2 Corinthians 11:23 “Are they servants of Christ? (I am speaking as if I were out of my min…”

2 Corinthians 11:23

Are they servants of Christ? (I am speaking as if I were out of my mind.) I am so much more: in harder labor, in more imprisonments, in worse beatings, in frequent danger of death.

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.

World English Bible

Are they servants of Christ? (I speak as one beside himself.) I am more so: in labors more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, and in deaths often.

American Standard Version

Are 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.

Geneva Bible 1599

They are the ministers of Christ (I speake as a foole) I am more: in labours more aboundant: in stripes aboue measure: in prison more plenteously: in death oft.

Darby Translation

Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as being beside myself) I above measure [so]; in labours exceedingly abundant, in stripes to excess, in prisons exceedingly abundant, in deaths oft.

Young's Literal Translation

ministrants of Christ are they? — as beside myself I speak — I more; in labours more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths many times;

Bible in Basic English

Are they servants of Christ? (I am talking foolishly) I am more so; I have had more experience of hard work, of prisons, of blows more than measure, of death.

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Cross references

“ministers”

2 Corinthians 3:6 1 Corinthians 3:5 1 Thessalonians 3:2 1 Timothy 4:6 1 Corinthians 4:1 2 Corinthians 6:4

2 Corinthians 3:6 · BSB

And He has qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

1 Corinthians 3:5 · BSB

What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? They are servants through whom you believed, as the Lord has assigned to each his role.

1 Thessalonians 3:2 · BSB

We sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker for God in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith,

1 Timothy 4:6 · BSB

By pointing out these things to the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished by the words of faith and sound instruction that you have followed.

1 Corinthians 4:1 · BSB

So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

2 Corinthians 6:4 · BSB

Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships, and calamities;

“I am”

2 Corinthians 11:5 2 Corinthians 12:11 2 Corinthians 12:12

2 Corinthians 11:5 · BSB

I consider myself in no way inferior to those “super-apostles.”

2 Corinthians 12:11 · BSB

I have become a fool, but you drove me to it. In fact, you should have commended me, since I am in no way inferior to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.

2 Corinthians 12:12 · BSB

The marks of a true apostle—signs, wonders, and miracles—were performed among you with great perseverance.

“in labours”

1 Corinthians 15:10 Colossians 1:29

1 Corinthians 15:10 · BSB

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not in vain. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

Colossians 1:29 · BSB

To this end I also labor, striving with all His energy working powerfully within me.

“in stripes”

Acts 9:16 2 Corinthians 11:24 2 Corinthians 11:25 2 Corinthians 6:5

Acts 9:16 · BSB

I will show him how much he must suffer for My name.”

2 Corinthians 11:24 · BSB

Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.

2 Corinthians 11:25 · BSB

Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked. I spent a night and a day in the open sea.

2 Corinthians 6:5 · BSB

in beatings, imprisonments, and riots; in labor, sleepless nights, and hunger;

“in prison”

2 Timothy 2:9 Ephesians 6:20 Philippians 1:13 Philemon 1:9 Acts 20:23 Acts 21:11

2 Timothy 2:9 · BSB

for which I suffer to the extent of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained!

Ephesians 6:20 · BSB

for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it fearlessly, as I should.

Philippians 1:13 · BSB

As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.

Philemon 1:9 · BSB

I prefer to appeal on the basis of love. For I, Paul, am now aged, and a prisoner of Christ Jesus as well.

Acts 20:23 · BSB

I only know that in town after town the Holy Spirit warns me that chains and afflictions await me.

Acts 21:11 · BSB

Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own feet and hands, and said, “The Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and hand him over to the Gentiles.’”

“in deaths”

2 Corinthians 6:9 Colossians 1:24 1 Corinthians 15:30–32 2 Corinthians 4:11 Acts 14:19 Philippians 2:17

2 Corinthians 6:9 · BSB

unknown, yet well-known; dying, and yet we live on; punished, yet not killed;

Colossians 1:24 · BSB

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions for the sake of His body, which is the church.

1 Corinthians 15:30–32 · BSB

And why do we endanger ourselves every hour?

2 Corinthians 4:11 · BSB

For we who are alive are always consigned to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our mortal body.

Acts 14:19 · BSB

Then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and won over the crowds. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, presuming he was dead.

Philippians 2:17 · BSB

But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.

Also

Romans 8:36 2 Corinthians 10:7 Acts 16:23–24

Romans 8:36 · BSB

As it is written: “For Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

2 Corinthians 10:7 · BSB

You are looking at outward appearances. If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should remind himself that we belong to Christ just as much as he does.

Acts 16:23–24 · BSB

And after striking them with many blows, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to guard them securely.

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

22Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.

24Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.

Read 2 Corinthians 11