2 Corinthians 11:16

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.

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Word by word — the Greek

Word	Greek	Strong’s	Meaning
say	λέγω, legō	G3004	properly · verb — present active indicative, 1st person singular
again	Πάλιν Palin	G3825	(adverbially) anew · adverb
Let	δόξῃ doxē	G1380	compare the base of G1166 (δεικνύω)) of the same meaning · verb — aorist active subjunctive, 3rd person singular
no	μή mē	G3361	(adverb) not · particle — negative
man	τίς tis	G5100	some or any person or object · indefinite pronoun — nominative singular masculine
think	δοκέω dokéō	G1380	compare the base of G1166 (δεικνύω)) of the same meaning
me	με me	G3165	me · personal pronoun — 1st person accusative singular
fool	ἄφρονα aphrona	G878	properly · adjective — accusative singular masculine
if	εἰ ei	G1487	if · conditional particle
otherwise	δὲ de	G1161	but · conjunction
yet	κἄν kán	G2579	and (or even) if
as	ὡς hōs	G5613	which how · particle
fool	ἄφρονα aphrona	G878	properly · adjective — accusative singular masculine
receive	δέξασθέ dexasthe	G1209	to receive (in various applications · verb — aorist middle imperative, 2nd person plural
me	με, me	G3165	me · personal pronoun — 1st person accusative singular
that	ἵνα ina	G2443	compare G3588 (ὁ)) · conjunction
myself	καυχήσωμαι. kauchēsōmai	G2744	to vaunt (in a good or a bad sense) · verb — aorist middle deponent subjunctive, 1st person singular
little	μικρόν mikrón	G3397	a small space of time or degree

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (James Strong, 1890/1894), public domain; digitized by Open Scriptures (CC BY-SA). KJV word tagging: eBible.org (public domain). Original-language text, parsing and brief lexicon: STEPBible.org data from Tyndale House, Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

Cross-references

2 Corinthians 11:1 Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.
2 Corinthians 12:6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me abov…
2 Corinthians 11:19 For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.
2 Corinthians 11:21-23 I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.
2 Corinthians 12:11 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 chiefes…

Cross-references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), in the lineage of the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).

Commentary

Matthew Henry on 2 Corinthians 11:16-21

Here we have a further excuse that the apostle makes for what he was about to say in his own vindication. 1. He would not have them think he was guilty of folly, in saying what he said to vindicate himself: Let no man think me a fool, Co2 11:16. Ordinarily, indeed, it is unbecoming a wise man to be much and often speaking in his own praise. Boasting of ourselves is usually not only a sign of a proud mind, but a mark of folly also. However, says the apostle, yet as a fool receive me; that is, if you count it folly in me to boast a little, yet give due regard to what I shall say. 2. He mentions a caution, to prevent the abuse of what he should say, telling them that what he spoke, he did not s…

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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Corinthians 11:16

I say again--again taking up from Co2 11:1 the anticipatory apology for his boasting. if otherwise--but if ye will not grant this; if ye will think me a fool. yet as a fool--"yet even as a fool receive me"; grant me the indulgent hearing conceded even to one suspected of folly. The Greek denotes one who does not rightly use his mental powers; not having the idea of blame necessarily attached to it; one deceived by foolish vanities, yet boasting himself [TITTMANN], (Co2 11:17, Co2 11:19). that I--The oldest manuscripts read, "that I, too," namely, as well as they, may boast myself.

Adam Clarke on 2 Corinthians 11:16

Let no man think me a fool - See the note on Co2 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 labors and sufferings; he thinks it necessary to introduce the discourse once more as he did Co2 11:1.

John Gill on 2 Corinthians 11:16

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…

The Church Fathers

Paul returns here to what he said at the beginning of the chapter. What he is about to say is true, though it may make him appear to be foolish, because these truths redound to his praise. Paul is not really boasting but merely wants to show that others who boast have nothing more to show for themselves than he has, so that if they are worthy of praise so is he.
— Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES

"Again I say." For he had even already used much preparatory corrective: 'But nevertheless I am not contented with what I have said, but I say yet again,' "Let no man think me foolish." For this was what they did-boasted without a reason.-But observe, I pray you, how often, when about to enter upon his own praises, he checks himself. 'For indeed it is the act of folly,' he says, 'to boast: but I do it, not as playing the fool, but because compelled. But if ye do not believe me, but though ye see there is a necessity will condemn me; not even so will I decline the task.' Seest thou how he showed that there was great necessity for his speaking. For he that shunned not even this suspicion, consider what violent impulsion to speak he must have undergone, how he travailed and was constrained to speak. But, nevertheless, even so he employs this thing with moderation. For he did not say, 'that I may glory.' And when about to do "a little," again he uses yet another deprecatory expression.
— John Chrysostom, Homily 24 on 2 Corinthians

The Church Fathers: public-domain translations (Ante-Nicene and Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers), verse-indexed by SermonIndex (CC BY 4.0).

Dictionary and topics

Basket — There are five different Hebrew words so rendered in the Authorized Version: (1.) A basket (Heb. sal, a twig or osier) for holding bread (Gen. 40:16; Ex. 29:3, 23; Lev. 8:2, 26, 31; Num. 6:15, 17,…

Dictionary: Easton's (1897) and Smith's (1863), public domain. Topics: Nave's Topical Bible (1896) and Torrey's Topical Textbook (1897), public domain. Both as parsed by NEUU (CC BY 4.0).

2 Corinthians 11:16

Word by word — the Greek

Cross-references

Commentary

Matthew Henry on 2 Corinthians 11:16-21

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Corinthians 11:16

Adam Clarke on 2 Corinthians 11:16

John Gill on 2 Corinthians 11:16

The Church Fathers

Dictionary and topics

2 Corinthians 11:16

Word by word — the Greek

Cross-references

Commentary

Matthew Henry on 2 Corinthians 11:16-21

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Corinthians 11:16

Adam Clarke on 2 Corinthians 11:16

John Gill on 2 Corinthians 11:16

The Church Fathers

Dictionary and topics

John Calvin on 2 Corinthians 11:16-21

Tyndale Open Study Notes on 2 Corinthians 11:16-29