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2 Corinthians 12:11
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9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly aI will rather boast in my infirmities, bthat the power of Christ may rest upon me.  
10 Therefore aI take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. bFor when I am weak, then I am strong.  

Signs of an Apostle

11 I have become aa fool in boasting; you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you; for bin nothing was I behind the most eminent apostles, though cI am nothing.  
12 aTruly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and bwonders and mighty cdeeds.  
13 For what is it in which you were inferior to other churches, except that I myself was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong!

Love for the Church

14 aNow for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be burdensome to you; for bI do not seek yours, but you. cFor the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.  
15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent afor your souls; though bthe more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.  
Commentaries:
Forerunner Commentary
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<< 2 Corinthians 12:10   2 Corinthians 12:12 >>

What Does 2 Corinthians 12:11 Mean?



2 Corinthians 12:11-13

The apostle Paul, despite his cautions to Timothy (see II Timothy 2:23; I Timothy 6:3-5), realized at one point that if he did not challenge the foolish challenges of his enemies (concerning his apostolic authority and methods), naïve members of the Corinthian congregation might believe them. His lengthy answer spans II Corinthians 11 and 12.

Obviously, Paul felt extremely uncomfortable about answering these allegations, as is evidenced by his self-effacing reference to himself as a fool, but he also realized that his silence would have tacitly endorsed the charges. Likewise, our Savior, when confronted about His identity and credentials, knew the timing was right to put the gainsaying Pharisees in their place (John 8:52-58).

As one minister said, "If you are going to preach a warning message, you had better be mindful of your exit strategies, or be prepared to die on that hill of battle." There certainly are times when diplomacy fails and silence is no longer appropriate. Our society is replete with foolish teachings, ideas, theories, and misconceptions—both secular and religious—and under the right circumstances, they should be confronted and shown to be false, lest they be accepted as factual.

As maturing Christians, we must learn to discern when it is proper to answer a fool according to his folly (in the manner his foolishness deserves), and when it is a bad idea to answer a fool according to his folly (lowering ourselves to his undignified level). The right exercise of God's Spirit in us, which Paul calls "the mind of Christ" (I Corinthians 2:16), provides the potential to have and use this ability.

David F. Maas
To Answer a Fool—or Not

Related Topics: According to His Folly | Answering Fools | Arguing | Argumentation | Confrontation | Diplomacy | Discernment | Discernment, Growing in | Fools, Answering


 
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