2 Corinthians 11:1

Contextual Overview

¹ I wish you would be patient with me even when I am a little foolish. But you are already patient with me. ¹ I wish you would bear with me in a little foolishness. Do bear with me! ¹ Wolde to god ye coulde suffre me a lytell in my folysshnes: yee and I praye you forbeare me. ¹ I wish that you would bear with me in a little foolishness, but indeed you do bear with me. ¹ I wish that you would bear with me in a little foolishness; but indeed you are bearing with me.¹ I wish you would be patient with me even when I am a little foolish, but you are already doing that. ¹ Would that you could bear with me in a little foolishness: but indeed you do bear with me. ¹ I earnestly wish ye could bear with me a little in [my] folly: and indeed bear with me. ¹ I wish you would bear with me in a little foolishness. Do bear with me! ¹ I wish that you would bear with me in a little foolishness, but indeed you do bear with me.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Would: Numbers 11:29, Joshua 7:7, 2 Kings 5:3, Acts 26:29, 1 Corinthians 4:8

bear with me a: 2 Corinthians 11:4, Acts 18:14, Hebrews 5:2

in: 2 Corinthians 11:16, 2 Corinthians 11:17, 2 Corinthians 11:19, 2 Corinthians 11:21, 2 Corinthians 5:13, 2 Corinthians 12:11, 1 Corinthians 1:21, 1 Corinthians 3:18, 1 Corinthians 4:10

bear with me: or, ye do bear with me

Reciprocal: Genesis 24:67 - and took Exodus 16:3 - Would

Cross-References

Isaiah 19:18
At that time there will be five cities in Egypt where people speak Hebrew. One of these cities will be named "Destruction City." The people in these cities will promise to follow the Lord All-Powerful.

Isaiah 19:18
In that day five of Egypt's cities will follow the Lord of Heaven's Armies. They will even begin to speak Hebrew, the language of Canaan. One of these cities will be Heliopolis, the City of the Sun.

Isaiah 19:18
In that day there shall be five cities in the land of Egypt that speak the language of Canaan, and swear to Yahweh of hosts; one shall be called The City of the Sun.

Isaiah 19:18
At that time five cities in Egypt will speak Hebrew, the language of Canaan, and they will promise to be loyal to the Lord All-Powerful. One of these cities will be named the City of Destruction.

Isaiah 19:18
At that time five cities in the land of Egypt will speak the language of Canaan and swear allegiance to the Lord who commands armies. One will be called the City of the Sun.

Isaiah 19:18
In that day shall five cities in the land of Egypt speak the language of Canaan, and swear to the LORD of hosts; one shall be called, The city of destruction.

Isaiah 19:18
In that day there shall be five cities in the land of Egypt that speak the language of Canaan, and swear to Yahweh of hosts; one shall be called The city of destruction.

Isaiah 19:18
In that day five cities in the land of Egypt will speak the language of [the Hebrews of] Canaan and swear allegiance to the LORD of hosts. One [of them] will be called the City of Destruction.

Isaiah 19:18
In that day there will be five cities in the land of Egypt that speak the language of Canaan and swear allegiance to the Lord of hosts. One of these will be called the City of Destruction.

Isaiah 19:18
In that dai fyue citees schulen be in the lond of Egipt, and schulen speke with the tunge of Canaan, and schulen swere bi the Lord of oostis; the citee of the sunne schal be clepid oon.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Would to God you could bear with me a little,.... The false apostles boasted so much of their gifts, abilities, and usefulness, that the apostle found himself under a necessity of saying some things in his own defence, for the honour of God, and the good of this church; which otherwise his modesty would not have permitted him, and which he saw would be accounted and censured as folly in him by others; and therefore he entreats their patience a little while, and that they would suffer him to say a few things in vindication of his character, and not be offended; though it would be in commendation of himself, which, were he not forced to, would look vain and foolish: and therefore says,

bear with me a little in my folly, and which he presses with importunity,

and indeed bear with me; he insists upon it, he urges it as what he must not be denied in; for could he have avoided it, he would not have done it; but such was the case, that if he did not do it, he must greatly suffer in his character and usefulness; the members of this church would be in great danger from these false apostles, and the honour and glory of Christ lay greatly at stake; which when considered, he hoped his request would be granted: the last clause may be rendered, but also ye do bear with me; signifying that they had done so already, and continued to do so, and therefore he could not but encourage himself, that they still would bear with him a little longer, and in a few things more.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Would to God - Greek, “I would” (Ὄφελον Ophelon). This expresses earnest desire, but in the Greek there is no appeal to God. The sense would be well expressed by “O that,” or “I earnestly wish.”

Ye could bear with me - That you would bear patiently with me; that you would hear me patiently, and suffer me to speak of myself.

In my folly - Folly in boasting. The idea seems to be, “I know that boasting is generally foolish, and that it is not to be indulged in. But though it is to be generally regarded as folly, yet circumstances compel me to it, and I ask your indulgence in it.” It is possible also that his opponents accused him of folly in boasting so much of himself.

And indeed bear with me - Margin, “Ye do bear.” But the text has probably the correct rendering. It is the expression of an earnest wish that they would tolerate him a little in this. He entreats them to bear with him because he was constrained to it.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

CHAPTER XI.

The apostle apologizes for expressing his jealousy relative to

the true state of the Corinthians; still fearing lest their

minds should have been drawn aside from the simplicity of the

Gospel, 1-3;

From this he takes occasion to extol his own ministry, which

had been without charge to them, having been supported by the

Churches of Macedonia while he preached the Gospel at Corinth,

4-11.

Gives the character of the false apostles, 12-16.

Shows what reasons he has to boast of secular advantages of

birth, education, Divine call to the ministry, labours in that

ministry, grievous persecutions, great sufferings, and

extraordinary hazards, 16-33.

NOTES ON CHAP. XI.

Verse 2 Corinthians 11:1. Would to God ye could bear with me — οφελον ηνειχεσθε μου μικρον. As the word God is not mentioned here, it would have been much better to have translated the passage literally thus: I wish ye could bear a little with me. The too frequent use of this sacred name produces a familiarity with it that is not at all conducive to reverence and godly fear.

In my folly — In my seeming folly; for, being obliged to vindicate his ministry, it was necessary that he should speak much of himself, his sufferings, and his success. And as this would appear like boasting; and boasting is always the effect of an empty, foolish mind; those who were not acquainted with the necessity that lay upon him to make this defence, might be led to impute it to vanity. As if he had said: Suppose you allow this to be folly, have the goodness to bear with me; for though I glory, I should not be a fool, 2 Corinthians 12:6. And let no man think me a fool for my boasting, 2 Corinthians 11:16.