1
Oh, that you would bear with me in a little folly -- and indeed you do bear with me.
2
For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present [you as] a chaste virgin to Christ.
3
But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
4
For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or [if] you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted -- you may well put up with it!
5
For I consider that I am not at all inferior to the most eminent apostles.
6
Even though [I am] untrained in speech, yet [I am] not in knowledge. But we have been thoroughly manifested among you in all things.
7
Did I commit sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge?
8
I robbed other churches, taking wages [from them] to minister to you.
9
And when I was present with you, and in need, I was a burden to no one, for what I lacked the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied. And in everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so I will keep [myself.]
10
As the truth of Christ is in me, no one shall stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia.
11
Why? Because I do not love you? God knows!
12
But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast.
13
For such [are] false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.
14
And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.
15
Therefore [it is] no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.
16
I say again, let no one think me a fool. If otherwise, at least receive me as a fool, that I also may boast a little.
17
What I speak, I speak not according to the Lord, but as it were, foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.
18
Seeing that many boast according to the flesh, I also will boast.
19
For you put up with fools gladly, since you [yourselves] are wise!
20
For you put up with it if one brings you into bondage, if one devours [you,] if one takes [from you,] if one exalts himself, if one strikes you on the face.
21
To [our] shame, I say that we were too weak for that! But in whatever anyone is bold -- I speak foolishly -- I am bold also.
22
Are they Hebrews? So [am] I. Are they Israelites? So [am] I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So [am] I.
23
Are they ministers of Christ? -- I speak as a fool -- I [am] more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often.
24
From the Jews five times I received forty [stripes] minus one.
25
Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep;
26
[in] journeys often, [in] perils of waters, [in] perils of robbers, [in] perils of [my own] countrymen, [in] perils of the Gentiles, [in] perils in the city, [in] perils in the wilderness, [in] perils in the sea, [in] perils among false brethren;
27
in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness --
28
besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.
29
Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?
30
If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity.
31
The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.
32
In Damascus the governor, under Aretas the king, was guarding the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desiring to arrest me;
33
but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands.
