1I wish you were bearing with me in a little lack of sense (lack of perspective, foolishness), but rather you do indeed bear with me. 2For I am zealous (jealous) as to you with the zeal (jealousy) of God, for I have betrothed (to fit, join) you to one husband, to present you a pure virgin to Christ. 3However, I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent thoroughly seduced Eve in his cunning craftiness, your thoughts (systematic understandings, designs) might be corrupted (wasted away, ruined) from the unworldly simplicity and the purity unto Christ. 4For if one coming preaches another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or you receive a different spirit which you did not receive, or a different gospel which you did not accept, you are bearing up well (winsomely good, beautifully) with it. 5For I reckon to have been inferior (falling short, come last) in nothing to those most eminent (hyper- above, beyond, better, latin- magnis meaning great) apostles. 6However, if I am unskilled (amateur) in speech but rather not in knowledge; but rather in every way we have made this apparent unto you in all things.

7Or did I commit a sin, humbling (make low) myself, that you may be exalted (made high), because I preached the gospel of God to you freely? 8I plundered (seizing spoils of war) other churches, having received wages (provisions, support) for ministry (diakonian) to you. 9And being present with you and having been in need, I did not burdened anyone, for my need was supplied from the brothers having come from Macedonia. And I kept (guard, maintain, preserve, watch over) myself unburdensome in everything and will keep. 10The truth of Christ is in me because this boasting will not be obstructed unto me in the regions of Achaia. 11Because of why? Because I do not love you? God knows!

12And what I do I will also do, so that I may cut off the opportunity of those desiring an opportunity, so that in what they are boasting they may be found just as we. 13For such are false apostles, deceitful (fraudulent, treacherous) workers, disguising themselves (changing the outward shape, metaschematizo not metamorph) unto apostles of Christ. 14And no wonder, for Satan disguises himself unto an angel of light. 15Therefore, it is no great thing if also his ministers (diakonoi) disguise as ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

16I say again, no one should suppose me to be a fool (senseless, without reason/perspective/moderation). However, even if you receive me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little. 17What I am saying I am not saying according to the Lord, but rather as in foolishness, in this assurance of boasting. 18Since many boast according to the flesh, I too will boast. 19For you gladly (pleasantly, sweetly) bear with fools (senseless), being wise (sensible)! 20For you bear it if anyone enslaves you, if anyone devours you, if anyone takes from you, if anyone exalts himself, if anyone strikes into your face. 21According to dishonor, I speak, as that we have been weak! However, in whatever anyone may be daring- I speak in foolishness- I too am daring. 22Are they Hebrews? I too. Are they Israelites? I too. Are they descendants of Abraham? I too. 23Are they ministers of Christ? I speak as being beside myself (deranged, out of my senses/mind), I too more (above, beyond, better); in labors more abundantly, in imprisonments more abundantly, in beatings above measure, in deaths often. 24Five times I received forty lashes minus one by the Jews. 25Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep (sea); 26In journeyings often, in dangers of rivers, in dangers of open robbers, in dangers from out of my own race, in dangers from out of the ethnicities, in dangers in the city, in dangers in the wilderness, in dangers in the sea, in dangers among false brothers; 27In weary labor and hardship, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 28Besides the things without (in addition to), the crowding (tumult, gathering) upon me every day is my concern (anxiety) for all the churches. 29Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is caused to stumble, and I do not become set on fire?

30If I will boast, it is necessary that I will boast in the things of my weakness. 31The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is being blessed to the ages, knows that I am not lying. 32In Damascus the governor (ethnic ruler) under King Aretas was guarding the city of Damascus in order to apprehend (lay hold of) me, 33But I was let down in a basket (plaited rope) through a window through the wall and escaped his hands.