Note 1 at 2 Cor. 11:1: The context of chapter 11 is very important to properly understand what Paul is saying and his motives for saying it. In Paul's letters that we call First and Second Corinthians, his authority as the apostle of the Corinthians had been brought into question. Paul had dealt with this issue repeatedly in these two letters, and this had been his subject in the tenth chapter of 2 Corinthians (see notes 1-2 at 2 Cor. 10:1, p. 1028). He is now continuing to defend his apostleship, but from a different point of reasoning.

Prior to this time, Paul had given spiritual reasons why he was the apostle in charge over the Corinthians. Those who had opposed him based their arguments on outward things such as appearance (2 Cor. 5:12) and carnal accomplishments. It was not Paul's nature to argue his apostleship based on carnal things, but because of his great love for the Corinthians, he was going to leave no stone unturned. In this chapter, he begins to enumerate his carnal achievements, which made all his critics look silly in comparison.

Paul prefaces all his boasting in this chapter by saying he was speaking like an unsaved person (see note 13 at 2 Cor. 10:8, p. 1030; see note 2 below). This was not his way of thinking, but since the Corinthians had been led astray by carnal arguments, Paul would use carnal arguments to win them back.

Note 2 at 2 Cor. 11:1: The Greek word used for "folly" in this verse is "aphrosune." It literally means, "senselessness or egotism" and carries the idea of being foolish or lacking good sense. This same Greek word was translated "foolishly" twice in this chapter (vv. 17, 21). It comes from the root word "aphron," which means "mindless, i.e. stupid, ignorant, egotistic, rash, unbelieving." Later in this letter, Paul uses the word "fool" to describe himself (2 Cor. 11:16, 23; 12:11) in the same sense that "folly" is used here.

These terms "folly," "foolishly," "fool," and "fools" are describing an unbeliever who doesn't have the wisdom that God imparts. In the Old Testament, the term "fool" was used to describe someone who didn't believe there was a God (Ps. 14:1; 49:10; 53:1). Paul is saying that he was talking like a lost man would talk. Certainly, this was not Paul's normal way of thinking and talking, but since the Corinthians had failed to respond to spiritual reasoning, Paul comes down to their level.

Those who had criticized Paul had based their arguments on such things as Paul's appearance (2 Cor. 5:12; 10:10) and his rude speech (v. 6). These were all outward, carnal things which didn't matter to God or to Paul. But since the Corinthians had been deceived into looking at things after the flesh (2 Cor. 11:18), Paul would meet them where they were. He would talk about all the things he had accomplished and endured in the flesh, but he qualifies all this boasting with a disclaimer. He wants to make it clear that this boasting is not the way that he would choose to defend himself. This is being carnal, just like his accusers. If they want to talk about their carnal accomplishments, then he'll give them something to talk about. No one could match the persecution that Paul endured or the lengths to which he had gone to preach the gospel.

Paul is stating that he hopes the Corinthians will be tolerant of the foolishness of boasting which he was about to do. This boasting is a reaction to the Corinthians' willingness to put up with the false apostles in Corinth.

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