I have become a fool in boasting; you have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended by you: for in nothing am I behind the very chief apostles, though I be nothing.
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Ambrosiaster
AD 400
Paul is saying that he has been forced to disclose the truth of the matter. He is certainly not foolish, having spoken the truth about himself, but is abasing himself in this way in order to make it clear that he is not putting his own merits on display voluntarily. Commentary on Paul’s Epistles.
I am become a fool in glorying. I seem to have done foolishly in praising myself, but you, who had of me a lower opinion than you ought, and who gave more credence to the false apostles than to me, have compelled me to recover my influence over you by thus praising myself.
Though I be nothing. That I am an Apostle is not my doing, it is of the grace of Christ (Anselm). Cf. xi5 , note.
Although I am nothing. These words are a demonstration of the humility of St. Paul, when forced to speak his own praises.
The signs and marks of my apostleship. On you, by your conversion, especially being accompanied by wonders and miracles.
Pardon me this injury. A reproach by irony, against such as seemed to value him less, because he lived in poverty, and took nothing of them. (Witham)
Having fully completed what he had to say about his own praises, he did not stay at this; but again excuses himself and asks pardon for what he said, declaring that his doing so was of necessity and not of choice. Still nevertheless, although there was necessity, he calls himself a fool. And when he began indeed, he said, As foolish receive me, and as in foolishness; but now, leaving out the 'as,' he calls himself foolish. For after he had established the point he wished by saying what he did, he afterwards boldly and unsparingly grapples with all failing of the sort, teaching all persons that none should ever praise himself where there is no necessity, seeing that even where a reason for it existed, Paul termed himself a fool [for so doing]. Then he turns the blame also of his so speaking not upon the false Apostles, but wholly upon the disciples. For ye, he says, compelled me. 'For if they gloried, but were not by doing so leading you astray nor causing your destruction, I should not...
