in my defense

2 Corinthians 11:16-33.

Continuing in 2 Corinthian, let’s jump straight in

The New International Version Chapter 11

I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then tolerate me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting. 17 In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would, but as a fool. 18 Since many are boasting in the way the world does, I too will boast. 19 You gladly put up with fools since you are so wise! 20 In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or puts on airs or slaps you in the face. 21 To my shame I admit that we were too weak for that!

Whatever anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about.

Again Paul expresses the foolishness of his boasting, because that is what they responded to

They put up with the false apostles even though they exploited them

Then, seemingly sarcastically, Paul expresses that he and the others were too weak to exploit them or enslave them.

so, whatever they boast about, Paul can speak as a fool and boast about it too.

vs. 22

The New International Version Chapter 11

Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I. 23 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. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 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, 26 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. 27 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. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?

You can see the reluctance as you reads

But what does he boast about?

He boasted about his Jewish credentials, because this likely came up.

Then the boasting changes

He begins to boast of the things that He has done and gone through

all of his sacrifices for the sake of Christ and the mission of Sharing God’s love with all of his churches.

he tells of his labors

his imprisonments

the pain

near death experiences

trials

persecutions

on top of all of these, he lists the daily pressures of leading and ministering to these churches.

Remember, the false teachers called him strong with words, but weak in person

this is all being said, showing that he is not weak.

vs. 30

The New International Version Chapter 11

If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying. 32 In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me. 33 But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands

My kids for some time now have had a thing where if one of them doesn’t believe the other about something, they assure them by saying, God knows I’m not lying.

For a believer, to invoke the idea that God knows the truth, is to say that you know there would be know point in lying, because the one who matters knows if you are or not.

Since they had chosen the route of boasting, Paul did too, however, he chose to boast about his weaknesses.

Why, because he was willing to be weak and helpless for the sake of proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ

However, when we look at these so called weaknesses, we see the strength he had to keep going for the Lord

His weakness that he reveals, or experiences, should show them how strong He is.

Much like the Corinthians, we often fall into the world or false teachings because of the external qualifications

The self promotion that takes place, can seem impressive and gets people excited

the problem with that is, this type of evaluation is like valuing a gem based on it’s size rather than it’s quality

We too often look at the outside and don't recognize what is within.

Don’t fall into the trap of looking on the outside or the self promotion

look through the eyes of our Lord and savior

the eyes of love truth grace and justice