2 Corinthians 11:17 Commentary: Not According to the Lord

Paul writes this letter in the mid-50s AD to a church he founded in Corinth, a city known for its pride in rhetoric and status. False apostles have entered the community, boasting in their Jewish heritage, eloquence, and apparent success. They “masquerade as Christ’s apostles” (2 Cor 11:13), and Paul is forced to respond. But he does so reluctantly, using irony and the language of foolishness. In verses 16, 21, he sets up the scene: the Corinthians consider themselves wise, yet they tolerate those who bring them into bondage and exalt themselves. Paul says, “I will also boast” (v. 18), but he frames it as a concession.

The phrase “confidence of boasting” translates the Greek hupostasis kauchēseōs, the same word hupostasis that appears in 2 Cor 9:4 (“this confident boasting”). Hupostasis can mean “substance” or “foundation,” but here it means “confidence” or “assurance.” Paul uses it to acknowledge that he has real grounds for his boasts, his labors, sufferings, and apostolic credentials, but he still calls his own speech “foolishness.” In the ancient world, self-praise was socially awkward unless done for a necessary purpose. Paul leans into that awkwardness deliberately. He wants the Corinthians to see that even his most defensible achievements are not the point. By calling his boasting “not according to the Lord,” he invites them to look beyond external credentials to the pattern of Christ, who was meek and lowly.

The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for 2 Corinthians 11:17. Some Greek manuscripts read “Christ” instead of “Lord” (the word kurion), but this does not change the meaning of the phrase. The Syriac version adds “our Lord,” again without affecting interpretation. The passage is stable across the manuscript tradition.

Throughout church history, this verse has been handled carefully to avoid the idea that parts of Scripture are uninspired. Chrysostom (4th century) taught that self-praise is not normally “after the Lord,” but becomes so by its intention, a view cited in the Cambridge Bible. Reformed exegetes like Calvin and the Geneva Bible emphasized that Paul was not setting a precedent for ordinary Christian conduct. Later commentators (Barnes, JFB) took pains to explain that Paul’s disclaimers do not undermine the divine origin of his writings. The verse has also been used in discussions of clerical ethics: when may a leader defend his own reputation? In the Wesleyan tradition, the emphasis has been on Paul’s freedom to depart from normal rules when facing extraordinary opposition, always subject to the Spirit’s leading.

Three-point outline

1. Paul's concession: He admits his boasting is not according to the Lord's example or command (v.17). This sets his words apart as an exception, not a pattern for believers to imitate.
2. The occasion for foolishness: Paul boasts only because false apostles have forced him to defend his ministry. He speaks “as in foolishness,” adopting the Corinthians' own standards to undercut them.
3. The deeper wisdom: Paul ends this section by glorying in his weaknesses (2 Cor 11:30; 12:9). The real vindication is not in boasting but in Christ's power shown through suffering.

Five-point outline

1. Paul apologizes for what he is about to do (vv.16, 17).
2. He explains why he must boast: false apostles are boasting, and the Corinthians tolerate it (vv.18, 20).
3. He begins his list of credentials, but names them with irony (vv.22, 23).
4. He pivots to sufferings, the very things the false apostles would never claim (vv.23, 29).
5. He refuses to boast in anything except his weaknesses (vv.30, 33).

Illustration hooks

• A teacher who rarely mentions her own degrees but is forced to list them when someone else claims credit for her work.
• An athlete who hates talking about his achievements but must speak up when a teammate is taking all the glory for shared effort.
• A parent who does not want to compare children but is forced to defend one child against unfair criticism.

Questions your congregation is asking

• If Paul says he is not speaking “according to the Lord,” can we still trust this passage as inspired Scripture?
• Is it ever okay for a Christian to defend himself or list his accomplishments?
• Why did Paul call his own speech “foolishness”?

Paul's disclaimer in 2 Corinthians 11:17 can feel unsettling. He says he is not speaking “according to the Lord.” But he also wrote this under the Spirit's guidance. In this session, work through the tension: what does Paul mean, and what does his example teach about when it may be necessary to defend yourself or your work?

Discussion questions

1. Read 2 Corinthians 11:16, 21. What situation led Paul to say he must boast? How does he describe the Corinthians' patience?
2. In verse 17, Paul says he does not speak “according to the Lord.” What do you think he means by that? Look at the two options the commentators offer: (1) not by direct commandment, (2) not after Christ's example. Which fits the context better?
3. What is the “foolishness” Paul talks about? Why does he call his own boasting foolish while still doing it?
4. How do verses 18, 20 help you understand why Paul feels forced into this position? What do the false apostles do that compels Paul to respond?
5. Paul lists his credentials in verses 22, 23, then immediately pivots to his sufferings (vv.23, 29). What point is he making about what truly validates a minister of Christ?
6. If Paul is writing by the Holy Spirit, why does he say his words are not “according to the Lord”? Does this mean some parts of Scripture are less inspired?
7. Think of a time when you felt you had to defend yourself. How might Paul's example guide you in distinguishing between necessary self-defense and prideful boasting?