2 Corinthians 11:18-21 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Seeing that many glory after the flesh In circumcision, Jewish extraction, and other outward privileges and qualifications; I will glory also In the same manner; nor can my seeming folly offend you; for ye The disciples of the false apostles; suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wonderfully wise And in your extraordinary wisdom can cherish that arrogant temper in others. As if he had said, Being such very wise men, I hope you will bear with this piece of folly in me as you bear with it in others. This is written in the highest strain of ridicule, as is plain from the next verse, where, in mockery, he mentions their abjectly bearing the contumelious and injurious behaviour of the false teachers, as an example of their wisdom in bearing. But it was a bearing, not with fools, but with knaves, to their own cost. By taking notice of that circumstance, therefore, the apostle placed their pretended wisdom in a truly ridiculous light. For, &c. Your patience in bearing is indeed very great; for ye suffer Not only the folly, but the gross abuses of those false teachers; ye take it patiently if a man Any of the false teachers; bring you into bondage Lord it over you in the most arbitrary manner. If a man devour you By his exorbitant demands, notwithstanding his boast of not being burdensome; if he take of you Gifts and presents, pretending to exact nothing as due; if he exalt himself By the most unbounded self- commendation; if he smite you on the face Treat you as disgracefully as if he did so. I speak What I have now said; concerning reproach Namely, the reproach which they cast upon you Gentiles as uncircumcised and profane, while they are all of a holy nation: or, I mean it of those reproaches with which they load me and my fellow-labourers; as though we had been weak Or contemptible, in comparison of them, and could have used no such authority over you. Howbeit, whereinsoever any is bold Thinks he may value and extol himself; ( I speak foolishly That is, in appearance;) I am bold also I have as much to say for myself, as he has for himself.