Paul's Sufferings as an Apostle

¹⁶ I repeat, ^(A)let no one think me foolish. But even if you do, accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little.

Paul and the False Apostles

11 I wish you would bear with me in a little foolishness. Do bear with me!

⁶ though if I should wish to boast, ^(A)I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me.

Concern for the Corinthian Church

^11 (A)I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was ^(B)not at all inferior to these super-apostles, ^(C)even though I am nothing.

²¹ To my shame, I must say, ^(A)we were too weak for that!

But whatever anyone else dares to boast of—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast of that. ²² Are they Hebrews? ^(B)So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they offspring of Abraham? So am I. ²³ Are they ^(C)servants of Christ? ^(D)I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, ^(E)far more imprisonments, ^(F)with countless beatings, and ^(G)often near death.

¹⁹ For you gladly bear with fools, ^(A)being wise yourselves!