2 Corinthians 11:16

THE MESSAGE

Let me come back to where I started—and don't hold it against me if I continue to sound a little foolish. Or if you'd rather, just accept that I am a fool and let me rant on a little. I didn't learn this kind of talk from Christ. Oh, no, it's a bad habit I picked up from the three-ring preachers that are so popular these days. Since you sit there in the judgment seat observing all these shenanigans, you can afford to humor an occasional fool who happens along. You have such admirable tolerance for impostors who rob your freedom, rip you off, steal you blind, put you down—even slap your face! I shouldn't admit it to you, but our stomachs aren't strong enough to tolerate that kind of stuff. Since you admire the egomaniacs of the pulpit so much (remember, this is your old friend, the fool, talking), let me try my hand at it. Do they brag of being Hebrews, Israelites, the pure race of Abraham? I'm their match. Are they servants of Christ? I can go them one better. (I can't believe I'm saying these things. It's crazy to talk this way! But I started, and I'm going to finish.) I've worked much harder, been jailed more often, beaten up more times than I can count, and at death's door time after time. I've been flogged five times with the Jews' thirty-nine lashes, beaten by Roman rods three times, pummeled with rocks once. I've been shipwrecked three times, and immersed in the open sea for a night and a day. In hard traveling year in and year out, I've had to ford rivers, fend off robbers, struggle with friends, struggle with foes. I've been at risk in the city, at risk in the country, endangered by desert sun and sea storm, and betrayed by those I thought were my brothers. I've known drudgery and hard labor, many a long and lonely night without sleep, many a missed meal, blasted by the cold, naked to the weather. And that's not the half of it, when you throw in the daily pressures and anxieties of all the churches. When someone gets to the end of his rope, I feel the desperation in my bones. When someone is duped into sin, an angry fire burns in my gut. If I have to "brag" about myself, I'll brag about the humiliations that make me like Jesus. The eternal and blessed God and Father of our Master Jesus knows I'm not lying. Remember the time I was in Damascus and the governor of King Aretas posted guards at the city gates to arrest me? I crawled through a window in the wall, was let down in a basket, and had to run for my life.

Parallel Translations

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Again I say, let no one think me foolish; but if you do, receive me even as foolish, so that I also may boast a little.

Legacy Standard Bible
Again I say, let no one think me foolish; but if you do, receive me even as foolish, so that I also may boast a little.

Simplified Cowboy Version
I ain't no fool, but if that's what you think, then bear with this foolish cowboy a little longer. That way I can brag a little bit.

Bible in Basic English
I say again, Let me not seem foolish to anyone; but if I do, put up with me as such, so that I may take a little glory to myself.

Darby Translation
Again I say, Let not any one think me to be a fool; but if otherwise, receive me then even as a fool, that *I* also may boast myself some little.

Christian Standard Bible®
I repeat: No one should consider me a fool. But if you do, at least accept me as a fool, so I too may boast a little.

World English Bible
I say again, let no one think me foolish. But if so, yet receive me as foolish, that I also may boast a little.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
I say again, Let no man think me a fool; but if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I also may boast a little.

Weymouth's New Testament
To return to what I was saying. Let no one suppose that I am foolish. Or if you must, at any rate make allowance for me as being foolish, in order that I, as well as they, may boast a little.

King James Version (1611)
I say againe, Let no man thinke mee a foole; if otherwise, yet as a foole receiue me, that I may boast my selfe a little.

Literal Translation
Again I say, let not anyone think me to be foolish. But if not, even if as foolish, receive me, that I also may boast a little.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
I saye agayne, lest eny man thynke that I am folish: or els take me euen now as a fole, yt I maye boast my selfe a litle also.

Mace New Testament (1729)
I say it again, let no man think me vain; but if they do, yet as such, bear with me, that I too may applaud my self a little.

Amplified Bible
I repeat then, let no one think that I am foolish; but even if you do, at least accept me as foolish, so that I too may boast a little.

American Standard Version
I say again, Let no man think me foolish; but if ye do, yet as foolish receive me, that I also may glory a little.

Revised Standard Version
I repeat, let no one think me foolish; but even if you do, accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
I saye agayne lest eny man thynke yt I am folishe: or els eve now take me as a fole that I maye bost my silfe a lytell.

Update Bible Version
I say again, let no man think me foolish; but if [you do], yet receive me as foolish, that I also may glory a little.

Webster's Bible Translation
I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little.

Young's Literal Translation
Again I say, may no one think me to be a fool; and if otherwise, even as a fool receive me, that I also a little may boast.

New Century Version
I tell you again: No one should think I am a fool. But if you think so, accept me as you would accept a fool. Then I can brag a little, too.

New English Translation
I say again, let no one think that I am a fool. But if you do, then at least accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little.

Berean Standard Bible
I 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.

Contemporary English Version
I don't want any of you to think that I am a fool. But if you do, then let me be a fool and brag a little.

Complete Jewish Bible
I repeat: don't let anyone think I am a fool. But even if you do, at least receive me as a fool; so that I too may do a little boasting!

English Standard Version
I repeat, let no one think me foolish. But even if you do, accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little.

Geneva Bible (1587)
I say againe, Let no man thinke that I am foolish, or els take mee euen as a foole, that I also may boast my selfe a litle.

George Lamsa Translation
I say again, let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little.

Hebrew Names Version
I say again, let no one think me foolish. But if so, yet receive me as foolish, that I also may boast a little.

International Standard Version
I will say it again: No one should think that I am a fool. But if you do, then treat me like a fool so that I can also boast a little.2 Corinthians 11:1;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
BUT I say again, Let no man think of me as a fool; or if otherwise, let him receive me as a fool, that I also may boast a little.

Murdock Translation
Again I say, let no one think of me, as being a fool: or if otherwise, receive me as a fool, that I may glory a little.

New King James Version
I say again, let no one think me a fool. If otherwise, at least receive me as a fool, that I also may boast a little.

New Living Translation
Again I say, don't think that I am a fool to talk like this. But even if you do, listen to me, as you would to a foolish person, while I also boast a little.

New Life Bible
Let me say it again. Do not think of me as a fool. But if you do, then let this foolish man speak a little about himself.

English Revised Version
I say again, Let no man think me foolish; but if [ye do], yet as foolish receive me, that I also may glory a little.

New Revised Standard
I repeat, let no one think that I am a fool; but if you do, then accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Again, I say - let no one deem me to be, foolish; but, otherwise, at least, as foolish, give me welcome, that, I also, some little, may boast myself.

Douay-Rheims Bible
I say again (Let no man think me to be foolish: otherwise take me as one foolish, that I also may glory a little):

King James Version
I say again, let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little.

Lexham English Bible
Again I say, do not let anyone think I am foolish. But indeed, if you do, accept me even as foolish, in order that I also may boast a little.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
I say agayne, let no man thynke that I am foolyshe: or els euen nowe take ye me as a foole, that I also may boast my selfe a litle.

Easy-to-Read Version
I tell you again: No one should think that I am a fool. But if you think I am a fool, then accept me as you would accept a fool. Then I can boast a little too.

New American Standard Bible
Again I say, let no one think me foolish; but if you do, receive me even as foolish, so that I also may boast a little.

Good News Translation
I repeat: no one should think that I am a fool. But if you do, at least accept me as a fool, just so I will have a little to boast of.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Eft Y seie, lest ony man gesse me to be vnwise; ellis take ye me as vnwise, that also Y haue glorie a litil what.

Contextual Overview

¹⁶Let me come back to where I started—and don't hold it against me if I continue to sound a little foolish. Or if you'd rather, just accept that I am a fool and let me rant on a little. I didn't learn this kind of talk from Christ. Oh, no, it's a bad habit I picked up from the three-ring preachers that are so popular these days. Since you sit there in the judgment seat observing all these shenanigans, you can afford to humor an occasional fool who happens along. You have such admirable tolerance for impostors who rob your freedom, rip you off, steal you blind, put you down—even slap your face! I shouldn't admit it to you, but our stomachs aren't strong enough to tolerate that kind of stuff. Since you admire the egomaniacs of the pulpit so much (remember, this is your old friend, the fool, talking), let me try my hand at it. Do they brag of being Hebrews, Israelites, the pure race of Abraham? I'm their match. Are they servants of Christ? I can go them one better. (I can't believe I'm saying these things. It's crazy to talk this way! But I started, and I'm going to finish.) I've worked much harder, been jailed more often, beaten up more times than I can count, and at death's door time after time. I've been flogged five times with the Jews' thirty-nine lashes, beaten by Roman rods three times, pummeled with rocks once. I've been shipwrecked three times, and immersed in the open sea for a night and a day. In hard traveling year in and year out, I've had to ford rivers, fend off robbers, struggle with friends, struggle with foes. I've been at risk in the city, at risk in the country, endangered by desert sun and sea storm, and betrayed by those I thought were my brothers. I've known drudgery and hard labor, many a long and lonely night without sleep, many a missed meal, blasted by the cold, naked to the weather. And that's not the half of it, when you throw in the daily pressures and anxieties of all the churches. When someone gets to the end of his rope, I feel the desperation in my bones. When someone is duped into sin, an angry fire burns in my gut. If I have to "brag" about myself, I'll brag about the humiliations that make me like Jesus. The eternal and blessed God and Father of our Master Jesus knows I'm not lying. Remember the time I was in Damascus and the governor of King Aretas posted guards at the city gates to arrest me? I crawled through a window in the wall, was let down in a basket, and had to run for my life.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

say: 2 Corinthians 11:1

Let: 2 Corinthians 11:21-23, 2 Corinthians 12:6, 2 Corinthians 12:11

receive me: or, suffer me, 2 Corinthians 11:1, 2 Corinthians 11:19

Reciprocal: Job 13:2 - General Romans 15:17 - whereof 2 Corinthians 5:13 - we be beside 2 Corinthians 7:2 - Receive 2 Corinthians 11:10 - no man shall stop me of this boasting 2 Corinthians 11:30 - must Philippians 4:17 - because

Cross-References

Genesis 10:21
Shem, the older brother of Japheth, also had sons. Shem was ancestor to all the children of Eber.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

I say again, let no man think me a fool,.... For praising himself, or speaking in his own commendation; which he was obliged to do, in vindication of his own character, against the false apostles, for the sake of the Gospel he preached, and for the advantage and welfare of the Corinthians; that they might not be imposed upon and carried away with the insinuations of these deceitful men; wherefore he desires them once more, that if he must be accounted a fool for speaking in his own behalf;

if otherwise, says he, if they could not be persuaded that he acted a wise part, but must be looked upon as a fool, for what he said of himself,

yet as a fool receive me; or "suffer me", or bear with my folly: he desires that he might have, and use the liberty which fools have usually granted to them, to speak out the truth, and all they know, which is not always allowed to wise men:

that I may boast myself a little; in a few instances, and for a small space of time; he suggests, that the false apostles boasted much of themselves, and they bore with them, and had done so for a great while; and therefore it was no unreasonable request he made, that they would also suffer him to boast of himself a little, especially since there was such an absolute necessity for it.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

I say again - I repeat it. He refers to what he had said in 2 Corinthians 11:1. The sense is, “I have said much respecting myself which may seem to be foolish. I admit that to boast in this manner of one’s own self in general is folly. But circumstances compel me to it. And I entreat you to look at those circumstances and not regard me as a fool for doing it.”

If otherwise - If you think otherwise. If I cannot obtain this of you that you will not regard me as acting prudently and wisely. If you will think me foolish, still I am constrained to make these remarks in vindication of myself.

Yet as a fool receive me - Margin, “Suffer;” see 2 Corinthians 11:1. Bear with me as you do with others. Consider how much I have been provoked to this; how necessary it is to my character; and do not reject and despise me because I am constrained to say that of myself which is usually regarded as foolish boasting.

That I may boast myself a little - Since others do it and are not rebuked, may I be permitted to do it also; see 2 Corinthians 11:18-19. There is something sarcastic in the words “a little.” The sense is, “Others are allowed to boast a great deal. Assuredly I may be allowed to boast a little of what I have done.”

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 16. Let no man think me a fool — See the note on 2 Corinthians 11:1. As the apostle was now going to enter into a particular detail of his qualifications, natural, acquired, and spiritual; and particularly of his labours and sufferings; he thinks it necessary to introduce the discourse once more as he did 2 Corinthians 11:1.