2 Corinthians 11
The apostle Paul expresses his concern that the Corinthian church may be swayed by false teachers who preach a different Jesus or gospel. He defends his own ministry and credentials, stating that he is not inferior to other apostles, despite being "rude in speech." Paul also explains that he has supported himself financially while ministering to the Corinthians, and has not been a burden to them. He lists his many hardships and sufferings as proof of his devotion to Christ and his ministry.
1Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.2For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.3But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.4For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.5For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.6But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things.7Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?8I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.9And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.10As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.11Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth.12But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.13For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.14And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.15Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.16I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little.17That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.18Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.19For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.20For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face.21I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.22Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.23Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.24Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.25Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;26In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;27In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.28Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.29Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?30If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.31The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.32In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:33And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.
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