| 1 | I wish you would bear with me while I indulge in a little [so-called] foolishness. Do bear with me! |
| 2 | For I am
[a]zealous for you with a godly eagerness
and
a divine jealousy, for I have betrothed you to one Husband, to present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. |
| 3 | But [now] I am fearful, lest that even as the serpent beguiled Eve by his cunning, so your minds may be corrupted
and
seduced from wholehearted
and
sincere
and
pure devotion to Christ. |
| 4 | For [you seem readily to endure it] if a man comes and preaches another Jesus than the One we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the [Spirit] you [once] received or a different gospel from the one you [then] received
and
welcomed; you tolerate [all that] well enough! |
| 5 | Yet I consider myself as in no way inferior to these [precious]
[b]extra-super [false] apostles. |
| 6 | But even if [I am] unskilled in speaking, yet [I am] not [unskilled] in knowledge [I know what I am talking about]; we have made this evident to you in all things. |
| 7 | But did I perhaps make a mistake
and
do you a wrong in debasing
and
cheapening myself so that you might be exalted
and
enriched in dignity
and
honor
and
happiness by preaching God’s Gospel without expense to you? |
| 8 | Other churches I have robbed by accepting [more than their share of] support for my ministry [from them in order] to serve you. |
| 9 | And when I was with you and ran short financially, I did not burden any [of you], for what I lacked was abundantly made up by the brethren who came from Macedonia. So I kept myself from being burdensome to you in any way, and will continue to keep [myself from being so]. |
| 10 | As the truth of Christ is in me, this my boast [of independence] shall not be debarred (silenced or checked) in the regions of Achaia (most of Greece). |
| 11 | And why? Because I do not love you [do not have a preference for you, wish you well, and regard your welfare]? God perceives
and
knows that I do! |
| 12 | But what I do, I will continue to do, [for I am determined to maintain this independence] in order to cut off the claim of those who would like [to find an occasion and incentive] to claim that in their boasted [mission] they work on the same terms that we do. |
| 13 | For such men are false apostles [spurious, counterfeits], deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles (special messengers) of Christ (the Messiah). |
| 14 | And it is no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light; |
| 15 | So it is not surprising if his servants also masquerade as ministers of righteousness. [But] their end will correspond with their deeds. |
| 16 | I repeat then, let no one think I have lost my wits; but even if you do, then bear with a witless man, so that I too may boast a little. |
| 17 | What I say by way of this confident boasting, I say not with the Lord’s authority [by inspiration] but, as it were, in pure witlessness. |
| 18 | [For] since many boast of worldly things
and
according to the flesh, I will glory (boast) also. |
| 19 | For you readily
and
gladly bear with the foolish, since you are so smart
and
wise yourselves! |
| 20 | For you endure it if a man assumes control of your souls
and
makes slaves of you, or devours [your substance, spends your money]
and
preys upon you, or deceives
and
takes advantage of you, or is arrogant
and
puts on airs, or strikes you in the face. |
| 21 | To my discredit, I must say, we have shown ourselves too weak [for you to show such tolerance of us and for us to do strong, courageous things like that to you]! But in whatever any person is bold
and
dares [to boast]—mind you, I am speaking in this foolish (witless) way—I also am bold
and
dare [to boast]. |
| 22 | They are Hebrews? So am I! They are Israelites? So am I! They are descendants of Abraham? So am I! |
| 23 | Are they [ministering] servants of Christ (the Messiah)? I am talking like one beside himself, [but] I am more, with far more extensive
and
abundant labors, with far more imprisonments, [beaten] with countless stripes, and frequently [at the point of] death. |
| 24 | Five times I received from [the hands of] the Jews forty [lashes all] but one; |
| 25 | Three times I have been beaten with rods; once I was stoned. Three times I have been aboard a ship wrecked at sea; a [whole] night and a day I have spent [adrift] on the deep; |
| 26 | Many times on journeys, [exposed to] perils from rivers, perils from bandits, perils from [my own] nation, perils from the Gentiles, perils in the city, perils in the desert places, perils in the sea, perils from those posing as believers [but destitute of Christian knowledge and piety]; |
| 27 | In toil and hardship, watching often [through sleepless nights], in hunger and thirst, frequently driven to fasting by want, in cold and exposure
and
lack of clothing. |
| 28 | And besides those things that are without, there is the daily [inescapable pressure] of my care
and
anxiety for all the churches! |
| 29 | Who is weak, and I do not feel [his] weakness? Who is made to stumble
and
fall
and
have his faith hurt, and I am not on fire [with sorrow or indignation]? |
| 30 | If I must boast, I will boast of the things that [show] my infirmity [of the things by which I am made weak and contemptible in the eyes of my opponents]. |
| 31 | The God and Father of the Lord Jesus
Christ
knows, He Who is blessed
and
to be praised forevermore, that I do not lie. |
| 32 | In Damascus, the city governor acting under King Aretas guarded the city of Damascus [on purpose] to arrest me, |
| 33 | And I was [actually] let down in a [rope] basket
or
hamper through a window (a small door) in the wall, and I escaped through his fingers. |
Cross references:
-
2 Corinthians 11:2 : Hos. 2:19, 20.
-
2 Corinthians 11:3 : Gen. 3:4.
-
2 Corinthians 11:24 : Deut. 25:3.
|