2 Corinthians 11:5–29

⁵For I reckon that in nothing I am behind those who are in surpassing degree apostles. ⁶But if I am a simple person in speech, yet not in knowledge, but in everything making the truth manifest in all things to you. ⁷Have I committed sin, abasing myself in order that ye might be exalted, because I gratuitously announced to you the glad tidings of God? ⁸I spoiled other assemblies, receiving hire for ministry towards you. ⁹And being present with you and lacking, I did not lazily burden any one, (for the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied what I lacked,) and in everything I kept myself from being a burden to you, and will keep myself. ¹⁰The truth of Christ is in me that this boasting shall not be stopped as to me in the regions of Achaia. ¹¹Why? because I do not love you? God knows. ¹²But what I do, I will also do, that I may cut off the opportunity of those wishing for an opportunity, that wherein they boast they may be found even as we. ¹³For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. ¹⁴And it is not wonderful, for Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. ¹⁵It is no great thing therefore if his ministers also transform themselves as ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

¹⁶Again I say, Let not any one think me to be a fool; but if otherwise, receive me then even as a fool, that I also may boast myself some little. ¹⁷What I speak I do not speak according to the Lord, but as in folly, in this confidence of boasting. ¹⁸Since many boast according to flesh, I also will boast. ¹⁹For ye bear fools readily, being wise. ²⁰For ye bear if any one bring you into bondage, if any one devour you, if any one get your money, if any one exalt himself, if any one beat you on the face. ²¹I speak as to dishonour, as though we had been weak; but wherein any one is daring, (I speak in folly,) I also am daring.

²²Are they Hebrews? I also. Are they Israelites? I also. Are they seed of Abraham? I also. ²³Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as being beside myself) I above measure so; in labours exceedingly abundant, in stripes to excess, in prisons exceedingly abundant, in deaths oft. ²⁴From the Jews five times have I received forty stripes, save one. ²⁵Thrice have I been scourged, once I have been stoned, three times I have suffered shipwreck, a night and day I passed in the deep: ²⁶in journeyings often, in perils of rivers, in perils of robbers, in perils from my own race, in perils from the nations, in perils in the city, in perils in the desert, in perils on the sea, in perils among false brethren; ²⁷in labour and toil, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. ²⁸Besides those things that are without, the crowd of cares pressing on me daily, the burden of all the assemblies. ²⁹Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is stumbled, and I burn not?