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 no man think me to be foolish, otherwise take me as one foolish, that I also may glory a little.)

Again I say, Let not any one think me to be a fool; but if otherwise, receive me then even as a fool, that I also may boast myself some little.

Again I say, may no one think me to be a fool; and if otherwise, even as a fool receive me, that I also a little may boast.

To return to what I was saying. Let no one suppose that I am foolish. Or if you must, at any rate make allowance for me as being foolish, in order that I, as well as they, may boast 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. And let no one consider me to be foolish. Or, at least, accept me as if I were foolish, so that I also may glory a small amount.

I say again The Apostle has a twofold design. He has it partly in view to expose the disgusting vanity of the false Apostles, inasmuch as they were such extravagant trumpeters of their own praises; and farther, to expostulate with the Corinthians, because they shut him up to the necessity of glorying, contrary to the inclinations of his own mind. "I say again," says he. For he had abundantly shown previously, that there was no reason, why he should be despised. He had also shown at the same time, that he was very unlike others, and therefore ought not to have his grounds of glorying estimated according to the rule of their measure. Thus he again shows, for what purpose he had hitherto gloried -- that he might clear his apostleship from contempt; for if the Corinthians had done their duty, he would not have said one word as to this matter. Otherwise now as a fool "If I am reckoned by you a fool, allow me at least to make use of my right and liberty -- that is, to speak foolishly after the manner of fools." Thus he reproves the false Apostles, who, while they were exceedingly silly in this respect, were not merely borne with by the Corinthians, but were received with great applause. He afterwards explains what kind of folly it is -- the publishing of his own praises. While they did so without end and without measure, he intimates that it was a thing to which he was unaccustomed; for he says, for a little while For I take this clause as referring to time, so that the meaning is, that Paul did not wish to continue it long, but assumed, as it were, for the moment, the person of another, and immediately thereafter laid it aside, as we are accustomed to pass over lightly those things that are foreign to our object, while fools occupy themselves constantly (en parergois) [1] in matters of inferior moment.

Footnotes

1 - The term parergon denotes -- a matter of mere secondary importance. Thus Thucydides (6:58) says, hos ouk ek parergou ton polemon epoieito -- who did not make the war a secondary consideration. -- Ed.

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."

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.

(7) 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.
(7) He goes forward boldly, and using a vehement irony or type of taunting, desires the Corinthians to pardon him, if for a time he argues as a fool before them, who are wise, along with those other wise ones, as he talks about those external things such as his stock, his ancestors, and valiant acts.

I say again, let no man think me a fool,.... For praising himself, or speaking in his own commendation; which he was obliged to do, in vindication of his own character, against the false apostles, for the sake of the Gospel he preached, and for the advantage and welfare of the Corinthians; that they might not be imposed upon and carried away with the insinuations of these deceitful men; wherefore he desires them once more, that if he must be accounted a fool for speaking in his own behalf;
if otherwise, says he, if they could not be persuaded that he acted a wise part, but must be looked upon as a fool, for what he said of himself,
yet as a fool receive me; or "suffer me", or bear with my folly: he desires that he might have, and use the liberty which fools have usually granted to them, to speak out the truth, and all they know, which is not always allowed to wise men:
that I may boast myself a little; in a few instances, and for a small space of time; he suggests, that the false apostles boasted much of themselves, and they bore with them, and had done so for a great while; and therefore it was no unreasonable request he made, that they would also suffer him to boast of himself a little, especially since there was such an absolute necessity for it.

It is the duty and practice of Christians to humble themselves, in obedience to the command and example of the Lord; yet prudence must direct in what it is needful to do things which we may do lawfully, even the speaking of what God has wrought for us, and in us, and by us. Doubtless here is reference to facts in which the character of the false apostles had been shown. It is astonishing to see how such men bring their followers into bondage, and how they take from them and insult them.

I say again--again taking up from 2-Corinthians 11:1 the anticipatory apology for his boasting.
if otherwise--but if ye will not grant this; if ye will think me a fool.
yet as a fool--"yet even as a fool receive me"; grant me the indulgent hearing conceded even to one suspected of folly. The Greek denotes one who does not rightly use his mental powers; not having the idea of blame necessarily attached to it; one deceived by foolish vanities, yet boasting himself [TITTMANN], (2-Corinthians 11:17, 2-Corinthians 11:19).
that I--The oldest manuscripts read, "that I, too," namely, as well as they, may boast myself.

Let no man think me a fool. Even though he should boast, let no one regard him foolish (see 2-Corinthians 11:1), since he compelled to by the disparagement of his labors. Whether he be regarded as foolish or wise, let his words be received.
That which I speak. What he is about to say, with an appearance of boasting, is not compromising Christ. The folly, if there be folly, is his own.
I will glory also. This is the folly for which he apologizes. He will show that he is not behind those who have been claiming so much credit at Corinth.
For ye suffer fools gladly. See 1-Corinthians 4:10. It was a part of their superior wisdom to tolerate fools. This is perhaps said in derision. It is explained in the next verse.
For ye suffer. They must "suffer fools gladly," for they let men bring them into bondage to the law (Galatians 2:4); to devour their property by their greed for gain; to take them by the cunning snares laid for them; to exalt themselves unduly.
Smite you on the face. This perhaps refers to an actual case of violence.
I speak by way of disparagement. The opposers had said that "his bodily presence was weak" (2-Corinthians 10:10). They had suffered what he had described in 2-Corinthians 11:20, but he had never been so bold. Yet, wherein any were bold, he had the right to be bold also. He next states grounds which he might have for boasting.

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.