Study Desk

I wish you would put up with a little foolishness^(a) from me. Yes, do put up with me.^[a]

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.

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)

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!

Now I consider myself in no way inferior to the "super-apostles."^(l)

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.

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)

I robbed other churches by taking pay from them to minister to you.

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.

As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be stopped^[c] in the regions of Achaia.^(t)

Why? Because I don't love you? God knows I do!

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.

For such people are false apostles,^(u) deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.

And no wonder! For Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

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)

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)

Boasting is necessary. It is not profitable, but I will move on to visions^(a) and revelations^(b) of the Lord.

I know a man in Christ who was caught up^(c) into the third heaven 14 years ago. Whether he was in the body or out of the body, I don't know, God knows.

I know that this man—whether in the body or out of the body I don't know, God knows—

was caught up into paradise.^(d) He heard inexpressible words, which a man is not allowed to speak.

I will boast about this person, but not about myself, except of my weaknesses.

For if I want to boast, I will not be a fool, because I will be telling the truth.^(e) But I will spare you, so that no one can credit me with something beyond what he sees in me or hears from me,

especially because of the extraordinary revelations. Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh^(f) was given to me, a messenger^[a] of Satan^(g) to torment me so I would not exalt myself.

Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times to take it away from me.

But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power ^[b](h) is perfected in weakness." ⁽ⁱ⁾ Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may reside in me.

So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, catastrophes, persecutions, and in pressures, because of Christ.^(j) For when I am weak, then I am strong.^(k)

I have become a fool; you forced it on me. I should have been endorsed by you, since I am not in any way inferior to the "super-apostles," even though I am nothing.^(l)

The signs^(m) of an apostle⁽ⁿ⁾ were performed with great endurance among you—not only signs but also wonders^(o) and miracles.^(p)

So in what way were you treated worse than the other churches, except that I personally did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!

Now I am ready to come to you this third time.^(q) I will not burden you, for I am not seeking what is yours, but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.

I will most gladly spend and be spent for you.^[c](r) If I love you more, am I to be loved less?

Now granted, I have not burdened^(s) you; yet sly as I am, I took you in by deceit!^(t)

Did I take advantage of you by anyone I sent you?

I urged Titus^(u) to come, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Didn't we walk in the same spirit^(v) and in the same footsteps?

You have thought all along that we were defending ourselves to you.^[d] No, in the sight of God we are speaking in Christ, and everything, dear friends, is for building you up.^(w)

For I fear that perhaps when I come I will not find you to be what I want, and I may not be found by you to be what you want;^[e] there may be quarreling,^(x) jealousy,^(y) outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions,^(z) slander,^(aa) gossip, arrogance, and disorder.^(ab)

I fear that when I come my God will again^[f] humiliate me in your presence, and I will grieve for many who sinned before and have not repented^(ac) of the moral impurity, sexual immorality,^(ad) and promiscuity^(ae) they practiced.

This is the third time I am coming to you.^(a) Every fact must be established by the testimony ^[a] of two or three witnesses. ^(b)[b]

I gave a warning when I was present the second time, and now I give a warning^(c) while I am absent to those who sinned before and to all the rest: If I come again, I will not be lenient,

since you seek proof of Christ speaking in me.^(d) He is not weak toward you, but powerful among you.

In fact, He was crucified^(e) in weakness, but He lives^(f) by God's power. For we also are weak in Him,^(g) yet toward you we will live^(h) with Him by God's power.

Test⁽ⁱ⁾ yourselves to see if you are in the faith. Examine yourselves. Or do you yourselves not recognize that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless you fail the test.^[c]

And I hope you will recognize that we do not fail the test.

Now we pray to God that you do nothing wrong—not that we may appear to pass the test, but that you may do what is right,^(j) even though we may appear to fail.

For we are not able to do anything against the truth,^(k) but only for the truth.

In fact, we rejoice when we are weak and you are strong.^(l) We also pray that you become fully mature.^[d]

This is why I am writing these things while absent, that when I am there I will not use severity, in keeping with the authority the Lord gave me for building up^(m) and not for tearing down.⁽ⁿ⁾

Finally, brothers, rejoice. Become mature, be encouraged, be of the same mind,^(o) be at peace,^(p) and the God of love^(q) and peace will be with you.

Greet one another with a holy kiss.^(r) All the saints greet you.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love^(s) of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.^[e](t)

Final Warnings and Exhortations This is the third time I am coming to you.^(a) Every fact must be established by the testimony ^[a] of two or three witnesses. ^(b)[b] I gave a warning when I was present the second time, and now I give a warning^(c) while I am absent to those who sinned before and to all the rest: If I come again, I will not be lenient, since you seek proof of Christ speaking in me.^(d) He is not weak toward you, but powerful among you. In fact, He was crucified^(e) in weakness, but He lives^(f) by God's power. For we also are weak in Him,^(g) yet toward you we will live^(h) with Him by God's power. Test⁽ⁱ⁾ yourselves to see if you are in the faith. Examine yourselves. Or do you yourselves not recognize that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless you fail the test.^[c] And I hope you will recognize that we do not fail the test. Now we pray to God that you do nothing wrong—not that we may appear to pass the test, but that you may do what is right,^(j) even though we may appear to fail. For we are not able to do anything against the truth,^(k) but only for the truth. In fact, we rejoice when we are weak and you are strong.^(l) We also pray that you become fully mature.^[d] This is why I am writing these things while absent, that when I am there I will not use severity, in keeping with the authority the Lord gave me for building up^(m) and not for tearing down.⁽ⁿ⁾ Finally, brothers, rejoice. Become mature, be encouraged, be of the same mind,^(o) be at peace,^(p) and the God of love^(q) and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.^(r) All the saints greet you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love^(s) of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.^[e](t)