Such boasting is not from the Lord, but I am acting like a fool.
Parallel translations
- WEB That which I speak, I don’t speak according to the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting.
- KJV That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.
- BSB In this confident boasting of mine, I am not speaking as the Lord would, but as a fool.
- NKJV What I speak, I speak not according to the Lord, but as it were, foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.
- NASB What I am saying, I am not saying as the Lord would, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Paul acknowledges that this boasting is not in keeping with the Lord's manner but is spoken in the role of foolishness. He distances such self-praise from Christ's example.
Overview
Paul candidly notes that boasting in oneself does not reflect the Lord's character of humility. He speaks this way only because the circumstances compel it, adopting the 'foolishness' his rivals practice. This honest qualification keeps his self-defense from being mistaken for ordinary pride.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- 1 Cor 7:12But to the rest I — not the Lord — say, if any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she is content to live with him, let him not leave her.
- Phil 3:3–6For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh;
- 2 Cor 9:4so that I won’t by any means, if anyone from Macedonia comes there with me and finds you unprepared, we (to say nothing of you) should be disappointed in this confident boasting.
- 1 Cor 7:25Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who has obtained mercy from the Lord to be trustworthy.
- 1 Cor 7:6But this I say by way of concession, not of commandment.
- 2 Cor 11:18–27Seeing that many boast after the flesh, I will also boast.
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Christ at the center
In Christ all God's promises are 'Yes and Amen'; though rich, he became poor to make us rich, and in him God reconciles the world, making us new creations.
How 2 Corinthians 11:17 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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