Paul and the False Apostles
1I wish you would put up with a little foolishness11:1 Mk 7:22; 2Co 11:17,21 from me. Yes, do put up with me!11:1 Or Yes, you are putting up with me
2For I am jealous11:2 Jms 3:16 for you with a godly jealousy,11:2 Nm 25:13; Gl 4:17 because I have promised you in marriage to one husband — to present a pure11:2 Php 4:8 virgin to Christ.
6Even if I am untrained in public speaking,11:6 1Co 1:17 I am certainly not untrained in knowledge.11:6 Php 3:8; 1Jn 4:8 Indeed, we have in every way made that clear to you in everything.
7Or did I commit a sin by humbling11:7 Lk 14:11 myself so that you might be exalted,11:7 Lk 1:52 because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge?11:7 Ac 18:3
8I robbed other churches by taking pay from them to minister to you.
9When I was present with you and in need, I did not burden anyone, since the brothers who came from Macedonia11:9 Ac 16:9 supplied my needs.11:9 Php 4:10 I have kept myself, and will keep myself, from burdening you in any way.
10As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be stopped11:10 Or silenced in the regions of Achaia.11:10 Ac 18:12
11Why? Because I don’t love you? God knows I do!
12But I will continue to do what I am doing, in order to deny11:12 Lit cut off an opportunity to those who want to be regarded as our equals in what they boast about.
13For such people are false apostles,11:13 Rv 2:2 deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.
14And no wonder! For Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
Paul’s Sufferings for Christ
16I repeat: Let no one consider me a fool. But if you do, at least accept me as a fool so that I can also boast a little.
17What I am saying in this matter11:17 Or business, or confidence of boasting, I don’t speak as the Lord would, but as it were, foolishly.
18Since many boast according to the flesh, I will also boast.
20In fact, you put up with it if someone enslaves you, if someone exploits11:20 Gl 5:15 you, if someone takes advantage of you, if someone is arrogant toward you, if someone slaps11:20 Mt 5:39 you in the face.
21I say this to our shame: We have been too weak for that!
But in whatever anyone dares to boast — I am talking foolishly — I also dare:
22Are they Hebrews?11:22 Php 3:5 So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the descendants of Abraham?11:22 Gn 16:15; Gl 3:29 So am I.
23Are they servants of Christ? I’m talking like a madman — I’m a better one: with far more labors, many more imprisonments, far worse beatings, many times near death.
25Three times I was beaten with rods.11:25 Ac 16:22 Once I received a stoning.11:25 Ac 14:19 Three times I was shipwrecked.11:25 Ac 27:1–44; 1Tm 1:19 I have spent a night and a day in the open sea.
26On frequent journeys, I faced dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers,11:26 Mk 14:48 dangers from my own people,11:26 Ac 9:23; 13:50; 14:5; 17:5; 18:12; 20:3,19; 21:27; 23:10–12; 25:3 dangers from Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, and dangers among false brothers;
27toil and hardship, many sleepless nights, hunger and thirst, often without food, cold, and without clothing.11:27 Rm 8:35
28Not to mention11:28 Lit Apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me: my concern for all the churches.
30If boasting is necessary, I will boast about my weaknesses.
31The God and Father11:31 Mt 5:16; 11:27; Lk 11:13; Jn 8:42; Eph 5:20 of the Lord Jesus, who is blessed forever, knows I am not lying.
32In Damascus,11:32 2Sm 8:5 a ruler11:32 Gk ethnarches; a leader of an ethnic community under King Aretas guarded the city of Damascus in order to arrest me.
33So I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped from his hands.11:33 Ac 9:19–25
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