Study Desk

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.

What I say in this matter^[f] of boasting, I don't speak as the Lord would, but foolishly.

Since many boast in an unspiritual way,^[g] I will also boast.

For you, being so wise, gladly put up with fools!^(w)

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.

I say this to our shame: We have been weak. But in whatever anyone dares to boast—I am talking foolishly—I also dare:

Are they Hebrews?^(z) So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham?^(aa) So am I.

Are they servants of Christ? I'm talking like a madman—I'm a better one: with far more labors, many more imprisonments, far worse beatings, near death^[h] many times.

Five times I received 39 lashes from Jews.^(ab)

Three times I was beaten with rods by the Romans.^(ac) Once I was stoned by my enemies.^[i](ad) Three times I was shipwrecked.^(ae) I have spent a night and a day in the open sea.

On frequent journeys, I faced dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers,^(af) dangers from my own people,^(ag) dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the open country, dangers on the sea, and dangers among false brothers;

labor and hardship, many sleepless nights, hunger and thirst, often without food, cold, and lacking clothing.^(ah)

Not to mention^[j] other things, there is the daily pressure on me: my care for all the churches.

Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble,^(ai) and I do not burn with indignation?

If boasting is necessary, I will boast about my weaknesses.

The God and Father^(aj) of the Lord Jesus, who is praised forever, knows I am not lying.

In Damascus,^(ak) the governor under King Aretas^[k] guarded the city of the Damascenes in order to arrest me,

so I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his hands.^(al)