Why Did Paul BOAST in 2 Corinthians 11?
Published: 24th June 2025
The Bible shows that arrogant boasting of one’s achievements, possessions or plans is carnal and foolish (Jeremiah 9:23-24; 1 Corinthians 5:6; James 4:16). The book of wisdom puts it like this:
Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth;
an outsider, and not your own lips.
So, why did Paul the apostle boast of several things in this passage…
12And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. 13For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.
16I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then tolerate me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting. 17In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would, but as a fool. 18Since many are boasting in the way the world does, I too will boast. 19You gladly put up with fools since you are so wise! 20In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or puts on airs or slaps you in the face. 21To my shame I admit that we were too weak for that!
Whatever anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about. 22Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I. 23Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?
30If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 31The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying. 32In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me. 33But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.
2 Corinthians 11:12-33
Paul started the assembly in Corinth around 50-52 AD before moving on to pioneer other fellowships. In his absence, some tried to stake their claim as apostles and called into question the very one who pioneered the assembly, raising doubts about Paul’s character, motives and methods, even criticizing his supposedly weak presence in comparison to his forceful letters (2 Corinthians 10:9-11).
Paul plainly admits in this passage that he is “speaking as a fool” and was “out of [his] mind to talk like this” (verses 21 and 23), but he was backed against the wall and had no recourse but to defend himself against the carnal individuals who were unjustly trying to discredit him. As such, he lists his impressive ministry ‘credentials’ in verses 21-28.
Consider this Psalm passage:
Though the LORD is on high, Yet He regards the lowly;
But the proud He knows from afar.
Psalm 138:6 (NKJV)
Those close to the LORD and serving in the fivefold ministry are (ideally) extremely humble people. They are not boasters, but rather let their works and service speak for themselves. However, higher levels, bigger devils. In other words, anyone advancing the Kingdom of God will draw attack: The Enemy will raise up false believers to slander God’s servants in an attempt to discredit them by poisoning people’s minds with lies and negative spinning. That’s what was going on in Corinth. If this happens to you, like Paul, you might have no recourse but to “speak like a fool” to defend yourself and your service for the Kingdom (verses 21 and 23; 2 Corinthians 12:11).
I used to have a negative view of President Trump’s occasional bragging during his first term, but then it struck me that, similar to Paul, he was forced into a corner to “speak like a fool” due to the continuous slander of the lamestream media and LIEberal political opponents.
Related Topics:
LEGALISM — Understanding Its Many Forms
Avoiding Ministerial PITFALLS and ABUSES
MINISTERIAL ABUSE — The Diotrephes Spirit vs. the Davidic Spirit