Paul Boasts About His Sufferings

¹⁶ I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool.^(A) But if you do, then tolerate me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting.

Paul and the False Apostles

11 I hope you will put up with^(A) me in a little foolishness.^(B) Yes, please put up with me!

⁶ Even if I should choose to boast,^(A) I would not be a fool,^(B) because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say,

Paul’s Concern for the Corinthians

¹¹ I have made a fool of myself,^(A) but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the “super-apostles,”^[a](B) even though I am nothing.^(C)

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

Whatever anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about.^{(B) 22} Are they Hebrews? So am I.^(C) Are they Israelites? So am I.^(D) Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I.^{(E) 23} Are they servants of Christ?^(F) (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder,^(G) been in prison more frequently,^(H) been flogged more severely,^(I) and been exposed to death again and again.^(J)

¹⁹ You gladly put up with^(A) fools since you are so wise!^(B)