I have become a fool, but you drove me to it. In fact, you should have commended me, since I am in no way inferior to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.
Parallel translations
- WEB I have become foolish in boasting. You compelled me, for I ought to have been commended by you, for in nothing was I inferior to the very best apostles, though I am nothing.
- KJV I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.
- NKJV I have become a fool in boasting; you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you; for in nothing was I behind the most eminent apostles, though I am nothing.
- NASB I have become foolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, since I was in no respect inferior to the most eminent apostles, even though I am a nobody.
- NLT You have made me act like a fool. You ought to be writing commendations for me, for I am not at all inferior to these “super apostles,” even though I am nothing at all.
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 says the Corinthians forced him into foolish boasting; they should have commended him, for he is in no way inferior to the 'super-apostles,' though he is nothing in himself. It matters because his worth rests on Christ, not self-estimation.
Overview
Paul ends the fool's speech by laying the blame for it on the Corinthians' failure to defend him. He affirms his apostolic equality with the most esteemed leaders while immediately confessing, 'though I am nothing.' This blend of confidence and humility shows that whatever he is, he is only by the grace of God.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- 2 Cor 11:5I consider myself in no way inferior to those “super-apostles.”
- 1 Cor 15:8–10And last of all He appeared to me also, as to one of untimely birth.
- 2 Cor 11:1I hope you will bear with a little of my foolishness, but you are already doing that.
- Eph 3:8Though I am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
- 2 Cor 12:6Even if I wanted to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me,
- 1 Cor 3:4–7For when one of you says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere men?
- 1 Cor 3:22whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future. All of them belong to you,
- Gal 2:6–14But as for the highly esteemed—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism—those leaders added nothing to me.
- 2 Cor 12:12The true marks of an apostle—signs, wonders, and miracles—were performed among you with great perseverance.
- 2 Cor 11:16–17I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then receive me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little.
- 2 Cor 1:6If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which accomplishes in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we experience.
- Luke 17:10So you also, when you have done everything commanded of you, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”
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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.
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Original language
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