2 Corinthians 10:12-11:15

New International Version

¹² We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves.^(A) When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. ¹³ We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the sphere of service God himself has assigned to us,^(B) a sphere that also includes you. ¹⁴ We are not going too far in our boasting, as would be the case if we had not come to you, for we did get as far as you^(C) with the gospel of Christ.^{(D) 15} Neither do we go beyond our limits^(E) by boasting of work done by others.^(F) Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow,^(G) our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand, ¹⁶ so that we can preach the gospel^(H) in the regions beyond you.^(I) For we do not want to boast about work already done in someone else’s territory. ¹⁷ But, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”^{[a](J) 18} For it is not the one who commends himself^(K) who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.^(L)

Paul and the False Apostles

11 I hope you will put up with^(M) me in a little foolishness.^(N) Yes, please put up with me! ² I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband,^(O) to Christ, so that I might present you^(P) as a pure virgin to him. ³ But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning,^(Q) your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. ⁴ For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached,^(R) or if you receive a different spirit^(S) from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel^(T) from the one you accepted, you put up with it^(U) easily enough.

⁵ I do not think I am in the least inferior to those “super-apostles.”^{[b](V) 6} I may indeed be untrained as a speaker,^(W) but I do have knowledge.^(X) We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way. ⁷ Was it a sin^(Y) for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God^(Z) to you free of charge?^{(AA) 8} I robbed other churches by receiving support from them^(AB) so as to serve you. ⁹ And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed.^(AC) I have kept myself from being a burden to you^(AD) in any way, and will continue to do so. ¹⁰ As surely as the truth of Christ is in me,^(AE) nobody in the regions of Achaia^(AF) will stop this boasting^(AG) of mine. ¹¹ Why? Because I do not love you? God knows^(AH) I do!^(AI)

¹² And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. ¹³ For such people are false apostles,^(AJ) deceitful^(AK) workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.^{(AL) 14} And no wonder, for Satan^(AM) himself masquerades as an angel of light. ¹⁵ It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.^(AN)