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.
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.
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.
I say again, Let me not seem foolish to anyone; but if I do, put up with me as such, so that I may take a little glory to myself.
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.
I say again, let no one think me foolish. But if so, yet receive me as foolish, that I also may boast a little.
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.
Let no man think me a fool - See the note on 2 Corinthians 11:1. As the apostle was now going to enter into a particular detail of his qualifications, natural, acquired, and spiritual; and particularly of his labors and sufferings; he thinks it necessary to introduce the discourse once more as he did 2 Corinthians 11:1.
I say again - I repeat it. He refers to what he had said in 2 Corinthians 11:1. The sense is, "I have said much respecting myself which may seem to be foolish. I admit that to boast in this manner of one's own self in general is folly. But circumstances compel me to it. And I entreat you to look at those circumstances and not regard me as a fool for doing it."
If otherwise - If you think otherwise. If I cannot obtain this of you that you will not regard me as acting prudently and wisely. If you will think me foolish, still I am constrained to make these remarks in vindication of myself.
Yet as a fool receive me - Margin, "Suffer;" see 2 Corinthians 11:1. Bear with me as you do with others. Consider how much I have been provoked to this; how necessary it is to my character; and do not reject and despise me because I am constrained to say that of myself which is usually regarded as foolish boasting.
That I may boast myself a little - Since others do it and are not rebuked, may I be permitted to do it also; see 2 Corinthians 11:18-19. There is something sarcastic in the words "a little." The sense is, "Others are allowed to boast a great deal. Assuredly I may be allowed to boast a little of what I have done."
11:16 I say again - He premises a new apology to this new commendation of himself. Let no man think me a fool - Let none think I do this without the utmost necessity. But if any do think me foolish herein, yet bear with my folly.