11:22 11:22

2 Corinthians 11:23

11:24 11:24

Bible Versions

Are 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.
Are they {G1526} ministers {G1249} of Christ {G5547}?(I speak {G2980} as a fool {G3912}) I {G1473} am more {G5228}; in {G1722} labours {G2873} more abundant {G4056}, in {G1722} stripes {G4127} above measure {G5234}, in {G1722} prisons {G5438} more frequent {G4056}, in {G1722} deaths {G2288} oft {G4178}.
Are they servants of the Messiah? (I’m talking like a madman!) I’m a better one! I’ve worked much harder, been imprisoned more often, suffered more beatings, been near death over and over.
Are they servants of Christ? I am speaking like I am out of my mind, but I am so much more: in harder labor, in more imprisonments, in worse beatings, in frequent danger of death.
Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as one beside himself) I more; in labors more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in deaths oft.

2 Corinthians 11:23 is a powerful verse where the Apostle Paul, defending his legitimate ministry against false apostles in Corinth, reluctantly lists his immense sufferings and sacrifices for Christ. He contrasts his authentic hardships with the superficial boasts of his opponents, demonstrating that true service to God often involves great cost.

Context

This verse is part of Paul's highly ironic and impassioned "fool's speech" (beginning in 2 Corinthians 11:16), where he is compelled to "boast" in his own credentials and experiences. Unlike the false apostles who glorified themselves through worldly advantages, Paul boasts in his weaknesses and sufferings. His rhetorical question, "Are they ministers of Christ?", sets up his audacious claim to be "more" in terms of genuine service, evidenced not by outward success but by profound endurance and self-sacrifice.

Key Themes

  • Authentic Ministry vs. Counterfeit Claims: Paul exposes the superficiality of the false apostles by highlighting that true ministerial authority is demonstrated through sacrificial service and suffering, not by outward show or financial gain. His list of trials serves as a stark contrast to their easy prosperity.
  • Suffering for Christ: The verse vividly details the immense personal cost Paul paid for his commitment to the Gospel. "Labours more abundant," "stripes above measure," "prisons more frequent," and "deaths oft" paint a picture of relentless persecution and near-death experiences. This theme is further elaborated in the subsequent verses where he lists specific beatings, shipwrecks, and perils.
  • Paradox of Strength in Weakness: While Paul speaks "as a fool" by boasting, his "boasting" ironically reveals the divine power at work through his human weakness. This aligns with his overarching theme in 2 Corinthians that God's strength is perfected in human frailty (as he famously states in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

Linguistic Insights

Paul's self-description "I speak as a fool" (Greek: aphron, ἄφρων) is a masterful use of irony, acknowledging that his boasting sounds absurd by conventional standards, yet necessary to expose the true folly of his opponents. The terms he uses to describe his trials emphasize their intensity and frequency:

  • "labours more abundant" (Greek: kopos, κόπος) refers to exhausting toil and strenuous effort, often implying weariness.
  • "stripes above measure" (Greek: plegē, πληγή) denotes severe blows or wounds, with "above measure" (hyperballontōs) highlighting the extreme, excessive nature of the beatings he received.
  • "deaths oft" (Greek: thanatos pollakis, θάνατος πολλάκις) indicates not necessarily literal deaths and resurrections, but frequent, life-threatening situations where he faced death multiple times.

Practical Application

This verse challenges believers today to re-evaluate what constitutes genuine spiritual leadership and commitment. It reminds us that:

  1. True ministry is often costly: Authentic service to Christ may involve hardship, sacrifice, and rejection, rather than comfort or worldly acclaim.
  2. Character is revealed in adversity: Like Paul, a minister's true heart and calling are often validated through their perseverance in trials, not merely their eloquence or popularity.
  3. God uses our weakness: Paul's example encourages us to embrace our limitations and difficulties, trusting that God can powerfully work through them, just as He did through Paul's extensive sufferings (see Philippians 3:10).
Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 2 Corinthians 6:4

    But in all [things] approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

  • 2 Corinthians 6:5

    In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;

  • 2 Corinthians 3:6

    ¶ Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

  • 2 Corinthians 1:9

    But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:

  • 2 Corinthians 1:10

    Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver [us];

  • 2 Corinthians 6:9

    As unknown, and [yet] well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;

  • 2 Corinthians 11:24

    Of the Jews five times received I forty [stripes] save one.
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