's sufficiency. This is the heart of his whole defense: not to exalt himself but to point past himself to the Lord whose grace upholds the weak and turns their infirmities into testimony.
2 Corinthians 11:30 in the Original Language
astheneia (ἀσθένεια), 'infirmity' -- weakness or frailty; the very thing Paul boasts in, since God's power rests upon the weak.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Corinthians 11:30
What does 2 Corinthians 11:30 mean?
If he must boast, Paul declares he will boast only in the things that show his weakness.