2 Corinthians 11
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2 Corinthians 11:21-28, Whatever anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I. Are 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. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three 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. I 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. I 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. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.
Up until this point, Paul has avoiding boasting and self-aggrandizement. Because of this, he has gotten slammed by his rivals. Now, he asks the Corinthians to bear with a little foolishness as he boasts. He seems to think there is no other way to address these charges against his authority as an apostle and Christian leader than to clearly articulate why he is qualified.
But unlike his rivals, Paul makes it clear that he knows boasting is nothing but foolishness because it leaves God out of the equation.
In our focus verses, Paul begins his foolish boasting to counter the attack of his rivals. From reading this, we can guess that those opposing Paul took pride in their Jewish heritage, in their ministry work, and in their visions and revelations. Paul matches them point for point. But he does so knowing it's all a bit ridiculous. The only thing that really matters is boasting about God.
Paul's original discourse with the Corinthians about boasting is found back in 1 Corinthians 1:26-31. Reflect on the difference between this and what Paul is expressing in today's passage, Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.
Let's pray...Lord Jesus, Help us boast only in you. We so often become obsessed with ourselves, our own needs, our own desires. We play one-upmanship games with other believers. Forgive us, Lord. Help us have laser focus on you and the people you call us to be. More of you, Jesus, and less of me. In Your Name, Amen.