2 Corinthians 11:17 Meaning: Why Paul Boasted ‘Not According to the Lord’
That which I speak, I don’t speak according to the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting.
That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.
That which I speak, I speak not after the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of glorying.
That which I speak, I speak not according to the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this the confidence of boasting;
What I speak I do not speak according to [the] Lord, but as in folly, in this confidence of boasting.
Meaning in one sentence
Paul admits his boasting is not according to the Lord’s example, but he uses it to defend his apostleship. Understand why here.
Context
Paul is fighting for the Corinthians’ hearts. False teachers have slipped into the church, men who boast loudly about their credentials and put Paul down. The apostle knows that boasting is not the way of Jesus. But he also knows that if he stays silent, the church may drift toward voices that will harm them. So he does something uncomfortable. He picks up their language and boasts back at them, but he cannot do it without naming what it really is: foolishness. He calls his own words what they are, even as he speaks them. This is the kind of honesty that protects without pretending.
Key Words
The Greek word for foolishness here is aphrosunē. It carries the sense of thoughtlessness or recklessness, the kind of talk that normally has no place in a follower of Jesus. Paul labels his own boasting with this word so no one mistakes it for wisdom. He is not proud of what he is about to say; he is doing it because he has to.
The phrase confidence of boasting holds two more keys. Hupostasis (confidence) originally means the foundation under a building, the solid ground you stand on. Paul is saying he has real grounds for what he claims, even if the boasting itself feels wrong. And kauchēsis (boasting) is the act of glorying, the whole posture of self-praise. Together, these words show the apostle’s tension: he has a legitimate case, but he hates having to make it this way.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians have read this verse with care, because Paul seems to distance his words from the Lord. Some, like the reformed commentators Barnes and Calvin, see him acknowledging that his manner does not follow Christ’s example, though the motive is still pure. Others, like the Anglican Cambridge Bible, emphasize that he is condescending to the Corinthians’ level for their own good, much like Jesus said not to throw pearls before swine. Across traditions, the point of agreement is that Paul is not excusing pride. He is making a painful exception for love’s sake, and he wants the church to read it that way.
A common misunderstanding
A reader might think Paul is saying that these words are not inspired by God, that this part of Scripture carries less authority. But in fact, Paul is speaking in character, he takes on the role of a fool so the Corinthians can see the absurdity of boasting. As the Jamieson-Fausset-Brown commentary notes, this is not a proof that any Scripture is uninspired. Paul is making a rhetorical concession, not denying the Spirit’s work through his pen. The whole letter remains God’s word, even where Paul calls his own words foolish.
Living This Out
There may come a time this week when you have to defend someone you love, and the only language the other person respects is self-promotion. You might feel dirty using it. Paul shows you can speak in a way that feels foolish, as long as you are honest about what you are doing. Before you open your mouth, ask: does this serve the people I am protecting? If yes, you can speak plainly, and then quietly return to the humility that is your true home. You do not have to pretend the boasting is noble. You just have to love enough to do it anyway.
Main takeaway: Paul calls his own boasting foolishness, but he speaks it anyway because protecting the church matters more than his reputation.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Paul had to say some things that didn’t sound like Jesus. But he did it to help his friends see the truth. He was honest that it felt silly.
For ages 9, 12
Paul normally never bragged about himself. But false teachers were tricking the church by bragging a lot. So Paul decided to brag a little, just to show the people that even his ‘foolish’ bragging was more real than the fake teachers’ bragging. He was honest about it being foolish, and that honesty made his words trustworthy. Sometimes you have to do something that feels awkward to protect someone you care about.
Questions People Ask
Why does Paul say he is not speaking according to the Lord?
Paul means that the act of boasting itself does not follow the example of Jesus, who was humble and never vaunted himself. He is not saying his words are wrong, but that the manner of speaking is not the Lord’s normal way. He does it only because the situation with the false apostles forces him to defend his authority for the Corinthians’ sake.
Is this verse less inspired because Paul says it is not from the Lord?
No. Paul is making a rhetorical distinction within a Spirit-inspired letter. He is not claiming his words lack divine authority; he is acknowledging that boasting, as an action, is not ordinarily what the Lord would do. The whole passage remains Scripture, and commentators across traditions affirm that Paul’s concession does not undermine inspiration.
What does 'confidence of boasting' mean?
The Greek word for confidence is hupostasis, which means a foundation or substance. Paul is saying he has real grounds for boasting, his sufferings and labors for the gospel are genuine. The boasting itself is the act of glorying (kauchēsis). So he has a solid basis, but he still calls the boasting foolish because it is not his normal posture.
Why does Paul call his own speech foolishness?
Paul wants the Corinthians to understand that he is not comfortable with self-praise. By labeling it foolishness (aphrosunē), he separates himself from the false teachers who boast without hesitation. He is essentially saying, 'I know this sounds like a fool talking, but bear with me because I am doing it for you.'
How does this verse help us understand the false apostles?
Paul’s reluctant boasting shows the contrast. The false apostles boasted freely about themselves, while Paul only does it under duress and calls it what it is, foolish. This tells us that true servants of God are not eager to promote themselves; when they must, they do so with sorrow and for the good of others, not for their own glory.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study