1I would that you might bear with me in a little nonsense; but indeed, do bear with me. 2For I am jealous over you with the jealousy of God because I have espoused you to one husband, so that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds might be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4For indeed, if someone comes preaching another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or you receive a different spirit, which you did not receive, or a different gospel, which you did not accept, you put up with it as something good. 5But I consider myself in no way inferior to those highly exalted so-called apostles. 6For although I may be unpolished in speech, yet I am not in knowledge; for in all things I have demonstrated this to you.

7Now did I commit sin by humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you freely? 8I robbed other churches, receiving wages from them for ministering to you. 9And when I was present with you and in need, I was not a burden to anyone (for the brethren who came from Macedonia fully supplied my needs); for I kept myself, and will continue to keep myself, from being burdensome to you in anything. 10As the truth of Christ is in me, no one shall stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia. 11Why? Because I don't love you? God knows I do.

12But what I am doing, I will do, so that I may cut off any occasion from those who are desiring an occasion; so that in the things they boast of, they also may be found even as we are. 13For such are false apostles-- deceitful workers who are transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14And it is no marvel, for Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15Therefore, it is no great thing if his servants also transform themselves as ministers of righteousness--whose end shall be according to their works.

16Again I say, no one should consider me a fool; but if otherwise, receive me even as a fool, that I also may boast a little. 17What I am now saying, I do not speak according to the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting. 18Since many boast according to the flesh, I also will boast. 19For since you are so intelligent, you gladly bear with fools. 20For you bear it if anyone brings you into bondage, if anyone devours you, if anyone takes from you, if anyone exalts himself, if anyone beats you on the face. 21I speak as though we were under reproach for being weak; but in whatever way anyone else is bold (I speak in foolishness), I also am bold. 22Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. 23Are they servants of Christ? (I am speaking as if I were out of my mind. ) So am I, above and beyond measure--in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in imprisonments more frequent, in deaths often. 24Five times from the Jews I received forty stripes less one. 25Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I spent in the deep. 26I have been in journeyings often, in perils of rivers, in perils of robbers, in perils from my own race, in perils from the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the desert, in perils on the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 28Besides all these things from the world outside, pressing on me daily is the care of all the churches. 29Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is offended, and I do not burn?

30If it is necessary for me to boast, I will boast in the things concerning my weakness. 31The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who is blessed into the ages of eternity, knows that I do not lie. 32In Damascus, the governor under Aretas the king was guarding the city of the Damascenes because he desired to arrest me. 33But I was let down in a basket through a window by the wall, and escaped from his hands.