2Cor 11:22 | TNotes | STEP | 11:22 Are they Hebrews? So am I: A Jewish heritage was seen by Paul’s opponents as a qualification for ministry (see Phil 3:5 ). • Are they Israelites? So am I: An Israelite was a member of the covenant community by circumcision (cp. John 1:47 ; Rom 9:4 ). Paul had this badge also and was in fact a Pharisee, a most devoted follower of Torah (Acts 26:4-5 ; Rom 11:1 ; Phil 3:5-6 ). • Are they descendants of Abraham? This is yet another of Paul’s opponents’ claims to God’s favor based on ethnic identity. Elsewhere, Paul clarifies who can truly be called Israelites and descendants of Abraham (see Rom 2:28-29 ; Gal 3:16 , 26-29 ). Here, he ironically adopts the erroneous perspective of his opponents to beat them at their own game.

a11:22►

bPhil 3:5►

cJohn 1:47►

dRom 9:4►

eActs 26:4-5►

fRom 11:1►

gPhil 3:5-6►

hRom 2:28-29►

iGal 3:16►

j26-29►

‏ 2 Corinthians 11:22

11:22 ^a Are they Hebrews? So am I: A Jewish heritage was seen by Paul’s opponents as a qualification for ministry (see Phil 3:5 ^b).

• Are they Israelites? So am I: An Israelite was a member of the covenant community by circumcision (cp. John 1:47 ^c; Rom 9:4 ^d). Paul had this badge also and was in fact a Pharisee, a most devoted follower of Torah (Acts 26:4-5 ^e; Rom 11:1 ^f; Phil 3:5-6 ^g).

• Are they descendants of Abraham? This is yet another of Paul’s opponents’ claims to God’s favor based on ethnic identity. Elsewhere, Paul clarifies who can truly be called Israelites and descendants of Abraham (see Rom 2:28-29 ^h; Gal 3:16 ⁱ, 26-29 ^j). Here, he ironically adopts the erroneous perspective of his opponents to beat them at their own game.