Answering Fools

In this passage we see how Paul practically dismantles his oponents' arguments. They had devised arguments meant to undermine him, but when Paul stands upon their foundation we see that he is able to turn their arguments to his advantage. The sermon seeks to explain why Paul makes this list of sufferings that he had endured; it looks briefly at the hardships and then finally seeks to address the obvious question that if such sufferings that Paul endured were indeed Christ-like, why does he call his boasting about them in this context as foolish. We see once again Paul's very effective apologetic method.