2Corinthians:11

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* I wish you would put up with a little foolishness of mine . Yes , do put up with me ! * I am jealous of you with God 's own jealousy , because I promised you in marriage to one husband , to present you as a pure virgin to Christ . * However , I am afraid that just as the serpent deceived Eve by its tricks , so your minds may somehow be lured away from sincere and pure devotion to Christ . * For if someone comes along and preaches another Jesus than the one we preached , or should you receive a different spirit from the one you received or a different gospel from the one you accepted , you are all too willing to listen . * I do not think I 'm inferior in any way to those “super-apostles .” * Even though I may be untrained as an orator , I am not so in the field of knowledge . We have made this clear to all of you in every possible way . * Did I commit a sin when I humbled myself by proclaiming to you the gospel of God free of charge , so that you could be exalted ? * I robbed other churches by accepting support from them in order to serve you . * When I was with you and needed something , I did not bother any of you , because our brothers who came from Macedonia supplied everything I needed . I kept myself from being a burden to you in any way , and I will continue to do so . * As surely as the truth of Christ is in me , my boasting will not be silenced in the regions of Achaia . * Why ? Because I do not love you ? God knows that I do ! * But I will go on doing what I 'm doing in order to deny an opportunity to those people who want an opportunity to be recognized as our equals in the work they are boasting about . * Such people are false apostles , dishonest workers who are masquerading as apostles of Christ . * And no wonder , since Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light . * So it is not surprising if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness . Their doom will match their deeds ! * I will say it again : No one should think that I am a fool . But if you do , then treat me like a fool so that I can also boast a little . * When I talk as a confident boaster , I am not talking with the Lord 's authority but like a fool . * Since many people boast in a fleshly way , I will do it , too . * You are wise , so you will gladly put up with fools . * You put up with anyone who makes you his slaves , devours what you have , takes what is yours , orders you around , or slaps your face ! * I am ashamed to admit it , but we have been too weak for that . Whatever anyone else dares to claim —I am talking like a fool —I can claim it , too . * Are they Hebrews ? So am I . Are they Israelites ? So am I . Are they Abraham 's descendants ? So am I . * Are they Christ 's servants ? I am insane to talk like this , but I am a far better one ! I have been involved in far greater efforts , far more imprisonments , countless beatings , and have faced death more than once . * Five times I received from the Jews forty lashes minus one . * Three times I was beaten with a stick , once I was pelted with stones , three times I was shipwrecked , and I drifted on the sea for a day and a night . * I have been involved in frequent journeys , in dangers from rivers , dangers from robbers , dangers from my own people , dangers from the Gentiles , dangers in the city , dangers in the open country , dangers at sea , dangers from false brothers , * in toil and hardship , through many a sleepless night , through hunger and thirst , through many periods of fasting , through coldness and nakedness . * Besides everything else , I have a daily burden because of my anxiety about all the churches . * Who is weak without me being weak , too ? Who is caused to stumble without me becoming indignant ? * If I must boast , I will boast about the things that show how weak I am . * The God and Father of the Lord Jesus , who is blessed forever , knows that I am not lying . * In Damascus , the governor under King Aretas put guards around the city of Damascus to catch me , * but I was let down in a basket through an opening in the wall and escaped from his hands .

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