Again I say, don’t think that I am a fool to talk like this. But even if you do, listen to me, as you would to a foolish person, while I also boast a little. Such boasting is not from the Lord, but I am acting like a fool. And since others boast about their human achievements, I will, too. After all, you think you are so wise, but you enjoy putting up with fools! You put up with it when someone enslaves you, takes everything you have, takes advantage of you, takes control of everything, and slaps you in the face. I’m ashamed to say that we’ve been too “weak” to do that! But whatever they dare to boast about—I’m talking like a fool again—I dare to boast about it, too.
2 Corinthians 11:16-21
More nonsense. Have you noticed that Paul, in every section since he started in this vein, uses “boast” like a theme word. He knows it is foolish but begs them to put up with him while he does some boasting. He is not being led of the Lord to do this. It is coming from his own heart of frustration with the Corinthians gullibility. We have discussed various angles on the reasons over the last few gemz. It’s clear that the false (super) apostles boasted continuously and criticized Paul and the other bone fide apostles. Paul is trying a different tack and boasting like one of them as I commented a few days ago. He says “I am acting like a fool. But since others boast about their achievements I will too.” Who does he mean? The false prophets of course. You, Corinthians think you are so wise but you enjoy putting up with fools. The Corinthians prided themselves in their reasoning and debating prowess. They were captivated by intellectual discussions. How can such smart intellectual people fall for such garbage?
Paul said you enjoy putting up with fools.” Who does he mean? Again the false prophets. For those who pride themselves in their ability to reason embraced fools rather too readily. Not only that but they put up with those who enslave them, take advantage of them, take control of them and the slap them in the face. Why is it we can spot manipulation when it relates to others being manipulated but totally miss it when we ourselves are being manipulated? Paul uses many words with heavy irony, as in this case – we have been too “weak” to do that. Too weak to do what? Treat you like slaves, take advantage of you and control you. Why does Paul say that? Weak and weakness are words used in the Corinthian letters a lot. Again it is one of the concepts the false apostles have accused Paul of being. He is reputed to be weak while present but bold from a distance. The false apostles and the Corinthians have a warped view of what is strong and what is weak. Hence Paul reminds them that God uses the “weak” to show up the “strong”.
Paul effectively is saying “Ok I will play it your way and be a fool.” We have been too weak to enslave and take advantage of you. To try to control and manipulate you and then in end to slap you in the face. In your warped world we don’t play by those rules. Expressing the concept with sarcasm is Paul’s way of helping the Corinthians to see they have been played for fools. That in fact the super apostles aren’t strong at all and certainly not super. Paul calls them “super apostles” only with irony. He doesn’t for one nano second believe they are super apostles. He believes they are charlatans and manipulators and he wants the Corinthians to come to that realisation too. It’s surprising what treatment we will put up with when enamoured by someone, either for love or admiration. It is necessary to be able to discern manipulation in all of its forms. We humans are surprisingly easily duped by it.
Yet more fooishness:
Some people are so open-minded their brains fall out. “Only fools believe everything they hear.” Prov.14:15
Rick Warren
A programmer is someone who solves a problem you didn’t know you had in a way you don’t understand.
Anon
A banker is a fellow who lends you his umbrella when the sun is shining and wants it back the minute it begins to rain.
Anon
I love to give homemade gifts. Which one of my kids do you want?
Anon