2 Corinthians 11:1

I hope you will put up with a little of my foolishness, but you are already doing that.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Paul writes to the Corinthian church as he introduces a rhetorical defense of his apostolic ministry, noting their current tolerance of his unconventional conduct.

The words — The text states Ὄφελον (Hophelon) = I wish and ἀνείχεσθέ (aneichesthe) = you were bearing with, literally framing his appeal as a desire for them to continue enduring his perceived folly.

The thread — This motif of divine paradox appears in 1 Corinthians 1:21, where God chooses foolishness to save believers, and 2 Corinthians 5:13, where Paul distinguishes between being out of his mind for God versus being of sound mind for the church, while 2 Corinthians 11:4 warns against tolerating a different spirit.

Why it lands — The passage demands that readers examine whether they will accept God’s chosen messengers and their counterintuitive methods without rejecting them for lacking worldly prestige.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

ὌφελονHophelonI wish ἀνείχεσθέaneichestheyou were bearing with μουmoume μικρόνmikronlittle τιtia τῇtēa<the>ἀφροσύνης·aphrosunēsof foolishness;ἀλλὰallabut καὶkaiindeed ἀνέχεσθέanechestheyou do endure μου.moume.

King James Version

Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.

Cross-references

1 Corinthians 1:21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know Him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
2 Corinthians 11:4 For if someone comes and proclaims a Jesus other than the One we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit than the One you received, or a different gospel than the one you accepted, you put up with it very easily.
2 Corinthians 5:13 If we are out of our mind, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you.
2 Corinthians 11:19 For you gladly put up with fools, since you are so wise.
2 Corinthians 11:21 To my shame I concede that we were too weak for that! Speaking as a fool, however, I can match what anyone else dares to boast about.
2 Corinthians 11:16 I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then receive me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little.
Numbers 11:29 But Moses replied, “Are you jealous on my account? I wish that all the LORD’s people were prophets and that the LORD would place His Spirit on them!”
Joshua 7:7 “O, Lord GOD,” Joshua said, “why did You ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites to be destroyed? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan!
2 Kings 5:3 She said to her mistress, “If only my master would go to the prophet who is in Samaria, he would cure him of his leprosy.”
Matthew 17:17 “O unbelieving and perverse generation!” Jesus replied. “How long must I remain with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy here to Me.”