2 Corinthians 11:22
What does 2 Corinthians 11:22 mean?
A plain-English look at 2 Corinthians 11:22 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 2 Corinthians 11:22 means
Paul measures himself against his rivals’ Jewish credentials: Hebrews, Israelites, seed of Abraham—he is all of these. He is no outsider to God’s covenant people. If lineage is the yardstick, he stands equal. But he will not stop there, because true ministry is not secured by ancestry. He defuses the ethnic boasting to focus on what truly authenticates a servant of Christ: costly faithfulness. His background does not disqualify him; rather, it places him on the same starting line before he surpasses them in the only race that matters—suffering for Christ’s sake and the building up of His church through sacrificial labor.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they of Israel? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Hebrews are they? I also! Israelites are they? I also! seed of Abraham are they? I also!
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752They are Hebrews: so am I. They are Israelites: so am I. They are the seed of Abraham: so am I.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Are they Hebrews? I also. Are they Israelites? I also. Are they seed of Abraham? I also.
Context
Paul first meets the false apostles on their chosen ground—ethnic pedigree (v.22)—to show he is not lacking. With that established, he escalates to the real test of ministry (v.23): endurance in labor, prison, beatings, and dangers. He will specify five whippings (v.24), three beatings with rods and other trials (v.25), perils of all kinds (v.26), and deprivations (v.27). He then adds internal pastoral pressures (v.28) and empathetic identification (v.29), before concluding that he will boast in weakness (v.30).
v.21I speak by way of disparagement, as though we had been weak. Yet whereinsoever any is bold (I speak in foolishness), I am bold also.
v.22This passage
v.23Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as one beside himself) I more; in labors more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in deaths oft.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Exodus 9:13
And Jehovah said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me.
- Exodus 3:18
And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, Jehovah, the God of the Hebrews, hath met with us: and now let us go, we pray thee, three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to Jehovah our God.
- Romans 4:13
For not through the law was the promise to Abraham or to his seed that he should be heir of the world, but through the righteousness of faith.
- Exodus 9:1
Then Jehovah said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh, and tell him, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me.
- Romans 11:1
I say then, Did God cast off his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
- Matthew 3:9
and think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
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