2 Corinthians 11:5–29

⁵I think that I am not in the least inferior to these super-apostles.^{* 6}Even if I am untrained in speech, I certainly am not with respect to knowledge; certainly in every way and in all things we have made this evident to you.^*

⁷Did I commit a sin by humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I proclaimed God’s good news^b to you free of charge?^{* 8}I robbed other churches by accepting support from them in order to serve you. ⁹And when I was with you and was in need, I did not burden anyone, for my needs were supplied by the brothers who came from Macedonia. So I refrained and will continue to refrain from burdening you in any way.^{* 10}As the truth of Christ is in me, this boast of mine will not be silenced in the regions of Achaia.^{* 11}And why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!^*

¹²And what I do I will also continue to do, in order to deny an opportunity to those who want an opportunity to be recognized as our equals in what they boast about. ¹³For such boasters are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.^{* 14}And no wonder! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. ¹⁵So it is not strange if his ministers also disguise themselves as ministers of righteousness. Their end will match their deeds.^*

Paul’s Sufferings as an Apostle

¹⁶I repeat, let no one think that I am a fool, but if you do, then accept me as a fool, so that I, too, may boast a little. ¹⁷What I am saying in regard to this boastful undertaking, I am saying not with the Lord’s authority but as a fool;^{* 18}since many boast according to human standards,^c I will also boast. ¹⁹For you gladly put up with fools, being wise yourselves! ²⁰For you put up with it when someone makes slaves of you or preys upon you or takes advantage of you or puts on airs or gives you a slap in the face. ²¹To my shame, I must say, we were too weak for that!

But whatever anyone dares to boast of—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast of that.^{* 22}Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.^{* 23}Are they ministers of Christ? I am talking like a madman—I am a better one: with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless floggings, and often near death.^{* 24}Five times I have received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.^{* 25}Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I received a stoning. Three times I was shipwrecked; for a night and a day I was adrift at sea;^{* 26}on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from bandits, danger from my own people, danger from gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers and sisters;^{* 27}in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, hungry and thirsty, often without food,^d cold and naked.^{* 28}And, besides other things, I am under daily pressure because of my anxiety for all the churches. ²⁹Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I am not indignant?^*