A godly jealousy

1I could wish that you would put up with a little of my foolishness, but indeed you already are.

2For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy, because I betrothed you to one man to present you to Christ as a pure virgin.

3But I am afraid that somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve with his cunning, so your minds may be corrupted ¹¹⁸from the integrity that is in Christ.

4For if someone comes and preaches another ‘Jesus’ whom we did not preach, or you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you easily put up with it. ¹¹⁹

Paul ministered without charge

5Now I consider that I am not at all inferior to the very best apostles.

6Though I may not be a trained speaker, I do have knowledge—but we have been fully manifested to you in all things.

7Or did I commit a sin in humbling self so that you might be exalted, in that I proclaimed God's Gospel to you free of charge?

8I ‘robbed’ other congregations, receiving support from them so as to serve you,

9and when I was with you and in need, I did not burden anyone; because the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my need. Yes, I kept myself from being a burden to you in anything, and will keep on.

Exposing deceivers

10The truth of Christ is in me: this boasting will not be silenced in me in the regions of Achaia.

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

12Further, I will keep on doing what I do in order to cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things of which they boast.

13Such men are really false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into ‘apostles’ of Christ. ¹²⁰

14And no wonder, because Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.

15So it is no great thing if his servants also masquerade as ministers of righteousness, ¹²¹whose end will be according to their works.

A little ‘necessary’ boasting

16Again I say, let no one think me a fool. But should anyone do so, at least receive me as a fool, that I also may boast a little bit.

17What I am going to say I do not say according to the Lord, but as though foolishly, ¹²²in this confident boasting.

18Since many are boasting according to the flesh, I will too

19(for you put up with fools gladly, being so wise yourselves!).

20In fact, you even put up with someone who enslaves you, who ‘devours’ you, who takes advantage, who exalts himself, who beats on your face! ¹²³

21Is it disrespectful to say that we were ‘weak’? ¹²⁴In whatever anyone is bold (I speak foolishly), I am bold also.

22Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.

23Are they ministers of Christ? (I'm being irrational) I am more: in labors more abundantly, in beatings beyond count, in prison more frequently, in ‘deaths’ often ¹²⁵—

24five times from the Jews I received the ‘forty lashes minus one’; ¹²⁶

25three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked (I spent twenty-four hours in the open sea)—

26in frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, in danger from robbers, in danger from my countrymen, in danger from Gentiles, in danger in cities, in danger in wildernesses, in danger in the sea, in danger among false brothers;

27in toil and hardship, in many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, in frequent fastings, in cold and nakedness ¹²⁷—

28quite apart from the other things, my daily disturbances, my concern for all the congregations.

29Who is weak, and I do not feel it? Who is caused to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?

When I am weak, then I am strong

30Well, if I must boast, I will boast of the things that concern my weakness.

31The God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, ¹²⁸who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.

32In Damascus the governor under King Aretas was guarding the city of the Damascenes, wanting to arrest me;

33but I was lowered in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped from his hands. ¹²⁹