2 Corinthians 11

CHAPTER 11

Paul's Motives Defended

1I would you endure me a little   folly; or even endure me. 2For I am zealous for you with  zeal of God. For I suited you to one husband [²virgin ¹as a pure] to present to the Christ. 3But I fear, perhaps as the serpent cheated Eve in   his cleverness, so [²should be corrupted   ¹your thoughts] from the simplicity, of the one in the Christ. 4For if indeed the one coming [²another ³Jesus ¹to proclaim] whom we did not proclaim; or [³spirit ²another ¹you received] which you did not receive from us; or [²good news ¹another] which you did not receive -- well you withhold from it. 5For I consider in nothing to be lacking of the more exceeding apostles. 6And if even I be a common person in the communication, but I am  not in the knowledge; but I am  in every way making manifest in all things  to you. 7Or [²sin ¹did I commit], [²myself ¹humbling], that you should be exalted? that without charge [²the   ³good news of God ¹I announced good news] to you. 8Other assemblies I robbed, taking a ration for   your service; 9and being at hand with you, and being lacking, I was not lax of anyone.   For my deficiency [³filled up in addition ¹the ²brethren], having come from Macedonia; and in everything [³easy ⁴to you ²myself ¹I kept], and I will keep it so. 10It is the truth of Christ in me, that   this boasting shall not be shut up in me in the regions   of Achaia. 11Why? because I do not love you?   God knows. 12But what I do, also I shall do, that I should cut off the opportunity of the ones wanting an opportunity, that in what they boast, they should be found as also we. 13  For such ones are false apostles, [²workers ¹deceitful], changing appearance into apostles of Christ. 14For it is not surprising [³himself ¹for   ²Satan] to change appearance into an angel of light. 15It is not a great thing  then if even   his servants change appearance as servants of righteousness; whom the end will be according to   their works. 16Again I say, no one should assume me to be a fool; but if not indeed, if as a fool receive me! that some a little I also should boast. 17What I speak, I do not speak according to the Lord, but as in folly, in this   essence   of boasting. 18Since many boast according to the flesh, also I shall boast. 19For with pleasure you endure   fools, being practical. 20For you endure if anyone reduce you to slavery, if anyone devours, if anyone takes, if anyone lifts up himself, if anyone [²you ³in ⁴the face ¹flays]. 21According to dishonor I speak, as that we were weak. [²in ³which ⁴ever ¹But] anyone should be daring, (in folly I speak) [²am daring ¹I also]. 22They are Hebrews, I also. They are Israelites, I also. [²seed ³of Abraham ¹They are], I also. 23[²servants ³of Christ ¹They are], (ranting I speak), above measure, I also  in toils -- more exceedingly; in beatings -- above measure; in imprisonments -- more exceedingly; in deaths -- often. 24By the Jews five times [²forty strokes  ³save ⁴one ¹I received]. 25Three times I was beaten with a rod; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; night and day in the deep I have spent; 26in journeys often; in dangers of rivers; in dangers of robbers; in dangers from my race; in dangers from nations; in dangers in the city; in dangers in desolate places; in dangers in the sea; in dangers among false brethren; 27in toil and trouble; in sleeplessnesses often; in hunger and thirst; in fastings often; in chilliness and nakedness. 28Separate from the things  outwardly, there is the conspiring against me in the daily   anxiety concerning all the assemblies. 29Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is stumbled, and I am not on fire? 30If [²boast ¹I must], [²in the things    ³of my weakness ¹I will boast]. 31The God and father of the Lord Jesus Christ knows, the one being blessed into the eons, that I do not lie. 32In Damascus the ethnarch of Aretas the king guarded the city of the Damascenes, [²to lay hold ³of me ¹wanting]; 33and through a window in a cord basket I was let down through the wall, and I fled from   his hands.