PAUL AND THE FALSE APOSTLES

11 I wish you would put up with a little foolishnessx from me. Yes, do put up with me!E 2 For I am jealousy for you with a godly jealousy,z because I have promised you in marriage to one husband—to present a pureaa virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear that, as the serpentab deceivedac Evead by his cunning, your minds may be seduced from a sincere and pureF devotion to Christ.ae 4 For if a person comes and preaches another Jesus,af whom we did not preach, or you receive a different spirit,ag which you had not received, or a different gospel,ah which you had not accepted, you put up with it splendidly!

5 Now I consider myself in no way inferior to those “super-apostles.”ai 6 Even if I am untrained in public speaking,a I am certainly not untrained in knowledge.b Indeed, we have in every way made that clear to you in everything. 7 Or did I commit a sin by humblingc myself so that you might be exalted,d because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge?e 8 I robbed other churches by taking pay from them to minister to you. 9 When I was present with you and in need, I did not burden anyone, since the brothers who came from Macedoniaf supplied my needs.g I have kept myself, and will keep myself, from burdening you in any way. 10 As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be stoppedA in the regions of Achaia.h 11 Why? Because I don’t love you? God knows I do!

12 But I will continue to do what I am doing, in order to denyB an opportunity to those who want to be regarded as our equals in what they boast about. 13 For such people are false apostles,i deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no great surprise if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will be according to their works.j