Paul Defends His Apostleship

11 I wish you would bear with me [while I indulge] in a little foolishness; but indeed you are bearing with me [as you read this]. ² I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy because I have promised you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.^{(A) 3} But I am afraid that, even as the serpent beguiled Eve by his cunning, your minds may be corrupted and led away from the simplicity of [your sincere and] pure devotion to Christ.^{(B) 4} For [you seem willing to allow it] if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted. You tolerate all this beautifully [welcoming the deception]. ⁵ Yet I consider myself in no way inferior to the [so-called] ^[a]super-apostles. ⁶ But even if I am unskilled in speaking, yet I am not [untrained] in ^[b]knowledge [I know what I am talking about]; but we have made this evident to you in every way, in all things.

⁷ Or did I [perhaps] sin by humbling myself so that you might be exalted and honored, because I preached God’s gospel to you ^[c]free of charge? ⁸ I robbed other churches by accepting [more than their share of] financial support for my ministry to you. ⁹ And when I was with you and ran short [financially], I did not burden any of you; for what I needed was fully supplied by the brothers (Silas and Timothy) who came from Macedonia (the church at Philippi). So I kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so.^{(C) 10} As the truth of Christ is in me, my boast [of independence] will not be silenced in the regions of Achaia (southern Greece). ¹¹ Why? Because I do not love you [or wish you well, or have regard for your welfare]? God knows [that I do]!

¹² But what I am doing I will keep doing, [for I am determined to keep this independence] in order to cut off the claim of those who want an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things they brag about. ¹³ For such men are counterfeit apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. ¹⁴ And no wonder, since Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. ¹⁵ So it is no great surprise if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness, but their end will correspond with their deeds.