Paul and His Opponents

11:1 I wish that you would be patient with me in a little foolishness, but indeed you are being patient with me! 11:2 For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy, because I promised you in marriage to one husband,1 to present you as a pure2 virgin to Christ. 11:3 But I am afraid that3 just as the serpent4 deceived Eve by his treachery,5 your minds may be led astray6 from a sincere and pure7 devotion to Christ. 11:4 For if someone comes and proclaims8 another Jesus different from the one we proclaimed,9 or if you receive a different spirit than the one you received,10 or a different gospel than the one you accepted,11 you put up with it well enough!12 11:5 For I consider myself not at all inferior to those “super-apostles.”13 11:6 And even if I am unskilled14 in speaking, yet I am certainly not so in knowledge. Indeed, we have made this plain to you in everything in every way. 11:7 Or did I commit a sin by humbling myself15 so that you could be exalted, because I proclaimed16 the gospel of God to you free of charge? 11:8 I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so that I could serve you!17 11:9 When18 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.19 I20 kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so. 11:10 As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine21 will not be stopped22 in the regions of Achaia. 11:11 Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!23 11:12 And 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 equals24 in the things they boast about. 11:13 For such people are false apostles, deceitful25 workers, disguising themselves26 as apostles of Christ. 11:14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself27 as an angel of light. 11:15 Therefore it is not surprising his servants also disguise themselves28 as servants of righteousness, whose end will correspond to their actions.29