11 I want you to put up with me in a little foolishness, and indeed you are putting up with me! 2 For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy, because I promised you in marriage to one husband, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to the Messiah. [1131]  3 But I am nervous that, just as the serpent[1132] deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds might be corrupted from a sincere and pure commitment to the Messiah.  4 For if one comes and preaches another Jesus, different from the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different Gospel[1133] from the one you believed, you are putting up with it beautifully!  5 For I consider myself not at all inferior to those very superior “apostles” of yours!  6 Even if I am unskilled in speaking, I am not unskilled in knowledge. In fact, in every way we have made this clear to you in all things.
    7 Or was it wrong to humble myself with manual labor so that you might be exalted, because I preached God’s Gospel[1134] to you at no charge?  8 I “robbed” other churches by taking wages from them so that I might serve you free of charge!  9 When I was present with you and I was in need, I was not a burden to anyone, because the brothers, when they came from Macedonia, supplied my needs fully. In everything I kept myself from being a burden to you, and I will continue to do so.  10 As the truth of Messiah is in me, no one will keep me from this boast in all of Achaia!  11 Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!
    12 And I will continue to do what I am doing, so that I may cut off any opportunity from those who desire to boast that they are our equals.  13 For such people are in fact false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as Apostles of Messiah.  14 This is hardly surprising, as even Satan camouflages himself as an angel of light.  15 So it is no surprise that his servants also camouflage themselves as servants of what is right. But their end will fit their actions. [1135]
    16 I will say again, let no one think me foolish; but if you do, at least receive me as foolish so that I may boast a little.  17 What I am saying I am not saying as the lord would, but as in foolishness, in this boastful state.  18 Since many boast according to human standards, I will also boast.  19 For you, being so wise, put up with fools gladly! 20 For you put up with anyone who puts you into bondage, preys on you, takes advantage of you, exalts himself, or slaps you in the face.
    21 I admit to my disgrace that we have been “weak” by comparison! Yet in whatever way anyone is bold (I speak in foolishness of course), I am just as bold. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.  23 Are they servants of the Messiah? (I am speaking like a crazy person!) I am more so: with greater labors, in prisons more often, with beatings beyond number, often in danger of death.  24 Five times I received the forty lashes minus one from the Jews. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked. I have spent a night and day in the ocean. 26 In my many journeys I have been in danger from rivers, from robbers, from my countrymen, from the Gentiles; dangers in the city, in the desert, on the sea, from false brothers. 27 I have faced labor and struggles, often without sleep, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and without enough clothing to keep me warm. 28 Besides all these outward things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak without me being weak? Who is caused to stumble without me burning with indignation?
    30 If I must boast I will boast in my weakness. 31 The God and Father of the lord Jesus, the One who is blessed for all ages,[1136] knows that I am not lying. 32 While I was in Damascus, the governor under King Aretas had the city guarded in order to arrest me. 33 But I was let down in a basket from a window in the city wall, and so I escaped.