2 Corinthians 11:23

“Are they ministers of Christ? etc..] The apostle could have answered to this question that they were not, being neither sent by Christ, nor preachers of him, and who sought their own things and not his, being false apostles, and deceitful workers; but he chose not to litigate this point with them, and by a rhetorical concession allows it; and replies, I speak as a fool; that is, he might be thought to speak as such an one, for what he afterwards says; and if he was, he must be content, he could not help it, there was a necessity for it, to stop the mouths of these vain boasters: I am more; that is, more a minister of Christ than they, more manifestly so than they were; yea, he was more than…”

“I speak as a fool--rather, as Greek, "I speak as if beside myself"; stronger than "as a fool." I am more--namely, in respect to the credentials and manifestations of my ministry, more faithful and self-denying; and richer in tokens of God's recognition of my ministry. Old authorities read the order thus, "In prisons above measures, in stripes more abundantly" (English Version, less accurately, "more frequent"). Acts 16:23-40 records one case of his imprisonment with stripes. CLEMENT OF ROME [First Epistle to the Corinthians] describes him as having suffered bonds seven times. in death oft-- (Co2 4:10; Act 9:23; Act 13:50; Act 14:5-6, Act 14:19; Act 17:5, Act 17:13).”

“Are they ministers of Christ? - Though Jews by birth yet they claimed to be the ministers of the Messiah. I speak as a fool - As if he had said, “Bear in mind, in what I am now about to say, that he who speaks is accused of being a fool in boasting. Let it not be deemed improper that I should act in this character, and since you regard me as such, let me speak like a fool.” His frequent reminding them of this charge was eminently suited to humble them that they had ever made it, especially when they were reminded by an enumeration of his trials, of the character of the man against whom the charge was brought. I am more - Paul was not disposed to deny that they were true ministers of Christ.…”

“I am more so than they. In deaths often - Surrounding me in the most dreadful forms. 2 Corinthians 11:24”

“11:23-27 I have served him far more! Paul’s service to Christ had entailed Christlike sufferings and toils. Some of the difficulties in this litany are recorded in Acts. 11:23-24 in prison more often: E.g., see Acts 16:22-23. Clement of Rome says that Paul was imprisoned a total of seven times. • thirty-nine lashes: This punishment was prescribed in Deut 25:1-3. The Jewish leaders punished Paul as a renegade Jew, and he faced death again and again.”

“ministers: Co2 3:6, Co2 6:4; Co1 3:5, Co1 4:1; Th1 3:2; Ti1 4:6 I am: Co2 11:5, Co2 12:11, Co2 12:12 in labours: Co1 15:10; Col 1:29 in stripes: Co2 11:24, Co2 11:25, Co2 6:4, Co2 6:5; Act 9:16 in prisons: Act 9:16, Act 16:24, Act 20:23, Act 21:11, Act 24:26, Act 24:27, Act 25:14, Act 27:1, Act 28:16, Act 28:30; Eph 3:1; Eph 4:1, Eph 6:20; Phi 1:13; Ti2 1:8, Ti2 1:16, Ti2 2:9; Plm 1:9; Heb 10:34 in deaths: Co2 1:9, Co2 1:10, Co2 4:11, Co2 6:9; Act 14:19; Co1 15:30-32; Phi 2:17; Col 1:24 2 Corinthians 11:24”