2 Corinthians 11:5

The Text: For I reckon that I am not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles. See also 2 Cor. 12:11

The Meaning Given To It: That Paul was an apostle on a par with Peter, James and John, was a matter called into question by some in Paul's day and this verse is taken by some to teach this. Paul is allegedly affirming that he was not at all inferior to those who might be considered "the very chiefest apostles" such as the eyewitnesses to his ministry.

The Context: There are two things about the context of this statement that are often overlooked but very important. For one thing, 2 Corinthians is set in a context of self-vindication and Paul is having to prove certain false apostles (2 Cor. 11:13) wrong in both their doctrine and their charges against his apostleship.

Also, Paul uses very strong irony in this epistle. In fact, it might be called sarcasm. His statement in 12:13 is an example. He says "forgive me this wrong" in not accepting the financial support of the Corinthians and becoming a "burden" to them. Of course Paul would not have been a burden on them had he accepted their support and no "wrong" would have been involved if he had taken it. This is irony and it seems to be the same type of language employed in our text.

Paul is not speaking about the true apostles at all when he mentions the "chiefest apostles" and his point is not his standing in reference to them.

The Meaning: "The very chiefest apostles" is an ironical reference to false apostles. Paul is stating that in no way was he the least bit inferior to those men who were "fashioning themselves into apostles of Christ", 11:13. In proof of this (as if the Corinthians needed any) Paul affirms in the next verse, "But though I be rude in speech, yet am I not in knowledge; nay in every way havae we made this manifest unto you in all things"; and again: "truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you", 12:12. These signs were done by Paul and not by these other "apostles". Thus Paul affirms ironically, "I reckon that I am not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles." Two other translations bear this thought out: "But I do not think I am in the least bit inferior to those super-apostles" (NIV) and "I do not think that those 'great apostles' are any better than I am (The Word-New Century Version).

David Smitherman