Christian Standard Bible

International Standard Version

1I wish you would put up with a little foolishness from me. Yes, do put up with me!

1I wish you would tolerate a little of my foolishness. Yes, please tolerate me!

2For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy, because I have promised you in marriage to one husband--to present a pure virgin to Christ.

2I am jealous of you with God's own jealousy, because I promised you in marriage to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to the Messiah.

3But I fear that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your minds may be seduced from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

3However, I am afraid that just as the serpent deceived Eve by its tricks, so your minds may somehow be lured away from sincere and pure devotion to the Messiah.

4For if a person comes and preaches another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or you receive a different spirit, which you had not received, or a different gospel, which you had not accepted, you put up with it splendidly!

4For if someone comes along and preaches another Jesus than the one we preached, or should you receive a different spirit from the one you received or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you are all too willing to listen.

5Now I consider myself in no way inferior to those "super-apostles."

5I do not think I'm inferior in any way to those "super-apostles."

6Even if I am untrained in public speaking, I am certainly not untrained in knowledge. Indeed, we have in every way made that clear to you in everything.

6Even though I may be untrained as an orator, I am not so in the field of knowledge. We have made this clear to all of you in every possible way.

7Or did I commit a sin by humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge?

7Did I commit a sin when I humbled myself by proclaiming to you the gospel of God free of charge, so that you could be exalted?

8I robbed other churches by taking pay from them to minister to you.

8I robbed other churches by accepting support from them in order to serve you.

9When I was present with you and in need, I did not burden anyone, since the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my needs. I have kept myself, and will keep myself, from burdening you in any way.

9When I was with you and needed something, I did not bother any of you, because our brothers who came from Macedonia supplied everything I needed. I kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and I will continue to do so.

10As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be stopped in the regions of Achaia.

10As surely as the truth of the Messiah is in me, my boasting will not be silenced in the regions of Achaia.

11Why? Because I don't love you? God knows I do!

11Why? Because I do not love you? God knows that I do!

12But I will continue to do what I am doing, in order to deny an opportunity to those who want to be regarded as our equals in what they boast about.

12But I will go on doing what I'm doing in order to deny an opportunity to those people who want an opportunity to be recognized as our equals in the work they are boasting about.

13For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.

13Such people are false apostles, dishonest workers who are masquerading as apostles of the Messiah.

14And no wonder! For Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

14And no wonder, since Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.

15So it is no great surprise if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will be according to their works.

15So it is not surprising if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their doom will match their deeds!

16I repeat: Let no one consider me a fool. But if you do, at least accept me as a fool so that I can also boast a little.

16I will say it again: No one should think that I am a fool. But if you do, then treat me like a fool so that I can also boast a little.

17What I am saying in this matter of boasting, I don't speak as the Lord would, but as it were, foolishly.

17When I talk as a confident boaster, I am not talking with the Lord's authority but like a fool.

18Since many boast according to the flesh, I will also boast.

18Since many people boast in a fleshly way, I will do it, too.

19For you, being so wise, gladly put up with fools!

19You are wise, so you will gladly be tolerant of fools.

20In fact, you put up with it if someone enslaves you, if someone exploits you, if someone takes advantage of you, if someone is arrogant toward you, if someone slaps you in the face.

20You tolerate anyone who makes you his slaves, devours what you have, takes what is yours, orders you around, or slaps your face!

21I say this to our shame: We have been too weak for that! But in whatever anyone dares to boast--I am talking foolishly--I also dare:

21I am ashamed to admit it, but we have been too weak for that. Whatever anyone else dares to claim—I am talking like a fool—I can claim it, too.

22Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the descendants of Abraham? So am I.

22Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelis? So am I. Are they among Abraham's descendants? So am I.

23Are 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, many times near death.

23Are they the Messiah's servants? I am insane to talk like this, but I am a far better one! I have been involved in far greater efforts, far more imprisonments, countless beatings, and have faced death more than once.

24Five times I received the forty lashes minus one from the Jews.

24Five times I received from the Jews 40 lashes minus one.

25Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I received a stoning. Three times I was shipwrecked. I have spent a night and a day in the open sea.

25Three times I was beaten with a stick, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, and I drifted on the sea for a day and a night.

26On frequent journeys, I faced dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own people, dangers from Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, and dangers among false brothers;

26I have traveled extensively and have been endangered from rivers, robbers, my own people, and gentiles. I've also been in danger in the city, in the open country, at sea, from false brothers,

27toil and hardship, many sleepless nights, hunger and thirst, often without food, cold, and without clothing.

27in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, through hunger, thirst, many periods of fasting, coldness, and nakedness.

28Not to mention other things, there is the daily pressure on me: my concern for all the churches.

28Besides everything else, I have a daily burden because of my anxiety about all the churches.

29Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?

29Who is weak without me being weak, too? Who is caused to stumble without me becoming indignant?

30If boasting is necessary, I will boast about my weaknesses.

30If I must boast, I will boast about the things that show how weak I am.

31The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is blessed forever, knows I am not lying.

31The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.

32In Damascus, a ruler under King Aretas guarded the city of Damascus in order to arrest me.

32In Damascus, the governor under King Aretas put guards around the city of Damascus to catch me,

33So I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped from his hands.

33but I was let down in a basket through an opening in the wall and escaped from him.

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.