2 Corinthians — Chapter 11

1I hope you will put up with a little of my foolishness, but you are already doing that.

2I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. For I promised you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.

3I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ.

4For if someone comes and proclaims a Jesus other than the One we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit than the One you received, or a different gospel than the one you accepted, you put up with it very easily.

5I consider myself in no way inferior to those “super-apostles.”

6Although I am not a polished speaker, I am certainly not lacking in knowledge. We have made this clear to you in every way possible.

7Was it a sin for me to humble myself in order to exalt you, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge?

8I robbed other churches by accepting their support in order to serve you.

9And when I was with you and in need, I was not a burden to anyone; for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my needs. I have refrained from being a burden to you in any way, and I will continue to do so.

10As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be silenced in the regions of Achaia.

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

12But I will keep on doing what I am doing, in order to undercut those who want an opportunity to be regarded as our equals in the things of which they boast.

13For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.

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

15It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions.

16I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then receive me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little.

17In this confident boasting of mine, I am not speaking as the Lord would, but as a fool.

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

19For you gladly put up with fools, since you are so wise.

20In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or exalts himself or strikes you in the face.

21To my shame I concede that we were too weak for that! Speaking as a fool, however, I can match what anyone else dares to boast about.

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

23Are they servants of Christ? (I am speaking as if I were out of my mind.) I am so much more: in harder labor, in more imprisonments, in worse beatings, in frequent danger of death.

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 spent a night and a day in the open sea.

26In my frequent journeys, I have been in danger from rivers and from bandits, in danger from my countrymen and from the Gentiles, in danger in the city and in the country, in danger on the sea and among false brothers,

27in labor and toil and often without sleep, in hunger and thirst and often without food, in cold and exposure.

28Apart from these external trials, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.

29Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not burn with grief?

30If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.

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

32In Damascus, the governor under King Aretas secured the city of the Damascenes in order to arrest me.

33But I was lowered in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his grasp.

1Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.

2For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

3But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

4For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

5For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.

6But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things.

7Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?

8I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.

9And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.

10As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.

11Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth.

12But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.

13For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

14And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

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

16I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little.

17That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.

18Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.

19For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.

20For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face.

21I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.

22Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.

23Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.

24Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.

25Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

26In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in 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.

28Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

29Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?

30If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.

31The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.

32In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:

33And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.

1Would that ye could bear with me in a little foolishness: but indeed ye do bear with me.

2For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy: for I espoused you to one husband, that I might present you [as] a pure virgin to Christ.

3But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is toward Christ.

4For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or [if] ye receive a different spirit, which ye did not receive, or a different gospel, which ye did not accept, ye do well to bear with [him].

5For I reckon that I am not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.

6But though [I be] rude in speech, yet [am I] not in knowledge; nay, in every way have we made [this] manifest unto you in all things.

7Or did I commit a sin in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I preached to you the gospel of God for nought?

8I robbed other churches, taking wages [of them] that I might minister unto you;

9and when I was present with you and was in want, I was not a burden on any man; for the brethren, when they came from Macedonia, supplied the measure of my want; and in everything I kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and [so] will I keep [myself].

10As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this glorying in the regions of Achaia.

11Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth.

12But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them that desire an occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.

13For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, fashioning themselves into apostles of Christ.

14And no marvel; for even Satan fashioneth himself into an angel of light.

15It is no great thing therefore if his ministers also fashion themselves as ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works.

16I say again, let no man think me foolish; but if [ye do], yet as foolish receive me, that I also may glory a little.

17That which I speak, I speak not after the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of glorying.

18Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.

19For ye bear with the foolish gladly, being wise [yourselves].

20For ye bear with a man, if he bringeth you into bondage, if he devoureth you, if he taketh you [captive], if he exalteth himself, if he smiteth you on the face.

21I speak by way of disparagement, as though we had been weak. Yet whereinsoever any is bold (I speak in foolishness), I am bold also.

22Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.

23Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as one beside himself) I more; in labors more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in deaths oft.

24Of the Jews five times received I forty [stripes] save one.

25Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day have I been in the deep;

26[in] journeyings often, [in] perils of rivers, [in] perils of robbers, [in] perils from [my] countrymen, [in] perils from the Gentiles, [in] perils in the city, [in] perils in the wilderness, [in] perils in the sea, [in] perils among false brethren;

27[in] labor and travail, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

28Besides those things that are without, there is that which presseth upon me daily, anxiety for all the churches.

29Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is caused to stumble, and I burn not?

30If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things that concern my weakness.

31The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed for evermore knoweth that I lie not.

32In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king guarded the city of the Damascenes in order to take me:

33and through a window was I let down in a basket by the wall, and escaped his hands.

1I wish that you would be patient with me in a little foolishness, but indeed you are being patient with me!

2For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy, because I promised you in marriage to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.

3But I am afraid that just as the serpent deceived Eve by his treachery, your minds may be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

4For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus different from the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit than the one you received, or a different gospel than the one you accepted, you put up with it well enough!

5For I consider myself not at all inferior to those “super-apostles.”

6And even if I am unskilled in speaking, yet I am certainly not so in knowledge. Indeed, we have made this plain to you in everything in every way.

7Or did I commit a sin by humbling myself so that you could be exalted, because I proclaimed the gospel of God to you free of charge?

8I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so that I could serve you!

9When I was with you and was in need, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia fully supplied my needs. I kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so.

10As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be stopped in the regions of Achaia.

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

12And what I am doing I will continue to do, so that I may eliminate any opportunity for those who want a chance to be regarded as our equals in the things they boast about.

13For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.

14And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

15Therefore it is not surprising his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will correspond to their actions.

16I say again, let no one think that I am a fool. But if you do, then at least accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little.

17What I am saying with this boastful confidence I do not say the way the Lord would. Instead it is, as it were, foolishness.

18Since many are boasting according to human standards, I too will boast.

19For since you are so wise, you put up with fools gladly.

20For you put up with it if someone makes slaves of you, if someone exploits you, if someone takes advantage of you, if someone behaves arrogantly toward you, if someone strikes you in the face.

21(To my disgrace I must say that we were too weak for that!) But whatever anyone else dares to boast about (I am speaking foolishly), I also dare to boast about the same thing.

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

23Are they servants of Christ? (I am talking like I am out of my mind!) I am even more so: with much greater labors, with far more imprisonments, with more severe beatings, facing death many times.

24Five times I received from the Jews forty lashes less one.

25Three times I was beaten with a rod. Once I received a stoning. Three times I suffered shipwreck. A night and a day I spent adrift in the open sea.

26I have been on journeys many times, in dangers from rivers, in dangers from robbers, in dangers from my own countrymen, in dangers from Gentiles, in dangers in the city, in dangers in the wilderness, in dangers at sea, in dangers from false brothers,

27in hard work and toil, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, many times without food, in cold and without enough clothing.

28Apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxious concern for all the churches.

29Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not burn with indignation?

30If I must boast, I will boast about the things that show my weakness.

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

32In Damascus, the governor under King Aretas was guarding the city of Damascus in order to arrest me,

33but I was let down in a rope-basket through a window in the city wall, and escaped his hands.

1I wish that you would bear with me in a little foolishness, but indeed you do bear with me.

2For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy. For I married you to one husband, that I might present you as a pure virgin to Christ.

3But I am afraid that somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve in his craftiness, so your minds might be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

4For if he who comes preaches another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or if you receive a different spirit, which you did not receive, or a different “good news”, which you did not accept, you put up with that well enough.

5For I reckon that I am not at all behind the very best apostles.

6But though I am unskilled in speech, yet I am not unskilled in knowledge. No, in every way we have been revealed to you in all things.

7Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached to you God’s Good News free of charge?

8I robbed other assemblies, taking wages from them that I might serve you.

9When I was present with you and was in need, I wasn’t a burden on anyone, for the brothers, when they came from Macedonia, supplied the measure of my need. In everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and I will continue to do so.

10As the truth of Christ is in me, no one will stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia.

11Why? Because I don’t love you? God knows.

12But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them that desire an occasion, that in which they boast, they may be found even as we.

13For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as Christ’s apostles.

14And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light.

15It is no great thing therefore if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

16I say again, let no one think me foolish. But if so, yet receive me as foolish, that I also may boast a little.

17That which I speak, I don’t speak according to the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting.

18Seeing that many boast after the flesh, I will also boast.

19For you bear with the foolish gladly, being wise.

20For you bear with a man, if he brings you into bondage, if he devours you, if he takes you captive, if he exalts himself, if he strikes you on the face.

21I speak by way of disparagement, as though we had been weak. Yet in whatever way anyone is bold (I speak in foolishness), I am bold also.

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

23Are they servants of Christ? (I speak as one beside himself) I am more so; in labors more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in deaths often.

24Five times from the Jews I received forty stripes minus one.

25Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I suffered shipwreck. I have been a night and a day in the deep.

26I have been in travels often, perils of rivers, perils of robbers, perils from my countrymen, perils from the Gentiles, perils in the city, perils in the wilderness, perils in the sea, perils among false brothers;

27in labor and travail, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, and in cold and nakedness.

28Besides those things that are outside, there is that which presses on me daily: anxiety for all the assemblies.

29Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is caused to stumble, and I don’t burn with indignation?

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

31The God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, he who is blessed forever more, knows that I don’t lie.

32In Damascus the governor under King Aretas guarded the Damascenes’ city, desiring to arrest me.

33Through a window I was let down in a basket by the wall, and escaped his hands.