Paul's Concern for the Corinthians

1I wish that you 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 cunning, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

4For if he that comes preaches another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if you receive another spirit, which you have not received, or another gospel, which you have not accepted, you might well bear with him.

Paul Is Not Behind the Chief Apostles

5For I suppose I was not the least behind the very chief apostles.

6But though I be unskilled in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been thoroughly made manifest among you in all things.

7Have I committed an offense in humbling myself that you 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 in want, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren who 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.

11Why? because I love you not? God knows.

12But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them who desire occasion; that when 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.

Paul's Boasting About Suffering

16I say again, Let no man think me foolish; but if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little.

17That which I speak, I speak it not according to the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.

18Seeing that many boast after the flesh, I will boast also.

19For you put up with fools gladly, seeing you yourselves are wise.

20For you permit it, if a man brings you into bondage, if a man devours you, if a man takes of you, if a man exalts himself, if a man smites you on the face.

21I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. But in whatsoever way 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 descendants of Abraham? so am I.

23Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labors more abundant, in stripes beyond measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths often.

24Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes less one.

25Three times was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, three times I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

26In journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by my own countrymen, in perils by the Gentiles, 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.

28Besides those things that are outside, that which comes 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 boast, I will boast of the things which concern my weaknesses.

31The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forevermore, knows that I lie not.

32In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king guarded the city of Damascus 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.