Speaking Foolishly 2 Corinthians 11:17

Paul the apostle instructed the church members in Corinth to, “Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little”, and in chapter eleven and verse seventeen of Second Corinthians, Paul told the church members,“I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly” where we read:

That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.

The verse begins, “That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, ” Paul began with the words, “that which I speak” which means “what Paul is about to utter, proclaim and declare”, “I speak it not” or “Paul did not utter, proclaim or declare it” “after the Lord” which refers to “down from, throughout and according to he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master and the title given to God the Messiah”. What Paul was about to declare was not “spoken” according to the Lord Jesus.

The verse goes on to say, “but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.” Paul added the word, “but” which is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be written takes precedence over what was just stated “as it were foolishly” or “in senselessness, thoughtlessness, recklessness and folly”, “in this confidence” which means “in the placing under, substructure, foundation, firm trust and assurance” “of boasting” or “vaunting and glorying”. Instead of coming from the Lord Jesus, what Paul would declare was “foolish and confident glorying”.

When we meditate upon these words of Paul, we can imagine him entering into this section of writing as he declares it to be not only “foolish”, but also not from the Lord. Boasting in anyone other than the Lord Jesus is “foolish” talk because He provides every blessing a person enjoys. Paul employs this technique to demonstrate the “grace” of God to everyone regardless of their background. Let us be among those who “glory in the Lord” and not in ourselves, and if otherwise, let us be considered as “fools”.

Next time Paul tells the church members, “Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then,

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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