2 Corinthians 11:16
New International Version
I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then tolerate me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting.

New Living Translation
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.

English Standard Version
I repeat, let no one think me foolish. But even if you do, accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little.

Berean Standard Bible
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.

Berean Literal Bible
Again I say, no one should think me to be a fool; but if otherwise, receive me even as a fool, that I also may boast a little.

King James Bible
I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little.

New King James Version
I say again, let no one think me a fool. If otherwise, at least receive me as a fool, that I also may boast a little.

New American Standard Bible
Again I say, let no one think me foolish; but if you do, receive me even as foolish, so that I also may boast a little.

NASB 1995
Again I say, let no one think me foolish; but if you do, receive me even as foolish, so that I also may boast a little.

NASB 1977
Again I say, let no one think me foolish; but if you do, receive me even as foolish, that I also may boast a little.

Legacy Standard Bible
Again I say, let no one think me foolish; but if you do, receive me even as foolish, so that I also may boast a little.

Amplified Bible
I repeat then, let no one think that I am foolish; but even if you do, at least accept me as foolish, so that I too may boast a little.

Christian Standard Bible
I repeat: Let no one consider me a fool. But if you do, at least accept me as a fool so that I can also boast a little.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I repeat: No one should consider me a fool. But if you do, at least accept me as a fool, so I too may boast a little.

American Standard Version
I say again, Let no man think me foolish; but if ye do, yet as foolish receive me, that I also may glory a little.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But again, I say, no man should think of me as if I am a fool; otherwise, even as a fool receive me, so that I may brag a little.

Contemporary English Version
I don't want any of you to think I am a fool. But if you do, then let me be a fool and brag a little.

Douay-Rheims Bible
I say again, (let no man think me to be foolish, otherwise take me as one foolish, that I also may glory a little.)

English Revised Version
I say again, Let no man think me foolish; but if ye do, yet as foolish receive me, that I also may glory a little.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Again I say that no one should think that I'm a fool. But if you do, then take me for a fool so that I can also brag a little.

Good News Translation
I repeat: no one should think that I am a fool. But if you do, at least accept me as a fool, just so I will have a little to boast of.

International Standard Version
I will say it again: No one should think that I am a fool. But if you do, then treat me like a fool so that I can also boast a little.

Literal Standard Version
Again I say, may no one think me to be a fool; and if otherwise, receive me even as a fool, that I also may boast a little.

Majority Standard Bible
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.

New American Bible
I repeat, no one should consider me foolish; but if you do, accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little.

NET Bible
I say again, let no one think that I am a fool. But if you do, then at least accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little.

New Revised Standard Version
I repeat, let no one think that I am a fool; but if you do, then accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little.

New Heart English Bible
I say again, let no one think me foolish. But if so, yet receive me as foolish, that I also may boast a little.

Webster's Bible Translation
I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little.

Weymouth New Testament
To return to what I was saying. Let no one suppose that I am foolish. Or if you must, at any rate make allowance for me as being foolish, in order that I, as well as they, may boast a little.

World English Bible
I say again, let no one think me foolish. But if so, yet receive me as foolish, that I also may boast a little.

Young's Literal Translation
Again I say, may no one think me to be a fool; and if otherwise, even as a fool receive me, that I also a little may boast.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Paul's Suffering and Service
15It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions. 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. 17In this confident boasting of mine, I am not speaking as the Lord would, but as a fool.…

Cross References
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 11:1
I hope you will bear with a little of my foolishness, but you are already doing that.

2 Corinthians 12:1
I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to gain, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord.

2 Corinthians 12:6
Even if I wanted to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me,

2 Corinthians 12:11
I have become a fool, but you drove me to it. In fact, you should have commended me, since I am in no way inferior to those "super-apostles," even though I am nothing.


Treasury of Scripture

I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little.

say.

2 Corinthians 11:1
Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.

Let.

2 Corinthians 11:21-23
I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also…

2 Corinthians 12:6,11
For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me…

receive me.

2 Corinthians 11:1,19
Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me…

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Accept Allowance Boast Boasting Fool Foolish Glory Little Order Otherwise Rate Receive Repeat Seem Suppose Think
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Accept Allowance Boast Boasting Fool Foolish Glory Little Order Otherwise Rate Receive Repeat Seem Suppose Think
2 Corinthians 11
1. Out of his jealousy over the Corinthians, he enters into a forced commendation of himself,
5. of his equality with the chief apostles,
7. of his preaching the gospel to them freely, and without any charge to them;
13. showing that he was not inferior to those deceitful workers in any legal prerogative;
23. and in the service of Christ, and in all kinds of sufferings for his ministry, far superior.














(16) I say again, Let no man think me a fool . . .--The stinging word is repeated from 2Corinthians 11:1. He protests against the justice of the taunt. He pleads that, even if they think him "insane" (this, rather than mere foolishness, is probably the meaning of the word), they will give him the attention which, even in that case, most men would give--which they, at least, were giving to men to whom that term might far more justly be applied.

Verses 16-33. - Apology by contrast. Verse 16. - I say again. St. Paul evidently feels an almost invincible repugnance to begin to speak of his own works. He has twice swerved away from the task (2 Corinthians 10:8; 2 Corinthians 11:1, 6) to speak of collateral topics. Now at last he begins, but only (to our grievous loss) to break off abruptly in ver. 33, before the story of his past sufferings has been much more than begun. A fool... boast. Here, again, we have the two haunting words of this section (see note on ver. 1; 1 Corinthians 15:36; 1 Corinthians 13:3). "Boast" occurs sixteen times in these three chapters alone. That I; rather, that I also.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
I repeat:
λέγω (legō)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.

{Let} no
μή (mē)
Adverb
Strong's 3361: Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether.

one
τίς (tis)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5100: Any one, some one, a certain one or thing. An enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object.

take
δόξῃ (doxē)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1380: A prolonged form of a primary verb, doko dok'-o of the same meaning; to think; by implication, to seem.

me
με (me)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

for
εἶναι (einai)
Verb - Present Infinitive Active
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

a fool.
ἄφρονα (aphrona)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 878: Senseless, foolish, inconsiderate. Properly, mindless, i.e. Stupid, ignorant, egotistic, rash, or unbelieving.

But
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

if
εἰ (ei)
Conjunction
Strong's 1487: If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.

[you do],
μή¦γε (mē¦ge)
Particle
Strong's 1490: But if not, else, otherwise. From ei, de, and me; but if not.

[then] receive
δέξασθέ (dexasthe)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Middle - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 1209: To take, receive, accept, welcome. Middle voice of a primary verb; to receive.

me
με (me)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

as
ὡς (hōs)
Adverb
Strong's 5613: Probably adverb of comparative from hos; which how, i.e. In that manner.

a fool,
ἄφρονα (aphrona)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 878: Senseless, foolish, inconsiderate. Properly, mindless, i.e. Stupid, ignorant, egotistic, rash, or unbelieving.

so that
ἵνα (hina)
Conjunction
Strong's 2443: In order that, so that. Probably from the same as the former part of heautou; in order that.

I too
κἀγὼ (kagō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 2504: To also, I too, but I. From kai and ego; so also the dative case kamoi, and accusative case kame and I, me.

may boast
καυχήσωμαι (kauchēsōmai)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Middle - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 2744: To boast; I glory (exult) proudly. From some base akin to that of aucheo and euchomai; to vaunt.

a
τι (ti)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5100: Any one, some one, a certain one or thing. An enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object.

little.
μικρόν (mikron)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3398: Little, small. Including the comparative mikroteros apparently a primary word; small (figuratively) dignity).


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NT Letters: 2 Corinthians 11:16 I say again let no one think (2 Cor. 2C iiC 2Cor ii cor iicor)
2 Corinthians 11:15
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