Paul and the False Apostles

1I wish you were bearing with me a little in foolishness, but indeed you do bear with me. 2For I am jealous as to you with the jealousy of God. For I have betrothed you to one husband, to present a pure virgin to Christ.

3But I am afraid, lest by any means, as the serpent in his craftiness deceived Eve, your minds might be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity in Christ. 4For if indeed the one coming proclaims another Jesus whom we did not proclaim, or you receive a different spirit whom you did not receive, or a different gospel which you did not accept, you are bearing with it well.

5For I reckon in nothing to have been inferior to those “most eminent apostles.” 6But even if I am unpolished in speech, yet I am not in knowledge; but in every way, we have been made manifest to you in all things.

7Or did I commit a sin, humbling myself, so that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you freely? 8I robbed other churches, having received support for service toward you. 9And being present with you and having been in need, I did not burden anyone; for the brothers having come from Macedonia completely filled up my need, and in everything I kept and will keep myself unburdensome to you. 10The truth of Christ is in me, that this boasting of mine will not be sealed up in the regions of Achaia. 11Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!

12But what I do, I will continue doing, so that I might cut off the opportunity of those desiring an opportunity that they might be found as also we in what they are boasting. 13For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.

Paul's Suffering and Service
(Colossians 1:24-29)

16Again I say, no one should think me to be a fool; but if otherwise, receive me even as a fool, that I also may boast a little. 17What I am saying in this confidence of boasting, I am not saying according to the Lord, but as in foolishness. 18Since many boast according to the flesh, I also will boast. 19For being wise, you bear with fools gladly! 20For you bear it if anyone enslaves you, if anyone devours you, if anyone takes from you, if anyone exalts himself, if anyone strikes you in your face. 21I speak as to dishonor, as that we have been weak!

But in whatever anyone might dare—I speak in foolishness—I also am daring. 22Are they Hebrews? I also. Are they Israelites? I also. Are they descendants of Abraham? I also. 23Are they servants of Christ? I speak as being beside myself, I too above measure: more abundantly in labors, more abundantly in imprisonments, in beatings above measure, in deaths often.

24Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked. I have passed a night and a day in the deep sea; 26in 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 wilderness; in perils on the sea, in perils among false brothers; 27in labor and toil, often in watchings; in hunger and thirst, often in fastings; in cold and nakedness.

28Besides the external things, the pressure on me on every day is my care for all the churches. 29Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not burn inwardly?

30If it behooves me to boast, I will boast in the things of my weakness. 31The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, the One being blessed to the ages, knows that I am not lying. 32In Damascus the governor under the king Aretas was guarding the city of the Damascenes to seize me. 33But I was let down in a basket through a window through the wall, and I escaped his hands.