2 Corinthians 11:16-33

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 2 Corinthians 12:10) is not only inspired by strong personal feeling, it is full of details regarding Paul's personal experience of which we have no record elsewhere. After asserting his equality with his opponents on the point to which they attached most importance, he claims superiority to them in respect of the real criteria of a minister of Christ, viz. the sufferings undergone in His service (cf. Galatians 6:17). The reiterated allusion to his foolishness, to speaking as one beside himself, all point to the consciousness that he is departing from that steady reserve on the subject of his own service which was for him the way of common-sense. Now that the barrier is broken down, the record of personal experiences pours forth like a flood. From those which are external and physical he passes (2 Corinthians 11:28) to those which are internal and mental. Through all these trials and sufferings he has carried a heart which feels the needs not only of the churches but of the individual Christian everywhere. And if he has sympathised with the weak in one sense, it is not because he himself has been strong in another sense. On the contrary, he has all the time been the victim of physical weakness which has indefinitely increased the difficulty of his work. Nevertheless, it is precisely in this weakness that he finds his deepest reason for proud rejoicing. For in that weakness the power of Christ has been perfectly displayed (cf. 2 Corinthians 12:9).

An illustration of this fact occurs to him, possibly because the story of his escape from Damascus (Acts 9:23 *) had been turned to his disadvantage. When he had felt utterly helpless against the determination of the governor to have him arrested (pp. 655, 768 f.), the Divine strength had been manifested in his escape.