2 Corinthians 11:1

King James Version (KJV)

Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.

Adam Clarke
Bible Commentary

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 defense, 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.

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Albert Barnes
Notes on the Whole 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.

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Matthew Henry
Concise Bible Commentary

The apostle desired to preserve the Corinthians from being corrupted by the false apostles. There is but one Jesus, one Spirit, and one gospel, to be preached to them, and received by them; and why should any be prejudiced, by the devices of an adversary, against him who first taught them in faith? They should not listen to men, who, without cause, would draw them away from those who were the means of their conversion.

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SDA Bible Commentary (limited)
Volume 1-7

1. Would to God. In chs. 11; 12 Paul proceeds to vindicate his claim to apostolic office and authority, and thus to counteract the tactics of his opponents, by boasting of his own weakness and of the power of God. The boasts of his opponents stressed and exaggerated Paul’s weaknesses and inadequacies, supposed or real, implying, by contrast, their own vaunted ability as apostles (see on ch. 10:10). The words “to God” are not in the Greek, but were supplied by the translators.

Bear with me. Paul would prefer not to indulge even in the humble boasting about his weaknesses in which he is about to engage, and requests their condescension to listen to him.

My folly. Certain expressions appear repeatedly in chs. 11 and 12: (1) “bear with” and “suffer” (both from anechÃ…Â, ch. 11:1, 4, 19, 20), and (2) “folly” and “fool” (chs. 11:1, 16, 17, 19; 12:6, 11). Paul’s critics had apparently made the apostle out to be a fool, and now, as a “fool,” he boasts of his “infirmities” (ch. 11:30) and apologetically speaks of his boasting as “folly.” To boast as Paul’s critics did was, to him, folly of the crudest sort, a kind of boasting that he considered altogether incompatible with his self-sacrificing humility, quiet dignity, and apostolic responsibility. Such boasting was utterly opposed to the spirit of Christ (Phil. 2:5-8), and Paul felt foolish indeed to be placed in a position where (see on 2 Cor. 10:8, 13-18; 12:10, 11), to defend his apostolic authority, it seemed needful to engage in what might be taken as boasting (ch. 11:16). In his boasting Paul calls attention to:

1. His apostleshipÃ¢â‚¬â€his title, office, and authorityÃ¢â‚¬â€as being in no way inferior to that of the “chiefest apostles” (v. 5).

2. His preaching of the gospel without charge or material support from any of the Corinthian believers, whereas his opponents had literally robbed them (chs. 11:7-10, 19, 20; 12:13-18).

3. His equality of heritage (ch. 11:22).

4. His abundant labors (ch. 11:23).

5. His unbelievable sufferings, trials, and persecutions for Christ’s sake (ch. 11:23-33).

6. His visions and revelations (ch. 12:1-5).

7. His “thorn in the flesh” (ch. 12:7-10).

If boasting is in order, Paul has much of which a person could boast. In comparison, what had his enemies to boast about? By boasting he exposes the emptiness of their pretentious claims. His reason for condescending to speak of himself and his labors as he does is to help them to realize and appreciate what he had accomplished among them, so that they might not be led by the false apostles to despise him and his message, thus destroying the fruit of his labors.

Bear with me. Paul is confident that the majority of the church members will understand, and “bear” with him. He trusts them. They will interpret his words in love, with a spirit that thinks no evil, whereas his enemies will not. What a privilege it is for a Christian worker to enjoy the full confidence of his friends and converts, and be able to unburden his heart to them.

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Cross References

Would

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