A Fool's Boast

Paul asks the Corinthians to put up with a little foolishness. He feels a godly jealousy for them because he wants them to belong to Christ alone. He fears that, just as the serpent tricked Eve, they might be led away from sincere devotion to Christ. Some teachers were preaching a different Jesus, and the Corinthians were putting up with it.

Paul had preached to them free of charge, accepting support from other churches so he would not be a burden. He calls his rivals false apostles who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ. This is no surprise, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

Paul then boasts, but in an upside-down way. He lists hard work, prisons, danger on rivers, from robbers, in cities, in the wilderness, and at sea. He was often without sleep, hungry, thirsty, and cold. Beyond all this, he carried daily concern for all the churches. If he must boast, he will boast about his weakness. His final example is humbling. In Damascus, he escaped by being lowered in a basket through a window in the wall.