That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.

That which I speak, I speak not after the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of glorying.

That which I speak, I speak not according to God, but as it were in foolishness, in this matter of glorying.

What I speak I do not speak according to the Lord, but as in folly, in this confidence of boasting.

What I am now saying, I do not say by the Lord's command, but as a fool in his folly might, in this reckless boasting.

What I am now saying is not by the order of the Lord, but as a foolish person, taking credit to myself, as it seems.

When I speak like this, I am not speaking as the Master would, but as a fool might, in boasting so confidently.

What I speak, I speak not after the Lord His disposition, it is true, had an eye to God, but the outward appearance [1] might seem unsuitable to a servant of the Lord. At the same time, the things that Paul confesses respecting himself, he, on the other hand, condemns in the false Apostles. [2] For it was not his intention to praise himself, but simply to contrast himself with them, with the view of humbling them. [3] Hence he transfers to his own person what belonged to them, that he may thus open the eyes of the Corinthians. What I have rendered boldness, is in the Greek hupostasis, as to the meaning of which term we have spoken in theninth chapter. (2-Corinthians 9:4.) Subject-matter [4] or substance, unquestionably, would not be at all suitable here. [5]

Footnotes

1 - "La facon exterieure en laquelle il procede;" -- "The outward manner in which he goes to work."

2 - "C'est plustos afin de lea condemner es faux-Apostres;" -- "It is rather with the view of condemning them in the false Apostles."

3 - "Afin de leur abbaisser le coquet:" -- "With the view of bringing down their talk."

4 - Calvin refers here to the rendering of Erasmus, and of the Vulgate. The term employed by Erasmus is argumenturm (subject-matter.) In accordance with this, Cranmer's version (1539) reads, "in this matter of boastinge." The Vulgate makes use of the term substantia, (substance.) Wiclif (1380) reads, "in this substance of glorie" The Rheims version (1582), "in this substance of glorying." -- Ed.

5 - "Certes il ne conueniendroit pas bien yci de traduire matiere ou substance, combien que le mot signifie quelque fois cela;" -- "Certainly it would not be suitable here to render it subject-matter or substance, though the word sometimes bears that meaning."

That which I speak - In praise of myself.
I speak it not after the Lord - see the note on 1-Corinthians 7:12. The phrase here may mean either, I do not speak this by inspiration or claiming to be inspired by the Lord; or more probably it may mean, I do not speak this imitating the example of the Lord Jesus or strictly as becomes his follower. He was eminently modest, and never vaunted or boasted. And Paul probably means to say, "I do not in this profess to follow him entirely. I admit that it is a departure from his pure example in this respect. But circumstances have compelled me and much as I would prefer another strain at remark, and sensible as I am in general of the folly of boasting, yet a regard to my apostolic office and authority urges me to this course." Bloomfield supposes that the apostle is not speaking seriously, but that he has an allusion to their view of what he was saying. "Be it so, if you think that what I speak, I speak not as I profess to do according to the Lord, or with a view to subserve the purposes of his religion, but as it were in folly, in the confidence of boasting, yet permit me to do it notwithstanding, since you allow others to do it." It is not easy to settle which is the true sense of the passage. I see no conclusive evidence against either. But the former seems to me to be most in accordance with the scope of the whole. Paul admitted that what he said was not in exact accordance with the spirit of the Lord Jesus; and in admitting this he designed probably to administer a delicate hint that all their boasting was a wide departure from that spirit.
As it were foolishly - As in folly. It is to be admitted that to boast is in general foolish; and I admit that my language is open to this general charge.
In this confidence of boasting - In confident boasting. I speak confidently and I admit in the spirit of boasting.

I speak it not after the Lord - Were it not for the necessity under which I am laid to vindicate my apostleship, my present glorying would be inconsistent with my Christian profession of humility, and knowing no one after the flesh.

That which I speak,.... Meaning in vindication and commendation of himself, on this subject of glorying; or, as here expressed,
in this confidence of boasting; for which he thought he had good ground and foundation to go upon, and therefore might express himself with the greatest assurance, see 2-Corinthians 9:4 this he declares he spoke not as from the Lord, but of himself:
I speak it not after the Lord; or "Christ", as some copies read; or "our Lord", as the Syriac version; his sense is, that he did not then speak as an apostle, or one sent by Christ; he put off this character for the present, and took that of a fool upon him, that he might speak the more freely to the Corinthians, and the more severely against the false apostles; he did not pretend to any express command from Christ for so doing, or that he acted in imitation of him, who was meek and lowly; or that what he said came from the Spirit of the Lord; or, indeed, that it was agreeably to his own Spirit, and the principles of grace formed in him; but was obliged to it, through the boasts of the false apostles; which though it was not criminal and unlawful, but necessary, right, and proper, considering the reasons of it, the end for which, and the intention and view with which it was done; yet viewing the form and manner of this boasting, without attending to the circumstances of it, it had the appearance of folly: wherefore the apostle says, he spoke not as according to the commandment, or example of his Lord; or according to the Spirit of the Lord, or his own Spirit, as renewed by his grace:
but as it were foolishly; he does not say that what he said was foolishness, but it looked like it, and would be deemed so by such who were strangers to the true springs of it.

not after the Lord--By inspired guidance he excepts this "glorying" or "boasting" from the inspired authoritativeness which belongs to all else that he wrote; even this boasting, though undesirable in itself, was permitted by the Spirit, taking into account its aim, namely, to draw off the Corinthians from their false teachers to the apostle. Therefore this passage gives no proof that any portion of Scripture is uninspired. It merely guards against his boasting being made a justification of boasting in general, which is not ordinarily "after the Lord," that is, consistent with Christian humility.
foolishly--Greek, "in foolishness."
confidence of boasting-- (2-Corinthians 9:4).

I speak not after the Lord - Not by an express command from him; though still under the direction of his Spirit. But as it were foolishly - In such a manner as many may think foolish.