2 Corinthians 12:11
New International Version
I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.

New Living Translation
You have made me act like a fool. You ought to be writing commendations for me, for I am not at all inferior to these “super apostles,” even though I am nothing at all.

English Standard Version
I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was not at all inferior to these super-apostles, even though I am nothing.

Berean Standard Bible
I have become a fool, but you drove me to it. In fact, you should have commended me, since I am in no way inferior to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.

Berean Literal Bible
I have become a fool; you compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you, for in no way was I inferior to those "most eminent apostles," even though I am nothing.

King James Bible
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 chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.

New King James Version
I have become a fool in boasting; you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you; for in nothing was I behind the most eminent apostles, though I am nothing.

New American Standard Bible
I have become foolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, since I was in no respect inferior to the most eminent apostles, even though I am a nobody.

NASB 1995
I have become foolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, for in no respect was I inferior to the most eminent apostles, even though I am a nobody.

NASB 1977
I have become foolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, for in no respect was I inferior to the most eminent apostles, even though I am a nobody.

Legacy Standard Bible
I have become foolish; you yourselves compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you, for in no respect was I inferior to the most-eminent apostles, even if I am nothing.

Amplified Bible
Now I have become foolish; you have forced me [by questioning my apostleship]. Actually I should have been commended by you [instead of being treated disdainfully], for I was not inferior to those super-apostles, even if I am nobody.

Christian Standard Bible
I have been a fool; you forced it on me. You ought to have commended me, since I am not in any way inferior to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I have become a fool; you forced it on me. I should have been endorsed by you, since I am not in any way inferior to the “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.

American Standard Version
I am become foolish: ye compelled me; for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing was I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I am nothing.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Behold, I was stupid in my boasting, because you compelled me, for you were indebted to testify for me because I lacked nothing of those Apostles who greatly excelled, even though I was nothing.

Contemporary English Version
I have been making a fool of myself. But you forced me to do it, when you should have been speaking up for me. I may be nothing at all, but I am as good as those super apostles.

Douay-Rheims Bible
I am become foolish: you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you: for I have no way come short of them that are above measure apostles, although I be nothing.

English Revised Version
I am become foolish: ye compelled me; for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing was I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I am nothing.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I have become a fool. You forced me to be one. You should have recommended me to others. Even if I'm nothing, I wasn't inferior in any way to your super-apostles.

Good News Translation
I am acting like a fool--but you have made me do it. You are the ones who ought to show your approval of me. For even if I am nothing, I am in no way inferior to those very special "apostles" of yours.

International Standard Version
I have become a fool. You forced me to be one. Really, I should have been commended by you, for I am not in any way inferior to your "super-apostles," even if I am nothing.

Literal Standard Version
I have become a fool—boasting; you compelled me; for I ought to have been commended by you, for I was behind the very chiefest apostles in nothing—even if I am nothing.

Majority Standard Bible
I have become a fool in my boasting, but you drove me to it. In fact, you should have commended me, since I am in no way inferior to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.

New American Bible
I have been foolish. You compelled me, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I am in no way inferior to these “superapostles,” even though I am nothing.

NET Bible
I have become a fool. You yourselves forced me to do it, for I should have been commended by you. For I lack nothing in comparison to those "super-apostles," even though I am nothing.

New Revised Standard Version
I have been a fool! You forced me to it. Indeed you should have been the ones commending me, for I am not at all inferior to these super-apostles, even though I am nothing.

New Heart English Bible
I have become foolish. You compelled me, for I ought to have been commended by you, for in nothing was I inferior to the very best apostles, though I am nothing.

Webster's Bible Translation
I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended by you: for in nothing am I behind the very greatest apostles, though I am nothing.

Weymouth New Testament
It is foolish of me to write all this, but you have compelled me to do so. Why, you ought to have been my vindicators; for in no respect have I been inferior to these superlatively great Apostles, even though in myself I am nothing.

World English Bible
I have become foolish in boasting. You compelled me, for I ought to have been commended by you, for I am in no way inferior to the very best apostles, though I am nothing.

Young's Literal Translation
I have become a fool -- boasting; ye -- ye did compel me; for I ought by you to have been commended, for in nothing was I behind the very chiefest apostles -- even if I am nothing.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Concern for the Corinthians
10That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 11I have become a fool, but you drove me to it. In fact, you should have commended me, since I am in no way inferior to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing. 12The true marks of an apostle—signs, wonders, and miracles—were performed among you with great perseverance.…

Cross References
Proverbs 27:2
Let another praise you, and not your own mouth--a stranger, and not your own lips.

1 Corinthians 3:7
So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.

1 Corinthians 13:2
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have absolute faith so as to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

1 Corinthians 15:9
For I am the least of the apostles and am unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

1 Corinthians 15:10
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not in vain. No, I worked harder than all of them--yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

2 Corinthians 3:1
Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you?

2 Corinthians 5:13
If we are out of our mind, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you.


Treasury of Scripture

I am become a fool in glorying; you have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very most chief apostles, though I be nothing.

become.

2 Corinthians 1:6
And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.

2 Corinthians 11:1,16,17
Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me…

for in.

2 Corinthians 12:12
Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

2 Corinthians 11:5
For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.

1 Corinthians 3:4-7,22
For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? …

though.

Luke 17:10
So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

1 Corinthians 3:7
So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

1 Corinthians 15:8-10
And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time…

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Actually Apostles Best Boasting Chiefest Commended Compelled Drove Eminent Fool Foolish Glorying Great Greatest Inferior Least Nobody Ought Praise Respect Right Super-Apostles Superlatively Way Write Yourselves
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Actually Apostles Best Boasting Chiefest Commended Compelled Drove Eminent Fool Foolish Glorying Great Greatest Inferior Least Nobody Ought Praise Respect Right Super-Apostles Superlatively Way Write Yourselves
2 Corinthians 12
1. For commending of his apostleship, though he might glory of his wonderful revelations,
9. yet he rather chooses to glory of his infirmities;
11. blaming the Corinthians for forcing him to this vain boasting.
14. He promises to come to them again; but yet altogether in the affection of a father;
20. although he fears he shall to his grief find many offenders, and public disorders there.














(11) I am become a fool in glorying.--The two last words are wanting in the better MSS., and the verse opens with a somewhat thrilling abruptness,--I am become insane--it was you (emphatic) who compelled me. The words are partly ironical--partly speak of an impatient consciousness that what he had been saying would seem to give colour to the opprobrious epithets that had been flung at him. The passage on which we now enter, and of which we may think as begun after a pause, is remarkable for the reproduction, in a compressed form, of most of the topics, each with its characteristic phrase, on which he had before dwelt. The violence of the storm is over, but the sky is not yet clear, and we still hear the mutterings of the receding thunder He remembers once more that he has been called "insane"; that he has been taunted with "commending himself"; that he has-been treated as "nothing" in comparison with those "apostles-extraordinary" who were setting themselves up as his rivals. "I," he says, with an emphatic stress on the pronoun, "ought to have had no need for this painful self-assertion. You ought to have acknowledged my labour and my love for you."

Verse 11. - A fool (see 2 Corinthians 11:16). For I ought. The "I" is emphatic. You compelled me to become senseless in boasting of myself to you, whereas I ought to have been commended by you. To have been commended. The verb gives one more side allusion, not without bitterness, to the commendatory epistles of which his adversaries boasted (2 Corinthians 3:1; 2 Corinthians 5:12; 2 Corinthians 10:12-18). The very chiefest apostles. The same strange compound, "out and out apostles," is used as in 2 Corinthians 11:5; comp. Galatians 2:6.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
I have become
Γέγονα (Gegona)
Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1096: A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude.

a fool,
ἄφρων (aphrōn)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 878: Senseless, foolish, inconsiderate. Properly, mindless, i.e. Stupid, ignorant, egotistic, rash, or unbelieving.

[but] you
ὑμεῖς (hymeis)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

drove
ἠναγκάσατε (ēnankasate)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 315: To force, compel, constrain, urge. From anagke; to necessitate.

me [to it].
με (me)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

In fact,
γὰρ (gar)
Conjunction
Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.

you
ὑμῶν (hymōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

should
ὤφειλον (ōpheilon)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 3784: Or, its prolonged form opheileo probably from the base of ophelos; to owe; figuratively, to be under obligation; morally, to fail in duty.

have commended
συνίστασθαι (synistasthai)
Verb - Present Infinitive Middle or Passive
Strong's 4921: To place together, commend, prove, exhibit; instrans: I stand with; To be composed of, cohere.

me,
ἐγὼ (egō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

since
γὰρ (gar)
Conjunction
Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.

I am in no way inferior
ὑστέρησα (hysterēsa)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 5302: From husteros; to be later, i.e. to be inferior; generally, to fall short.

to those
τῶν (tōn)
Article - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

“super-apostles,”
Ὑπερλίαν (Hyperlian)
Adverb
Strong's 5228: Gen: in behalf of; acc: above.

even
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

though
εἰ (ei)
Conjunction
Strong's 1487: If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.

I am
εἰμι (eimi)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

nothing.
οὐδέν (ouden)
Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3762: No one, none, nothing.


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NT Letters: 2 Corinthians 12:11 I have become foolish in boasting (2 Cor. 2C iiC 2Cor ii cor iicor)
2 Corinthians 12:10
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