II. Paul Defends His Apostleship............................... 11:1-12:13
2Co 11:1
Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.2Co 11:2
For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.2Co 11:3
But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.2Co 11:4
For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.2Co 11:5
For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.2Co 11:6
But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things.2Co 11:7
Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?2Co 11:8
I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.2Co 11:9
And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.2Co 11:10
As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.2Co 11:11
Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth.2Co 11:12
But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.2Co 11:13
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.2Co 11:14
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.2Co 11:15
Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.2Co 11:16
I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little.2Co 11:17
That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.2Co 11:18
Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.2Co 11:19
For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.2Co 11:20
For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face.2Co 11:21
I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.2Co 11:22
Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.2Co 11:23
Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.2Co 11:24
Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.2Co 11:25
Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;2Co 11:26
In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;2Co 11:27
In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.2Co 11:28
Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.2Co 11:29
Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?2Co 11:30
If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.2Co 11:31
The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.2Co 11:32
In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:2Co 11:33
And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.2Co 12:1
It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.2Co 12:2
I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.2Co 12:3
And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)2Co 12:4
How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.2Co 12:5
Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.2Co 12:6
For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.2Co 12:7
And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.2Co 12:8
For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.2Co 12:9
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.2Co 12:10
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.2Co 12:11
I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.2Co 12:12
Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.2Co 12:13
For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.