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2 Corinthians 11:16-21 Inductive Bible Study - Outline, Key Words, Cross References, and Discussion Questions

 

Paul vs. the Super Apostles

Chapter 11:16-21

2 Co 11:16-21

16 Again I say, let no one think me foolish; but if you do, receive me even as foolish, so that I also may boast a little.

17 What I am saying, I am not saying as the Lord would, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting.

18 Since many boast according to the flesh, I will boast also.

19 For you, being so wise, tolerate the foolish gladly.

20 For you tolerate it if anyone enslaves you, anyone devours you, anyone takes advantage of you, anyone exalts himself, anyone hits you in the face.

21 To my shame I must say that we have been weak by comparison. But in whatever respect anyone else is bold — I speak in foolishness — I am just as bold myself.

 

Key Words

·         Anyone                    6

·         Foolish                    5

·         Boast                        4

·         Bold                          2

·         You                          7

·          

Titles

A Little Foolishness

Be Careful What You Tolerate

Paul vs. the Super Apostles

Outline

        I.             Paul is “foolish”                                          16-18

      II.            Corinthians are “so wise”                           19-20

    III.            Paul is “weak”                                               21

Cross References, Questions, Observations

16 Again I say, let no one think me foolish; but if you do, receive me even as foolish, so that I also may boast a little.

2 Co 12:6

6 For if I do wish to boast I will not be foolish, for I will be speaking the truth; but I refrain from this, so that no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me.

2 Co 12:11

11 I have become foolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, for in no respect was I inferior to the most eminent apostles, even though I am a nobody.

1 Co 3:18

18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise.

1 Co 4:10

10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are prudent in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are distinguished, but we are without honor.

Pr 26:5

5 Answer a fool as his folly deserves, That he not be wise in his own eyes.

a)      

1)      

17 What I am saying, I am not saying as the Lord would, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting.

1 Co 7:8-12

8 ButI say to the unmarried and to widows that it is good for them if they remain even as I.

9 But if they do not have self-control, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn with passion. 

10 But to the married I give instructions, not I, but the Lord, that the wife should not leave her husband

11(but if she does leave, she must remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband should not divorce his wife.

12 But to the rest I say, not the Lord, that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he must not divorce her.

Gal 2:4

4 But it was because of the false brethren secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage.

a)     Why would Paul make his argument in a different way than the Lord would?

1)      

18 Since many boast according to the flesh, I will boast also.

Php 3:3-6

3 for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh,

4 although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more:

5 circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee;

6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless.

Jer 9:23-24

23 Thus says the LORD, " Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches;

24 but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things," declares the LORD.

1 Pe 1:24

24 For, "ALL FLESH IS LIKE GRASS, AND ALL ITS GLORY LIKE THE FLOWER OF GRASS. THE GRASS WITHERS, AND THE FLOWER FALLS OFF,

Jas 4:13-14

13 Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit."

14 Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.

Isa 40:6-8

6 A voice says, "Call out." Then he answered, "What shall I call out?"  All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field.

7 The grass withers, the flower fades, When the breath of the LORD blows upon it; Surely the people are grass.

8 The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.

Jas 1:10

10 and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away.

2 Co 12:9

9 And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

a)     Why do people boast?

b)     Does it work?

1)      

19 For you, being so wise, tolerate the foolish gladly.

1 Co 4:10

10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are prudent in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are distinguished, but we are without honor.

Rv 3:17

17 'Because you say, "I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing," and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, 

1 Co 8:1

1 Take Care with Your Liberty Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies.

Ro 1:22

22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,

1 Co 1:22-23

22 For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom;

23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness,

1 Co 2:14

14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.

a)     Why would the Corinthians gladly tolerate the foolish?

1)      

20 For you tolerate it if anyone enslaves you, anyone devours you, anyone takes advantage of you, anyone exalts himself, anyone hits you in the face.

2 Co 1:24

24 Not that we lord it over your faith, but are workers with you for your joy; for in your faith you are standing firm.

Gal 2:4

4 But it was because of the false brethren secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage.

Gal 4:9

9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again?

Gal 5:1

1 Walk by the Spirit It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.

Php 3:19

19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.

Isa 50:6

6 I gave My back to those who strike Me, And My cheeks to those who pluck out the beard; I did not cover My face from humiliation and spitting.

Lk 6:29

29 " Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either. 

a)     Why would they do this?

b)     How do you avoid doing this?

21 To my shame I must say that we have been weak by comparison. But in whatever respect anyone else is bold — I speak in foolishness — I am just as bold myself.

2 Co 12:16

16 But be that as it may, I did not burden you myself; nevertheless, crafty fellow that I am, I took you in by deceit. 

Key Verse

21 To my shame I must say that we have been weak by comparison. But in whatever respect anyone else is bold — I speak in foolishness — I am just as bold myself.

Central Teaching

Paul was not inferior to those whose harmful influences the Corinthians foolishly tolerated.

Application

Print out the verses for the girls.

Click Links Below For Passage by Passage Studies of 2 Corinthians -  Cross-References, Outlines, Key Words, and Discussion Questions.

2 Corinthians 1:1-11 2 Corinthians 1:12-24 2 Corinthians 2:1-8 2 Corinthians 2:9-17 2 Corinthians3:1-11 2 Corinthians 3:12-18
2 Corinthians 4:1-12 2 Corinthians 4:13-18 2 Corinthians 5:1-10 2 Corinthians 5:11-21 2 Corinthians 6:1-5 2 Corinthians 6:6-13
2 Corinthians 7:1-8 2 Corinthians 7:9-16 2 Corinthians 8:1-6 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 2 Corinthians 8:16-24 2 Corinthians 9:1-7
2 Corinthians 9:8-15 2 Corinthians 10:1-6 2 Corinthians 10:7-11 2 Corinthians 10:12-18 2 Corinthians 11:1-6 2 Corinthians 11:7-15
2 Corinthians 11:16-21 2 Corinthians 11:22-27 2 Corinthians 11:28-33 2 Corinthians 12:1-6 2 Corinthians 12:7-13 2 Corinthians 12:14-21
2 Corinthians 13:1-6 2 Corinthians 13:7-14

   

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