For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.
Look, if I wanted to brag about myself, I wouldn't even be lying, I'd be telling the truth. But I'm not going to do that because I don't want people putting me on some pedestal higher than what they actually see and hear from me in real life.
Paul could flex if he wanted to, but he keeps it real so people don't put him on a pedestal.
📚 Historical Context
In the context of 2 Corinthians, Paul is defending his apostolic authority against false teachers in Corinth who were boasting about their own spiritual experiences and credentials. He references his own extraordinary visions from God but deliberately holds back from full disclosure to prevent people from overestimating him based on hearsay rather than his observable life and ministry. This reflects the early Christian emphasis on humility in a Greco-Roman culture that often prized self-promotion through public rhetoric.
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