Paul and Those Who Pretend to Be Apostles

11 I hope you will put up with a little of my foolish bragging. But you are already doing that.

2My jealousy for you comes from God himself. I promised to give you to only one husband. That husband is Christ. I wanted to be able to give you to him as if you were a pure virgin. 3But Eve was tricked by the snake’s clever lies. And I’m afraid that in the same way your minds will somehow be led down the wrong path. They will be led away from your true and pure love for Christ.

4Suppose someone comes to you and preaches about a Jesus different from the Jesus we preached about. Or suppose you receive a spirit different from the one you received before. Or suppose you receive a message of good news different from the one you accepted earlier. You put up with those kinds of things easily enough.

5But I don’t think I’m in any way less important than those “super-apostles.” 6I may not be a trained speaker. But I do have knowledge. I’ve made that very clear to you in every way.

7When I preached God’s good news to you free of charge, I put myself down in order to lift you up. Was that a sin? 8Did I rob other churches when I received help from them so that I could serve you? 9When I was with you and needed something, I didn’t cause you any expense. The believers who came from Macedonia gave me what I needed. I haven’t caused you any expense at all. And I won’t ever do it.

10I’m sure that the truth of Christ is in me. And I’m just as sure that nobody in Achaia will keep me from bragging. 11Why? Because I don’t love you? No! God knows I do! 12And I will keep on doing what I’m doing. That will stop those who claim they have things to brag about. They think they have a chance to be considered equal with us.

13People like that are false apostles. They work hard to trick others. They only pretend to be apostles of Christ.

14That comes as no surprise. Even Satan himself pretends to be an angel of light. 15So it doesn’t surprise us that those who serve Satan pretend to be serving God. They will finally get exactly what they should.