In the last section of the letter (2 Cor. 10–13) Paul makes a frontal attack on his opponents to prepare the Corinthians for his third visit to Corinth. In chapter 10 he has already dealt with two of the opponents’ accusations against him. Now, in 11:1–12:13, the apostle condescends to boasting about himself at the provocation of the opponents and in the face of a lack of concrete support from the Corinthians. These opponents, who evidently bill themselves as “apostles,” had made a strong impression on the church at Corinth with their subversive teachings and robust appeal. Their boasting provoked Paul to engage in similar boasting, even though he recognized it to be utterly foolish. He had already resorted to self-commendation earlier in the letter (cf. 1:12–14; 6:3–10). Now, however, in …