⁶ But if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I will be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think better of me than what is seen in me or heard from me,^(A)

Paul’s Sufferings as an Apostle

¹⁶ I repeat, let no one think that I am a fool, but if you do, then accept me as a fool, so that I, too, may boast a little.

Paul’s Concern for the Corinthian Church

¹¹ I have been a fool! You forced me to it. Indeed you should have been the ones commending me, for I am not at all inferior to these super-apostles, even though I am nothing.^(A)

³¹ The God and Father of the Lord Jesus (blessed be he forever!) knows that I do not lie.^(A)

⁸ Now, even if I boast a little too much of our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of it.^{(A) 9} I do not want to seem as though I am trying to frighten you with my letters. ¹⁰ For someone says,^[a] “His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak and his speech contemptible.”^(B)

⁷ even considering the exceptional character of the revelations. Therefore, to keep^[a] me from being too elated, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated.^[b]

¹³ For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.^(A)

¹⁸ As surely as God is faithful, our word to you is not^[a] “Yes and No.”

⁹ For we are God’s coworkers, working together; you are God’s field, God’s building.^(A)

¹⁰ According to the grace of God given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building on it. Let each builder choose with care how to build on it.^(B)

⁵ What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, as the Lord assigned to each.