The big picture
2 Corinthians 11 opens in verse 1 with “Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.”, reaches its middle movement near verse 17 with “That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this…”, and closes in verse 33 with “And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.” Repeated or prominent terms include perils, Christ, glory, myself, apostles. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
2 Corinthians · King James Version · 332 Corinthians 11:1-7
1–7: Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear…
2 Corinthians 11:1–7 opens with “Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.” and reaches “Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Corinthians 11 develops its own movement around perils, Christ, glory, myself, apostles, with particular weight carried by bear, Christ, gospel.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.” Naming Would keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
2 Corinthians 11:1-7
King James Version1Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.
2For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
3But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
4For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
5For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.
6But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things.
7Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?
2 Corinthians 11:8-14
8–14: I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.
2 Corinthians 11:8–14 opens with “I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.” and reaches “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Corinthians 11 develops its own movement around perils, Christ, glory, myself, apostles, with particular weight carried by apostles, Christ, myself.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.” The line’s distinctive content terms include churches, robbed, service. Its relationship to verses 9 shows what work it does in this passage.
2 Corinthians 11:8-14
King James Version8I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.
9And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.
10As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.
11Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth.
12But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.
13For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
14And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
2 Corinthians 11:15-21
15–21: Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as…
2 Corinthians 11:15–21 opens with “Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of…” and reaches “I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Corinthians 11 develops its own movement around perils, Christ, glory, myself, apostles, with particular weight carried by bold, fool, foolishly.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
“I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little.” The line’s distinctive content terms include fool, boast, little. Its relationship to verses 15 and 17 shows what work it does in this passage.
2 Corinthians 11:15-21
King James Version15Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
16I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little.
17That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.
18Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.
19For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.
20For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face.
21I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.
2 Corinthians 11:22-28
22–28: Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the…
2 Corinthians 11:22–28 opens with “Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.” and reaches “Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Corinthians 11 develops its own movement around perils, Christ, glory, myself, apostles, with particular weight carried by perils, often, stripes.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 2 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
2 Corinthians 11:22-28
King James Version22Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.
23Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
24Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
25Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
26In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
27In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
28Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
2 Corinthians 11:29-33
29–33: Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?
2 Corinthians 11:29–33 opens with “Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?” and reaches “And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Corinthians 11 develops its own movement around perils, Christ, glory, myself, apostles, with particular weight carried by glory, weak, apprehend.
2 Corinthians 11:29-33
King James Version29Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?
30If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.
31The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.
32In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:
33And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
2 Corinthians 11:1 begins with “Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.”
Where the chapter turns
2 Corinthians 11:15 forms a natural hinge: “Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”
The final note
2 Corinthians 11:33 leaves the reader with “And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words perils, Christ, glory, myself, apostles, bear help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
How will Abram's story answer Babel?
The builders seek to make their own name; God promises to make Abram's name great and to bless other families through him.
What obstacles frame the coming promise?
The family has not reached Canaan, and Sarai has no child.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- wherefore
- for that reason
- lest
- so that something does not happen
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.