b. Foolish boasting (11:1-12:13)

Paul attempts to demonstrate the folly of improper human boasting by engaging in it. His ironic self-commendation parodied the super-apostles (11:5; 12:11) in order to show that their boasting was foolish (11:1, 16, 17, 19, 21; 12:6, 11). His object was apparently to discredit these alleged apostles and diminish their influence with the Corinthians. His name for them, super-apostles, ridicules their vaunted superiority in contrast to his weakness, for, in fact, he considers them false apostles (11:13). He questions the adequacy of their gospel (11:4) and the propriety of their practice of living at community expense (12:11-13).

The excessive boasting of the super-apostles stands in stark contrast to Paul’s reluctant boasting in 2 Corinthians, which appears to fall within the culturally accepted bounds of self-praise. Nevertheless, his obvious discomfort with self-praise appears in his characterization of the practice as folly (11:1, 16, 17, 19, 21; 12:6, 11), even insanity (11:23). Driven to boasting unwillingly, Paul conforms to existing customs for inoffensive self-praise. Thus, for example, he concedes his failures while commending his successes (11:30-33; 12:8-9). He boasts not in his own interests but out of concern for others (11:1-4, 28-29; 12:19). He mixes his boasting with relevant moral exhortations (10:2, 6; 13:5, 11). And he contrasts the moral failures of others with his own practice (10:13-18; 11:12-15, 23-29).

Although Paul introduces his foolish boasting in 11:1, he does not really begin to boast until 11:16. In 11:2-15 he explains the desperate circumstances that compel him to resort to boasting, the satanic deception of the false apostles (vv.3, 13-14). Why must Paul boast? (1) Because of the Corinthians (vv.2-4): Paul must preserve the Corinthian church’s fidelity to Christ. (2) Because of the opponents (vv.5-15): The Corinthians' infidelity involves a departure specifically from Paul’s proclamation of the Gospel to that of the super-apostles. Paul demonstrates why he rejects his opponents and their message.

Having explained in 11:1-15 why the tactic was called for, only now does Paul begin to engage in the foolish boasting he announced in 11:1. Following an introduction explaining why he considers this boasting folly (11:16-21), he presents his boast in four parts: He compares himself with his opponents in terms of heritage (v.22), credentials (vv.23-33), mystical experiences (12:1-10), and miraculous accomplishments (vv.11-13). Paradoxically, the section conveys a tone of sarcasm, irony, and parody in an atmosphere of utter seriousness.

Before closing this section, Paul returns in 12:13 to the issue of his financial relationship with the Corinthians, broached earlier in 11:7-11 and about to be resumed in 12:14-18. That money was a sensitive issue should not be surprising in light of the central role the collection for the poor in Jerusalem plays in 2 Corinthians. Paul had vigorously insisted in 1 Corinthians 9 upon his right to refuse their financial support, claiming there that he would rather die than be deprived of this boast (1Co 9:15; cf. 2Co 11:9-10). With obvious sarcasm he insists that if this refusal to burden them made them inferior to the other churches, “Forgive me this wrong!” (12:13; see v.14).