Once more, let me advise you not to look upon me as a fool. Yet if you do, then listen to what this “fool” has to boast about.

I am not now speaking as the Lord commands me but as a fool who must be “in on” this business of boasting. Since all the others are so proud of themselves, let me do a little boasting as well. From your heights of superior wisdom I am sure you can smile tolerantly on a fool. Oh, you’re tolerant all right! You don’t mind, do you, if a man takes away your liberty, spends your money, makes a fool of you or even smacks your face? I am almost ashamed to say that I never did brave strong things like that to you. Yet in whatever particular they enjoy such confidence I (speaking as a fool, remember) have just as much confidence.

The last four chapters of 2 Corinthians have a different feel to the rest of the letter, and they are not always easy to understand. But it’s important to remember that one of Satan’s chief tactics is to attack and oppose the message of the gospel by slandering the messengers. In this letter Paul feels that he has to defend himself against his critics, not for his own sake, but for the sake of the gospel. This is not about self-interest. But where his ministry and motives are impugned, he feels he must give an answer. As we’ve already seen, Paul’s boasting, unlike that of the windbag false apostles, is counter-cultural. It’s a boasting about what the Lord has done through him, and through his weakness – and everything he says is true. He certainly never exploited them as the false teachers did, but it seems the Corinthians didn’t see it that way.