Homilies on Second Corinthians — Homily 25

St. John Chrysostom

1. 0. Greeting
2. Chapter 2
3. Chapter 3

Yet whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak in foolishness,) I am bold also.

See him again drawing back and using depreciation and correctives beforehand, although he has already even said many such things: Would that you could bear with me in a little foolishness; [[2 Corinthians 11.1]] and again, Let no man think me foolish: if you do, yet as foolish receive me. [[2 Corinthians 11.16]] That which I speak, I speak not after the Lord, but as in foolishness. [[2 Corinthians 11.17]] Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also; [[2 Corinthians 11.18]] and here again, Whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak in foolishness) I am bold also. Boldness and folly he calls it to speak anything great of himself, and that though there was a necessity, teaching us even to an excess to avoid anything of the sort. For if after we have done all, we ought to call ourselves unprofitable; of what forgiveness can he be worthy who, when no reason presses, exalts himself and boasts? Therefore also did the Pharisee meet the fate he did, and even in harbor suffered shipwreck because he struck upon this rock. Therefore also does Paul, although he sees very ample necessity for it, draw back nevertheless, and keep on observing that such speaking is a mark of foolishness. And then at length he makes the venture, putting forward the plea of necessity, and says,

Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I.

For it was not all Hebrews that were Israelites, since both the Ammonites and Moabites were Hebrews. Wherefore he added somewhat to clear his nobility of descent, and says,

Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. Are they ministers of Christ. (I speak as one beside himself,) I more.

He is not content with his former deprecation, but uses it again here also. I speak as one beside himself, I more. I am their superior and their better. And indeed he possessed clear proofs of his superiority, but nevertheless even so he terms the thing a folly. And yet if they were false Apostles, he heeded not to have introduced his own superiority by way of comparison, but to have destroyed their claim to be ministers at all. Well, he did destroy it, saying, False Apostles, deceitful workers, fashioning themselves into Apostles of Christ, [[2 Corinthians 11.13]] but now he does not proceed in that way, for his discourse was about to proceed to strict examination; and no one when an examination is in hand simply asserts; but having first stated the case in the way of comparison, he shows it to be negatived by the facts, a very strong negative. But besides, it is their opinion he gives, not his own assertion, when he says, Are they ministers of Christ? And having said, I more, he proceeds in his comparison, and shows that not by bare assertions, but by furnishing the proof that facts supply, he maintains the impress of the Apostleship. And leaving all his miracles, he begins with his trials; thus saying,

In labors more abundantly, in stripes above measure. This latter is g