2 Corinthians 11:16; Let No Man Think Me a Fool
2 Corinthians 11:16 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.
The Apostle Paul had to share his credentials to authenticate his apostleship. It was not him to boast. He would rather be quiet than to blow his own trumpet. He was doing so not for himself. Rather it was to expose the false apostles. He did so for the spiritual well-being of the Corinthian church. He says, in effect, “Even if you have to look on me as a fool, which I am not, even then receive me so that I may do a little boasting like these other men do.” [MacDonald]
Matthew Henry observed well here, “Ordinarily, indeed, it is unbecoming a wise man to be much and often speaking in his own praise. Boasting of ourselves is usually not only a sign of a proud mind, but a mark of folly also. However, says the apostle, yet as a fool receive me; that is, if you count it folly in me to boast a little, yet give due regard to what I shall say.”