¹³ If we are “out of our mind,”^(A) as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.

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. ¹⁷ In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would,^(B) but as a fool.^(C)

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!

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)

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,

¹⁰ We are fools for Christ,^(A) but you are so wise in Christ!^(B) We are weak, but you are strong!^(C) You are honored, we are dishonored! ¹¹ To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.^{(D) 12} We work hard with our own hands.^(E) When we are cursed, we bless;^(F) when we are persecuted,^(G) we endure it; ¹³ when we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage^(H) of the world—right up to this moment.

²⁴ At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind,^(A) Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning^(B) is driving you insane.”

²⁵ “I am not insane, most excellent^(C) Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable.

¹⁰ Therefore I endure everything^(A) for the sake of the elect,^(B) that they too may obtain the salvation^(C) that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.^(D)

³ For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives,^(A) nor are we trying to trick you.^{(B) 4} On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel.^(C) We are not trying to please people^(D) but God, who tests our hearts.^{(E) 5} You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed^(F)—God is our witness.^{(G) 6} We were not looking for praise from people,^(H) not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles^(I) of Christ we could have asserted our authority.^{(J) 7} Instead, we were like young children^[a] among you.

Just as a nursing mother cares for her children,^{(K) 8} so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God^(L) but our lives as well.^{(M) 9} Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked^(N) night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone^(O) while we preached the gospel of God to you. ¹⁰ You are witnesses,^(P) and so is God,^(Q) of how holy,^(R) righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. ¹¹ For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children,^(S)