2 Corinthians 11 - Amplified Bible(AMP)

Paul Defends His Apostleship

1I wish you would bear with me in a little foolishness; but indeed you are bearing with me.

2I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy because I have promised you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.

3But I am afraid that, even as the serpent beguiled Eve by his cunning, your minds may be corrupted and led away from the simplicity of pure devotion to Christ.

4For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted. You tolerate all this beautifully.

5Yet I consider myself in no way inferior to the super-apostles.

6But even if I am unskilled in speaking, yet I am not in knowledge; but we have made this evident to you in every way, in all things.

7Or did I sin by humbling myself so that you might be exalted and honored, because I preached God’s gospel to you free of charge?

8I robbed other churches by accepting financial support for my ministry to you.

9And when I was with you and ran short, I did not burden any of you; for what I needed was fully supplied by the brothers (Silas and Timothy) who came from Macedonia (the church at Philippi). So I kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so.

10As the truth of Christ is in me, my boast will not be silenced in the regions of Achaia (southern Greece).

11Why? Because I do not love you? God knows!

12But what I am doing I will keep doing, in order to cut off the claim of those who want an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things they brag about.

13For such men are counterfeit apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.

14And no wonder, since Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.

15So it is no great surprise if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness, but their end will correspond with their deeds.

16I repeat then, let no one think that I am foolish; but even if you do, at least accept me as foolish, so that I too may boast a little.

17What I say in this confident boasting, I say not as the Lord would, but foolishly.

18Since many boast about human accomplishments, I will boast too.

19For you, being so wise, gladly tolerate and accept the foolish!

20For you tolerate it if anyone makes you his slave; or devours you and your possessions; or takes advantage of you; or acts presumptuously; or hits you in the face.

21To my shame, I must say, we have been too weak.

But in whatever anyone else dares to boast—I am speaking foolishly—I also dare to boast.

22Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.

23Are they servants of Christ?—I am speaking as if I were out of my mind—I am more so; with far more labors, with far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, and often in danger of death.

24Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes.

25Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent adrift on the sea;

26many times on journeys, danger from rivers, danger from bandits, danger from my own countrymen, danger from the Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger on the sea, danger among those posing as believers;

27in labor and hardship, often unable to sleep, in hunger and thirst, often fasting, in cold and exposure.

28Besides those external things, there is the daily pressure of my concern for all the churches.

29Who is weak, and I do not feel weakness? Who is made to sin, and I am not on fire?

30If I must boast, I will boast of the things that reveal my weakness.

31The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, He who is blessed and to be praised forevermore, knows that I am not lying.

32In Damascus the governor (ethnarch) under King Aretas guarded the city of Damascus in order to arrest me,

33and I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and slipped through his fingers.