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2 Corinthians 11 General Notes
Structure and formatting
In this chapter, Paul continues defending his authority.
Special concepts in this chapter
False teaching
The Corinthians were quick to accept false teachers who taught things about Jesus and the gospel that were different from what Paul taught and that were not true. Unlike these false teachers, Paul sacrificially served the Corinthians. (See: rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/goodnews)
Light
Light is commonly used in the New Testament as a metaphor. Paul here uses light to indicate the revealing of God and his righteousness. Darkness describes sin. Sin seeks to remain hidden from God. (See: rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/light, rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/righteous and rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/darkness and rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/sin)
Important figures of speech in this chapter
Metaphor
Paul begins this chapter with an extended metaphor. He compares himself to a father who is giving his daughter, a pure virgin, as a bride to her bridegroom. Wedding practices change depending on the cultural background. But the idea of helping to present someone as a grown and holy child is explicitly pictured in this passage. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor and rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/holy and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
Irony
This chapter is full of irony. Paul is hoping to shame the Corinthian believers with his irony.
"You tolerate these things well enough!" Paul thinks that they should not tolerate the way the false apostles treated them. Paul does not think they are really apostles at all.
The statement, "For you gladly put up with fools. You are wise yourselves!" means that the Corinthian believers think they were very wise but Paul does not agree.
"I will say to our shame that we were too weak to do that." Paul is speaking about behavior he thinks is very wrong in order to avoid it. He is speaking as if he thinks he is wrong for not doing it. He uses a rhetorical question also as irony. "Did I sin by humbling myself so you might be exalted?" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-irony and rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/apostle and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
Rhetorical questions
In refuting the false apostles, who claim to be superior, Paul uses a series of rhetorical questions. Each question is coupled with an answer: "Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. Are they servants of Christ? (I speak as though I were out of my mind.) I am more."
He also uses a series of rhetorical questions to empathize with his converts: "Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who has been caused to stumble, and I do not burn?"
"Are they servants of Christ?"
This is sarcasm, a special type of irony used to mock or insult. Paul does not believe these false teachers actually serve Christ, only that they pretend to do so.
Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter
Paradox
A "paradox" is a true statement that appears to describe something impossible. This sentence in verse 30 is a paradox: "If I must boast, I will boast about what shows my weaknesses." Paul does not explain why he would boast in his weakness until 2 Corinthians 12:9. (2 Corinthians 11:30)