2 Corinthians 11 · Verse 19

2 Corinthians 11:19

For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.
2 Corinthians 11:19, King James Version

2 Corinthians 11:19 in other translations

BSBFor you gladly tolerate fools, since you are so wise.
WEBFor you bear with the foolish gladly, being wise.
ASVFor ye bear with the foolish gladly, being wise yourselves.
YLTfor gladly do ye bear with the fools--being wise,
DARBYFor ye bear fools readily, being wise.
BBEFor you put up with the foolish gladly, being wise yourselves.
WebsterFor ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.

What does 2 Corinthians 11:19 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
19. gladly--willingly. Irony. A plea why they should "bear with" (2Co 11:1) him in his folly, that is, boasting; ye are, in sooth, so "wise" (1Co 4:8, 10; Paul's real view of their wisdom was very different, 1Co 3:1-4) yourselves that ye can "bear with" the folly of others more complacently. Not only can ye do so, but ye are actually doing this and more.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 19. For ye suffer fools gladly. You tolerate or endure those who are really fools. This is perhaps, says Dr. Bloomfield, the most sarcastic sentence ever penned by the apostle Paul. Its sense is, "You profess to be wondrous wise. And yet you, who are so wise a people, freely tolerate those who are foolish in their boasting; who proclaim their own merits and attainments. You may allow me, therefore, to come in. for my share, and boast also, and thus obtain your favour." Or it may mean, "You are so profoundly wise, as easily to see who are fools. You have great power of discernment in this, and have found out that I am a fool, and also that other boasters are fools. Yet knowing this, you bear patiently with such fools; have admitted them to, your favour and friendship; and I may come in among the rest of the fools, and partake also of your favours." They had borne with the false apostles who had boasted of their endowments, and yet they claimed to be eminent for wisdom and discernment.

(&) "suffer fools" "bear with fools"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 19 Ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise - A very fine irony. Ye are so profoundly wise as to be able to discern that I am a fool. Well, it would be dishonorable to you as wise men to fall out with a fool; you will therefore gladly bear with his impertinence and foolishness because of your own profound wisdom.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Corinthians 11:16-21

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…

Read the full comment on 2 Corinthians 11:16-21 →

2 Corinthians 11:19 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἡδέωςhēdeōsGladlyG2234
γὰρgarforG1063
ἀνέχεσθεanechestheyou bear withG430
τῶνtōn<the>G3588
ἀφρόνων,aphronōnfools,G878
φρόνιμοιphronimoiwiseG5429
ὄντες·ontesbeing!G1510

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 Corinthians 11:19

  • 1 Corinthians 4:10

    We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.

  • 1 Corinthians 10:15

    I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.

  • 1 Corinthians 8:1

    Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.

  • Revelation 3:17

    Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
seeing.
1Co 4:10; 8:1; 10:15; Re 3:17

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 2 Corinthians 11:18

    Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.

  • 2 Corinthians 11:19

    For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.

  • 2 Corinthians 11:20

    For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face.

Read all of 2 Corinthians 11

2 Corinthians 11:19 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque de buena gana toleráis los necios, siendo vosotros sabios:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Car vous supportez volontiers les insensés, étant sages vous-mêmes.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn ihr ertraget gern die Toren, da ihr weise seid.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Libenter enim suffertis insipientes, cum sitis ipsi sapientes.