2 Corinthians 11:1-15 ▼

1 I WISH you to be patient with me for a while, so that I may speak plainly, and I am sure you will be.

2 For I am zealous for you with the zealousness of God, for I have espoused you to a husband, that I may present you as a pure virgin to Christ.

3 But I am afraid, that just as the serpent through his deceitfulness misled Eve, so your minds should be corrupted from the sincerity that is in Christ.

4 For if he who has come to you preaches another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if you have received another spirit, which you had not received, or another gospel which you had not accepted, you might well listen to him.

5 For I think that I am not in the least inferior to the most distinguished apostles.

6 But though I am a poor speaker, I am not poor in knowledge; but we have been thoroughly made manifest among you in all things.

7 Probably I have acted foolishly in humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached to you the gospel of God freely.

8 I deprived other churches, taking supplies from them, in order to minister to you.

9 And when I came to you and was in need, I did not burden any of you for my wants were supplied by the brethren who came from Mac-e-do’ni-a : I have taken care of myself in every way and I will so continue to keep myself that I will not be a burden to you.

10 As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of A-cha’ia.

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

12 But what I do, I will continue to do, so as to give no occasion to those who seek an occasion; and that, in whatever they boast, they may not be found equal to us;

13 For they are false apostles, and deceitful workers, posing as apostles of Christ.

14 There is no marvel in this; for if Satan disguises himself as the angel of light,

15 It is no great thing if his ministers also pose as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.