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Power in Weakness | Playing the Fool

November 16, 2025
2 Corinthians 11:16-33

¹⁶I repeat, let no one think me foolish. But even if you do, accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little. ¹⁷What I am saying with this boastful confidence, I say not as the Lord would but as a fool. ¹⁸Since many boast according to the flesh, I too will boast. 1⁹For you gladly bear with fools, being wise yourselves! ²⁰For you bear it if someone makes slaves of you, or devours you, or takes advantage of you, or puts on airs, or strikes you in the face. ²¹To my shame, I must say, we were too weak for that!

But whatever anyone else dares to boast of—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast of that. ²²Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they offspring of Abraham? So am I. ²³Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. ²⁴Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. ²⁵Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; ²⁶on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; ²⁷in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. ²⁸And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. ²⁹Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?

³⁰If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. ³¹The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. ³²At Damascus, the governor under King Aretas was guarding the city of Damascus in order to seize me, ³³but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his hands.

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Purpose

To discover and experience Jesus Christ in our midst

To cultivate mutually encouraging relationships

To participate in God’s mission to the world

Opening Prayer

Responsive Prayer — Jeremiah 9:23-24

Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, 

Let not the mighty man boast in his might, 

Let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, 

That he understands and knows me, 

That I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. 

For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”

Summary

This passage marks the climax of Paul’s defense of his apostleship and the gospel he proclaimed. As Paul concludes what may be his most personal, painful, and passionate letter, the recurring theme of “power in weakness” reaches its fullest expression. Throughout 2 Corinthians, Paul has turned the worldly standards of success and strength on their head, showing that Christian ministry is authenticated by endurance through suffering rather than by the outward triumphs the world looks for. In this passage, Paul reluctantly engages in what some biblical scholars have called the “Fool’s Speech.” He does what he has avoided doing until now: boasting about himself. But he does it in order to expose the false boasting of his opponents. His “boasting” is marked by irony instead of pride or self-glory. He boasts in what the world would consider shameful, because in those very weaknesses, the power of Christ is made manifest (cf. 2 Cor. 12:9).

Paul begins by acknowledging the foolishness of boasting, repeating his earlier words from verse 1 in this chapter where he asked the Corinthians to “bear with me in a little foolishness.” Yet he recognizes the need to do so because the Corinthian church, in their self-perceived wisdom (verse 19; cf. 1 Cor. 3:18-20; 4;10; 6:5; 8:1-7; 13:2), had tolerated and even admired the self-proclaimed “super-apostles” who lorded over them (verse 20). With biting sarcasm, Paul contrasts the apparent strength of his opponents with his own humble condition. He reminds the Corinthians that while others boast of heritage or privilege, he too could claim those things, being a Hebrew of Hebrews and descendant of Abraham (verse 22); yet he considers none of that his true mark of apostleship. Instead, his credentials are his sufferings for Christ. His ministry is proven by scars and not by prestige.

In verses 23-29, Paul presents a staggering account of his sufferings. He had been imprisoned, beaten, shipwrecked, stoned, hungry, and exposed to the elements. His life was one of constant peril, whether from robbers, his own people, or nonbelievers. Beyond physical hardships, Paul endured spiritual and emotional trials, bearing the daily burden of concern for all the churches. He felt deeply the weaknesses of his fellow believers (verse 29). This sympathy for the flock reflects the pattern of Christ himself, who bore our burdens and weaknesses (Isaiah 53:4; Matthew 8:17). Far from being marks of divine disfavor, Paul’s afflictions were the means by which Christ’s grace and power were displayed (cf. WCF 13.1; 2 Cor. 4:7-12). To the world, such a life is pitiable, but to the Christian, it is glorious, because it conforms us to the image of the Suffering Servant (Romans 8:17-18).

Paul concludes this “boast” with the account of his humiliating escape from Damascus (verses 32-33; Acts 9:24-25). For his opponents, such disgrace would be a mark of shame. But for Paul, it is a badge of honor. He boasts in humiliation rather than triumph, revealing the paradox of the gospel: God’s power is perfected in weakness. As John Calvin observes, Paul’s opponents had known only applause and comfort, but Paul’s ministry was marked by dishonor and peril. Yet this (not worldly honor) was the true sign of authentic ministry. The Christian life, like Paul’s ministry, is one of cross-bearing before glory (Luke 9:23; Philippians 3:10-11). In all his weakness, Paul magnified the grace of God, who uses frail vessels like you and me to carry his strength. This sets the stage for the final declaration of 2 Corinthians 12:9: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Discussion Questions

1. Looking at the Bible

• From the passage, share with the group some key phrases or ideas that stood out to you.

2. Looking at Jesus

• In Galatians 6:14, Paul writes, “But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” What does boasting in the cross of the gospel look like?

3. Looking at Our Hearts

• For the Corinthians’ sake, Paul lays down his credentials from verse 22 on. Compare this to his list in Philippians 3:5-6. For Paul, how did he view his impressive resume?
  
• In what do we tend to boast or find our identity? What does this reveal about our hearts?

4. Looking at Our World

• Paul says paradoxically that if he must boast, he will boast in his weakness (verse 30), which then empowers him (2 Cor. 12:10). Paul previously explained to the Corinthians that the gospel works the same way: “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Cor. 1:18). How is the gospel foolish and wise; weak and powerful simultaneously?
• Discuss how the gospel brings “subversive fulfillment” — subverting existing cultural beliefs while also fulfilling humanity’s deepest longings.

Prayer

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