Prepare for Sunday morning worship by using the guide below.
2 Corinthians 11:16-33
16 I repeat, let no one think me foolish. But even if you do, accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little. 17 What I am saying with this boastful confidence, I say not as the Lord would but as a fool. 18 Since many boast according to the flesh, I too will boast. 19 For you gladly bear with fools, being wise yourselves! 20 For you bear it if someone makes slaves of you, or devours you, or takes advantage of you, or puts on airs, or strikes you in the face. 21 To my shame, I must say, we were too weak for that!
But whatever anyone else dares to boast of—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast of that. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they offspring of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. 24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?
30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. 32 At Damascus, the governor under King Aretas was guarding the city of Damascus in order to seize me, 33 but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his hands.
Watch the Sermon
Summary: Last week, Paul directly called out the error of the false teachers. He told the Corinthians that the false apostles were not servants of righteousness, rather they were servants of Satan. Paul now reluctantly participates in what he deems “foolish” boasting in order to make a last-ditch effort to help the Corinthians see the truth. We see that Paul’s boasting is different from that of the false apostles, that Paul’s boasting and the marks of his ministry are not marked by the boasting of his abilities, charisma, oratory skills, or wealth. Rather, Paul boasts of how his ministry is marked by his weakness which in the end will bring glory to God rather than himself.
Review & Apply
How should we as Christians deal with falsehood? In what ways can we correct falsehood well?
In what ways does Paul show his love for the Corinthian church within this passage?
How does 1 Corinthians 1:20-25 relate to verses 16-21?
How might Paul’s boasting differ from the boasting of the false apostles who were taking advantage of the Corinthians? How are they different?
What means does God use to teach us not to boast in a man-centered way? Why is it important to learn this?
How do Paul’s weaknesses ultimately bring glory to God? (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)
Why does Paul tell the Corinthians the story about King Aretas and the city of Damascus in verses 32-33?
In your own life, how have you seen God glorified through our own weaknesses, hardships, and sufferings?
What does it cost you to seek the spiritual good of others?
What are you willing to lose if it means others could be established in the faith? (privacy, convenience, comfort)
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