2nd Corinthians 11

 

1 I wish that you would bear with me in a little folly, but truly, you do bear with me.

2 For I am jealous over your life with godly jealousy (for you to partake of a life without end): for (this reason) I have espoused you to (the) one husband (who is able to give you that life), so that I may present you as a pure (and undefiled) virgin to Christ.

3 But I fear, lest by any means, just as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds might be corrupted (by false teachers) from the simplicity that is in Christ.

4 For if the one who comes preaches another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if you receive another spirit (that is powerless to raise you from the dead, immortal), which you have not received, or another gospel (which is no gospel at all), which you have not accepted, (I fear that) you might well tolerate him.

5 For I do not consider myself coming behind the very most chief apostles.

6 But though I might be untrained in (eloquent) speech, yet not in the (wisdom and) knowledge (of Christ); but our ministry has been thoroughly made manifest among you in all things.

7 Or have I committed an offense in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I have preached the gospel of God to you freely?

8 I have robbed other churches, having received support from them, for our service to you.

9 And when I was present with you and in need, I burdened no man: for everything that I needed the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so will I (continue to) keep myself (unburdensome).

10 As the truth of Christ lives (and remains) in me, no man shall stop me from this boasting (in Christ) in the regions of Achaia.

11 Why? Because I do not love you? God knows.

12 But what I am doing, that I will (continue to) do, so that I may cut off (any) occasion from those who desire occasion; that (the boasting) wherein they boast (in their right to your support), may be also found even in me.

13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, (greedy for personal gain), masquerading themselves (outwardly) as apostles of Christ.

14 And it is no wonder; for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.

15 Therefore, it is no great surprise if his ministers also are disguising themselves (outwardly) as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to the (inward) works (which occupy their hearts).

16 I say again, let no man think I am a fool; but if you think otherwise, receive me also as a fool, so that I may boast a little of myself.

17 That which I speak, I do not speak it according to the Lord, but as a fool, in this confidence of boasting.

18 Seeing as many boast after the flesh, I will (take a minute and) boast also.

19 For you gladly (and willingly) tolerate fools, seeing yourself as wise.

20 For you tolerate it if a man brings you into bondage, if a man devours you, if a man takes from you, if a man exalts himself, if a man strikes you on the face.

21 I speak concerning dishonor, as if we had been weak (in not doing the same). However, in whatever way anyone is bold, {I speak foolishly}, I am also (able to be equally as) bold.

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, being more abundant in labors, exceedingly above in beatings, in more frequent imprisonments, in more often (perils of) death.

24 From the Jews, five times I received forty stripes minus one.

25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once was stoned, three times I suffered shipwreck, I have spent night and day in the deep waters;

26 In (perilous) journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by my own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brothers;

27 In toil and hardship, often without sleep, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and nakedness.

28 Besides all those external things, the pressures (uprisings and insurrections) that come to me every day in caring for all the churches.

29 Who is weak, and am I not (also) weak? Who (among us) is (not) hindered (by stumbling blocks), and do I not (also go through) the fire?

30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things which concern my weakness (for when I am weak, He is strong, that my boast is in Him).

31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forevermore, who knows that I do not lie.

32 In Damascus, the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with guards, who desired to apprehend me:

33 And through a window in a basket, I was let down by the wall and escaped his hands.