¹⁷ In Christ Jesus, then, I have ^(A)reason to be proud of ^(B)my work for God.

¹⁴ But ^(A)thanks be to God, who in Christ always ^(B)leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads ^(C)the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. ¹⁵ For we are the aroma of Christ to God among ^(D)those who are being saved and among ^(E)those who are perishing, ^16 (F)to one a fragrance from death to death, ^(G)to the other a fragrance from life to life. ^(H)Who is sufficient for these things?

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. ^12 (D)The signs of a true apostle were performed among you ^(E)with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works. ¹³ For in what were you less favored than the rest of the churches, except that ^(F)I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!

¹⁴ Here ^(G)for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for ^(H)I seek not what is yours but you. For ^(I)children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but ^(J)parents for their children. ^15 (K)I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If ^(L)I love you more, am I to be loved less? ¹⁶ But granting that ^(M)I myself did not burden you, I was crafty, you say, and got the better of you by deceit. ¹⁷ Did I take advantage of you ^(N)through any of those whom I sent to you? ^18 (O)I urged Titus to go, and sent ^(P)the brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not act in the same spirit? Did we not take the same steps?

¹⁹ Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? It is ^(Q)in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ, and ^(R)all for your upbuilding, beloved. ²⁰ For I fear that perhaps ^(S)when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder. ²¹ I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those ^(T)who sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, ^(U)sexual immorality, and sensuality that they have practiced.

5 For every high priest chosen from among men ^(A)is appointed to act on behalf of men ^(B)in relation to God, ^(C)to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.

³ For ^(A)we are the circumcision, ^(B)who worship ^(C)by the Spirit of God^[a] and ^(D)glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—

¹⁷ Therefore he had ^(A)to be made like his brothers in every respect, ^(B)so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest ^(C)in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

Paul's Visions and His Thorn

12 I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and ^(A)revelations of the Lord.

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. ¹⁷ What I am saying ^(B)with this boastful confidence, ^(C)I say not as the Lord would^[a] but as a fool. ¹⁸ Since ^(D)many boast according to the flesh, I too will boast. ¹⁹ For you gladly bear with fools, ^(E)being wise yourselves! ²⁰ For you bear it if someone ^(F)makes slaves of you, or ^(G)devours you, or takes advantage of you, or puts on airs, or ^(H)strikes you in the face. ²¹ To my shame, I must say, ^(I)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? ^(J)So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they offspring of Abraham? So am I. ²³ Are they ^(K)servants of Christ? ^(L)I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, ^(M)far more imprisonments, ^(N)with countless beatings, and ^(O)often near death. ²⁴ Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the ^(P)forty lashes less one. ²⁵ Three times I was ^(Q)beaten with rods. ^(R)Once I was stoned. Three times I ^(S)was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; ²⁶ on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, ^(T)danger from my own people, ^(U)danger from Gentiles, ^(V)danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; ^27 (W)in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, ^(X)in hunger and thirst, often without food,^[b] in cold and exposure. ²⁸ And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for ^(Y)all the churches. ^29 (Z)Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?

^30 (AA)If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.

⁴ I am acting with ^(A)great boldness toward you; ^(B)I have great pride in you; ^(C)I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.