| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | Christian Standard Bible |
| 1[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 1I wish you would put up with a little foolishness from me. Yes, do put up with me! |
| 2[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 2For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy, because I have promised you in marriage to one husband--to present a pure virgin to Christ. |
| 3[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 3But I fear that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your minds may be seduced from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. |
| 4[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 4For if a person comes and preaches another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or you receive a different spirit, which you had not received, or a different gospel, which you had not accepted, you put up with it splendidly! |
| 5[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 5Now I consider myself in no way inferior to those "super-apostles." |
| 6[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 6Even if I am untrained in public speaking, I am certainly not untrained in knowledge. Indeed, we have in every way made that clear to you in everything. |
| 7[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 7Or did I commit a sin by humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge? |
| 8[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 8I robbed other churches by taking pay from them to minister to you. |
| 9[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 9When I was present with you and in need, I did not burden anyone, since the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my needs. I have kept myself, and will keep myself, from burdening you in any way. |
| 10[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 10As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be stopped in the regions of Achaia. |
| 11[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 11Why? Because I don't love you? God knows I do! |
| 12[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 12But I will continue to do what I am doing, in order to deny an opportunity to those who want to be regarded as our equals in what they boast about. |
| 13[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 13For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. |
| 14[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 14And no wonder! For Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. |
| 15[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 15So it is no great surprise if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will be according to their works. |
| 16[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
| 17[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 17What I am saying in this matter of boasting, I don't speak as the Lord would, but as it were, foolishly. |
| 18[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 18Since many boast according to the flesh, I will also boast. |
| 19[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 19For you, being so wise, gladly put up with fools! |
| 20[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 20In fact, you put up with it if someone enslaves you, if someone exploits you, if someone takes advantage of you, if someone is arrogant toward you, if someone slaps you in the face. |
| 21[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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: |
| 22[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 22Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the descendants of Abraham? So am I. |
| 23[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
| 24[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 24Five times I received the forty lashes minus one from the Jews. |
| 25[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 25Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I received a stoning. Three times I was shipwrecked. I have spent a night and a day in the open sea. |
| 26[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 26On frequent journeys, I faced dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own people, dangers from Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, and dangers among false brothers; |
| 27[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 27toil and hardship, many sleepless nights, hunger and thirst, often without food, cold, and without clothing. |
| 28[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 28Not to mention other things, there is the daily pressure on me: my concern for all the churches. |
| 29[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 29Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation? |
| 30[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 30If boasting is necessary, I will boast about my weaknesses. |
| 31[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 31The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is blessed forever, knows I am not lying. |
| 32[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 32In Damascus, a ruler under King Aretas guarded the city of Damascus in order to arrest me. |
| 33[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 33So I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped from his hands. |
| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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