II CORINTHIANS 11:1-12:13 (A FOOL'S SPEECH)

This chapter begins the final major section of II Corinthians, and in many ways it differs from the opening chapters. This has even given rise to the theory that it belonged originally to an entirely different epistle of Paul's. But it actually fits in quite well organizationally with the rest of the letter (see my post “II Corinthians: Introduction to the Literary Structure”).

There is certainly no denying that Paul's tone becomes much more harsh starting with II Corinthians 10. It is here that he begins to address head-on the false teachers and would-be leaders of the Corinthian church who have resorted to slandering Paul in his absence in order to raise their own status within the congregation. But we actually see many indications of Paul's feelings toward those pretenders throughout the earlier portions of the letter as he begins to defend his own behavior against their accusations:

II Corinthians 1:12-14 – Paul states that he has a clear conscience in all his dealings with the believers there.

II Corinthians 1:15-2:4 – He defends himself against the charge that he has been vacillating toward them in word and deed, calling on God as his witness.

II Corinthians 2:17-3:6 – Paul refers obliquely to those who are mere “peddlers of the word” and rely on human credentials to establish their worth.

II Corinthians 5:12 – He tells the Corinthians that they should be the ones defending him against those who “boast in outward appearances, and not in the heart.”

II Corinthians 6:3-10 – He explains that he is not trying to put obstacles in the way of others' valid ministries, but he does commend his own sufferings on behalf of Christ as a testimony.

II Corinthians 7:2 – He pleads with the Corinthians to make room in their hearts for him and proclaims his innocence of any wrongdoings.

II Corinthians 8:20 – Some scholars see in Paul's comments here a possible reference which had been made questioning Paul's handling of the money taken up for the church in Jerusalem.

All of the above demonstrates that the last chapters of the book do not at all differ thematically from chapters 1-9. But one must admit that Paul pulls out all the stops in chapters 10-13. It is here that his emotions come to the surface and he can wait no more before telling the Corinthians exactly what he thinks of the upstart leaders of their congregation who have been bad-mouthing him. He resorts to everything from barbed sarcasm to heartfelt pleas in order to try and reach his audience. It is in these chapters that one would expect him to merely ramble on and on in a random manner with no consideration for whether his thoughts are presented in an orderly manner. But amazingly, chapters 10-13 prove to be just as orderly as any other part of the epistle.

The Structure of II Corinthians 10:1-13:10 (Section II')

A. Paul’s Coming Visit (10:1-18)

                        B. A Fool’s Speech (11:1-12:13)

1. Comparison with false apostles (11:1-21a)

2. Paul’s hardships (11:21b-33)

3. Paul’s vision (12:1-5a)

2'. Paul’s hardships (12:5b-10)

1'. Comparison with false apostles (12:11-13)

            A'. Paul’s coming visit (12:14-13:10)

As an inclusio for this section, II Cor. 10:8 and 13:10 both speak in almost identical language of Paul’s authority given for building up the church, not destroying it. Also, sections A and A' deal with the non-apostolic status of the “super apostles” at Corinth, those being “approved” (10:18; 13:7), and the Corinthians’ faith (10:15; 13:5).

Furnish’s title for the center section has been adopted for obvious reasons since “fool” or “foolishness” appear eight times here. Within II'B, the opening phrases of each subunit form a roughly symmetrical set:

1. “Bear with me in a little foolishness”

2. “Dare to boast...I am speaking as a fool”

3. “I must boast”

2'. “If I wish to boast, I shall not be a fool”

1'. “I have been a fool”

Paul boasts of his weakness in B1 (11:30) and B1' (12:9-10) and lays out his reasons for rejecting personal support. The center of Section B (units 2, 3, and 2') has been called “Boasting in Weakness” by Clines. Martin, on the other hand, labels the above Section II'B2 as “Trials” and II'B3 and 2' as “Ecstasy.” It seems more accurate to recognize that a discussion of Paul’s tribulations actually resumes in II'B2'. The cryptic reference to “the third heaven” at the exact center of this section has been much discussed since this concept appears nowhere else in the literature of the time. A possible literary explanation may be found in the other references to the number “three,” which appear in the last half of Section II' (at 12:8,14; 13:1).

The verb “give” occurs in all three major subunits of Section II' (at 10:8; 12:7; and 13:10).

There is a similar distribution of the word “when,” which only appears in this letter at 10:6, 12:10 and 13:9 (the last two associated with “weak” and “strong”). As an inclusio for this entire section, 13:10 repeats the thought of 10:1-2: Paul will be bold with the Corinthians only if forced to be so. Similar contrasts between Paul’s absence and presence (found at 10:1,10; 13:2,10) also serve to mark the bounds of Section II'.

So how can we reconcile the obvious fact that Paul is pouring out his heart and beside himself with grief over the Corinthians' rejection of him, and yet his writing is presented in a rhetorically correct format? We actually have to face this seeming contradiction elsewhere in the Bible, most notably in the Psalms (especially those of lament) and the Book of Galatians. Or we could cite the Gospel of Mark which the majority of commentators feel was written by him in a flurry of white heat, but still the final product is perhaps the most structurally organized book in the whole Bible. The answer can only come from the realization that the Bible is wholly a product of human authors and at the same time a complete creation of the Holy Spirit who inspired them. In that manner, it is not unlike Jesus Christ himself who was wholly man and wholly God.