Bible Reading Plan

2 Corinthians 11

Chapter 11

Paul and the False Apostles

¹ I wish you would put up with a little foolishness^(a) from me. Yes, do put up with me.^{[a] 2} For I am jealous^(b) over you with a godly jealousy,^(c) because I have promised you in marriage to one husband—to present a pure^(d) virgin to Christ. ³ But I fear that, as the serpent^(e) deceived^(f) Eve^(g) by his cunning, your minds may be seduced from a complete and pure^[b] devotion to Christ.^{(h) 4} For if a person comes and preaches another Jesus,⁽ⁱ⁾ whom we did not preach, or you receive a different spirit,^(j) which you had not received, or a different gospel,^(k) which you had not accepted, you put up with it splendidly!

⁵ Now I consider myself in no way inferior to the "super-apostles."^{(l) 6} Though untrained in public speaking,^(m) I am certainly not untrained in knowledge.⁽ⁿ⁾ Indeed, we have always made that clear to you in everything. ⁷ Or did I commit a sin by humbling^(o) myself so that you might be exalted,^(p) because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge?^{(q) 8} I robbed other churches by taking pay from them to minister to you. ⁹ When I was present with you and in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia^(r) supplied my needs.^(s) I have kept myself, and will keep myself, from burdening you in any way. ¹⁰ As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be stopped^[c] in the regions of Achaia.^{(t) 11} Why? Because I don't love you? God knows I do!

¹² But I will continue to do what I am doing, in order to deny^[d] the opportunity of those who want an opportunity to be regarded just as our equals in what they boast about. ¹³ For such people are false apostles,^(u) deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. ¹⁴ And no wonder! For Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. ¹⁵ So it is no great thing if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their destiny^[e] will be according to their works.^(v)

Paul's Sufferings for Christ

¹⁶ I repeat: No one should consider me a fool. But if you do, at least accept me as a fool, so I too may boast a little. ¹⁷ What I say in this matter^[f] of boasting, I don't speak as the Lord would, but foolishly. ¹⁸ Since many boast in an unspiritual way,^[g] I will also boast. ¹⁹ For you, being so wise, gladly put up with fools!^{(w) 20} In fact, you put up with it if someone enslaves you, if someone devours^(x) you, if someone captures you, if someone dominates you, or if someone hits^(y) you in the face. ²¹ I say this to our shame: We have been weak.

But in whatever anyone dares to boast—I am talking foolishly—I also dare:

²⁸ Not to mention^[j] other things, there is the daily pressure on me: my care for all the churches. ²⁹ Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble,^(ai) and I do not burn with indignation? ³⁰ If boasting is necessary, I will boast about my weaknesses. ³¹ The God and Father^(aj) of the Lord Jesus, who is praised forever, knows I am not lying. ³² In Damascus,^(ak) the governor under King Aretas^[k] guarded the city of the Damascenes in order to arrest me, ³³ so I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his hands.^(al)