2 Corinthians 11:17

That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting. NOT AFTER THE LORD. By inspired guidance he excepts this 'glorying' from the inspired authoritativeness which belongs to all else that he wrote: even this boasting, though undesirable in itself (), was permitted by the Spirit, taking into account its aim-namely, to draw off the Corinthians from false teachers to the apostle. This passage gives no proof that any Scripture is uninspired. It merely guards against his boasting being made a justification of boasting in general, which (as in the ease of the false apostles) is not ordinarily "after the Lord" - i:e., consistent with Christian humility. FOOLISHLY - Greek, 'in foolishness.' CONFIDENCE OF BOASTING ...

17._What I speak, I speak not after the Lord _His disposition, it is true, had an eye to God, but the outward appearance (838) might seem unsuitable to a servant of the Lord. At the same time, the things that Paul confesses respecting himself, he, on the other hand, condemns in the false Apostles. (839) For it was not his intention to praise himself, but simply to contrast himself with them, with the view of humbling them. (840) Hence he transfers to his own person what belonged to them, that he may thus open the eyes of the Corinthians. What I have rendered _boldness, _is in the Greek ὑπόστασις _, _as to the meaning of which term we have spoken in the ninth chapter. (2 Corinthians 9:4.) _Subject-matter _

16-21 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 in what it is needful to do things which we may do lawfully, even the speaking of what God has wrought for us, and in us, and by us. Doubtless here is reference to facts in which the character of the false apostles had been shown. It is astonishing to see how such men bring their followers into bondage, and how they take from them and insult them....

Verse 17. _I SPEAK IT NOT AFTER THE LORD_] Were it not for the _necessity_ under which I am laid to vindicate my apostleship, my present glorying would be inconsistent with my Christian profession of _humility_, and knowing no one _after the flesh_....

THAT WHICH I SPEAK - In praise of myself. I SPEAK IT NOT AFTER THE LORD - see the note on 1 Corinthians 7:12. The phrase here may mean either, I do not speak this by inspiration or claiming to be inspired by the Lord; or more probably it may mean, I do not speak this imitating the example of the Lord Jesus or strictly as becomes his follower. He was eminently modest, and never vaunted or boasted. And Paul probably means to say, “I do not in this profess to follow him entirely. I admit that it is a departure from his pure example in this respect. But circumstances have compelled me and much as I would prefer another strain at remark, and sensible as I am in general of the folly of boasting, yet a regard to my apostolic office and authority urges me to this course.” Bloomfield supposes that the apostle is not

AN APOSTLE DRIVEN AGAINST HIS WILL INTO A SEMBLANCE OF BOASTING. EXPOSITION An apology for the "foolishness" of boasting (2 Corinthians 11:1). He is not afraid of comparisons (2 Corinthians 11:5, 2 Corinthians 11:6). He will not recede from his despised practice of teaching gratuitously (2 Corinthians 11:7). A second apology, drawn from the outrageous conduct of his opponents ...

THAT WHICH I SPEAK,.... Meaning in vindication and commendation of himself, on this subject of glorying; or, as here expressed, IN THIS CONFIDENCE OF BOASTING; for which he thought he had good ground and foundation to go upon, and therefore might express himself with the greatest assurance, see 2 Corinthians 9:4 this he declares he spoke not as from the Lord, but of himself: I SPEAK IT NOT AFTER THE LORD; or "Christ", as some copies read; or "our Lord", as the Syriac version; his sense is, that he did not then speak as an apostle, or one sent by Christ; he put off this character for the present, and took that of a fool upon him, that he might speak the more freely to the Corinthians, and the more severely against the false apostles; he did not pretend to any express command from Christ for so doing, or that he acted in imitation of him, who was

2 CORINTHIANS 11:17 ku,rion {A} In place of ku,rion (which at this place refers to Jesus), several inattentive scribes substituted qeo,n or a;nqrwpon....

2. ANSWERING HIS ADVERSARIES. HIS BOASTINGS. CHAPTER 11 _ 1. The Danger Through False Teachers. (2 Corinthians 11:1)_ 2. Answering His Adversaries. (2 Corinthians 11:7) 3. His Boastings of Labors and Sufferings. (2 Corinthians 11:16 .) Inasmuch as he did not want to boast, he tells the Corinthians to bear with him a little while he acts foolishly in speaking of himself. It had become necessary to do so in order to answer his adversaries, who were making havoc among the Corinthians, but he looks upon his vindication and boasting as nothing less than folly. He is about to do what he had exposed in others in the previous chapter ...

COMPARISON BETWEEN PAUL AND HIS OPPONENTS (_cf._ 2 Corinthians 11:6). Under the pressure of intense feeling he will break through his inclination and self-imposed resolve of silence, to let his character and his sufferings in the cause of Christ speak for themselves. But in doing so, he makes it clear that he waives all authority of one who speaks in the Lord. Speaking simply as a frail man, he pleads that he may receive at least such a hearing as the Corinthians have given to the other men who have tyrannised over them, exploited them, even buffeted them. If such high-handed arrogance as they have practised be what they mean by strength, then he admits (ironically adding to my disgrace) that he had been weak. The passage which follows (2 Corinthians 11:22 to...