2 Corinthians 11

Paul and the “Super-Apostles”

1I wish you would bear with me in a little foolishness. Indeed, do bear with me. 2For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.

3But I am afraid that just as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts may be led astray from sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or you receive a different spirit than the one you received, or a different good news than the one you accepted—you put up with it readily enough.

5For I consider that I am not in the least inferior to these “super-apostles.” 6Even if I am unskilled in speech, I am not so in knowledge; indeed, in every way we have made this plain to you in all things.

Paul’s Refusal of Support

7Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I proclaimed the good news of God to you free of charge? 8I robbed other churches, taking wages from them in order to serve you.

9And when I was with you and was in need, I did not burden anyone; for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my need. So I kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so. 10As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting will not be silenced in the regions of Achaia. 11And why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do.

12And what I am doing I will continue to do, so that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in what they boast about.

False Apostles

13For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15So it is no great thing if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.

Paul’s Boasting in Weakness

16I repeat, let no one think me foolish; but if you do, then accept me as foolish, so that I too may boast a little. 17What I am saying in this boastful confidence, I say not according to the Lord, but as in foolishness. 18Since many boast according to the flesh, I too will boast.

19For you gladly bear with fools, being wise yourselves. 20For you bear it if someone enslaves you, devours you, takes advantage of you, exalts himself, or strikes you in the face. 21To my shame, I must say, we were too weak for that!

22Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they offspring of Abraham? So am I. 23Are they servants of Christ? I am speaking as one beside himself—I more so: in labors more abundant, in imprisonments more frequent, in beatings beyond measure, in deaths often.

24Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26in journeys often, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own people, dangers from Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, dangers among false brothers;

27in toil and hardship, in sleepless nights often, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28And apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my concern for all the churches.

29Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is caused to stumble, and I am not inflamed? 30If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 31The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.

32In Damascus, the governor under King Aretas was guarding the city of the Damascenes in order to seize me, 33but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his hands.