1I wish you would tolerate a little foolishness from me. Actually, you do tolerate me.
2For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, Christ, to present you to him as a pure virgin.
3But I am afraid that just as the serpent tricked Eve with his cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
4For if someone comes and preaches a different Jesus from the one we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different good news from the one you accepted, you put up with it well enough.
5I don't think I am in any way inferior to these "super apostles."
6Even if I am unskilled in speaking, I am certainly not unskilled in knowledge. We have made this clear to you in every way.
7Was it a sin for me to humble myself so that you could be honored, because I preached God's Good News to you for free?
8I took money from other churches, accepting payment from them so I could serve you.
9When I was with you and in need, I didn't burden anyone. The brothers who came from Macedonia supplied everything I needed. In every situation, I kept myself from being a burden to you, and I will continue to do so.
10As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, no one will stop me from boasting about this in the regions of Achaia.
11Why? Is it because I don't love you? God knows I do.
12But what I am doing, I will continue to do. This will prevent those who are looking for a chance to boast from claiming they are just like us.
13Such people are false apostles, dishonest workers who pretend to be apostles of Christ.
14And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
15So it's not surprising if his servants also pretend to be servants of righteousness. Their end will be determined by what they have done.
16I repeat: don't think I'm a fool. But even if you do, accept me as a fool so I can boast a little.
17What I am about to say is not in line with the Lord's teaching, but rather like a foolish person confidently boasting.
18Since many others are boasting about their human achievements, I will boast as well.
19For you, being so wise, gladly tolerate fools.
20You put up with someone if he enslaves you, devours your possessions, takes advantage of you, acts superior, or even strikes you in the face.
21I speak as if we were weak, which is an insult. But whatever anyone else dares to boast about (I'm speaking foolishly), I also dare to boast about.
22Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham's descendants? So am I.
23Are they servants of Christ? (I'm speaking like a madman) I am even more so! I have worked harder, been in prison more often, received countless beatings, and faced death many times.
24Five times the Jews gave me thirty-nine lashes.
25Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was pelted with stones. Three times I was shipwrecked, and once I spent a whole night and day adrift in the open sea.
26I have traveled constantly, facing dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own people, dangers from Gentiles, dangers in cities, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, and dangers from false believers;
27I have toiled and labored, often without sleep, in hunger and thirst, often without food, and in cold and exposure.
28Besides these external troubles, I am daily burdened with concerns for all the churches.
29If someone is weak, don't I feel weak with them? If someone is led into sin, don't I burn with anger?
30If I must boast, I will boast about the things that show my weakness.
31The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ—who is forever praised—knows that I am not lying.
32In Damascus, the governor under King Aretas had the city of Damascus guarded to arrest me.
33I was lowered in a basket through a window in the city wall and escaped from him.