Read the New Testament in 24 Weeks

Paul’s Apostolic Authority

10 Now I, Paul, make a personal appeal to you by the gentleness and graciousness of Christ—I who am humble among you in person but bold toward you when absent. ² I beg you that when I am present I will not need to be bold with the confidence by which I plan to challenge certain people who think we are behaving in an unspiritual way.^{[a](A) 3} For though we live in the body,^[b] we do not wage war in an unspiritual way,^{[c] 4} since the weapons of our warfare^(B) are not worldly,^[d] but are powerful^(C) through God for the demolition of strongholds. We demolish arguments ⁵ and every high-minded thing that is raised up against the knowledge^(D) of God, taking every thought captive to obey Christ. ⁶ And we are ready to punish any disobedience, once your obedience has been confirmed.

⁷ Look at what is obvious.^[e] If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ,^(E) he should remind himself of this: Just as he belongs to Christ, so do we. ⁸ For if I boast some more about our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up^(F) and not for tearing you down, I am not ashamed. ⁹ I don’t want to seem as though I am trying to terrify you with my letters. ¹⁰ For it is said, “His letters are weighty and powerful, but his physical presence is weak, and his public speaking is despicable.” ¹¹ Such a person should consider this: What we are in the words of our letters when absent, we will be in actions when present.

¹² For we don’t dare classify or compare ourselves with some who commend^(G) themselves. But in measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves to themselves,^(H) they lack understanding.^{(I) 13} We, however, will not boast beyond measure but according to the measure of the area of ministry that God has assigned^(J) to us, which reaches even to you. ¹⁴ For we are not overextending ourselves, as if we had not reached you, since we have come to you with the gospel of Christ. ¹⁵ We are not bragging beyond measure about other people’s labors. But we have the hope^(K) that as your faith increases, our area of ministry will be greatly enlarged, ¹⁶ so that we may proclaim the good news to the regions beyond you,^(L) not boasting about what has already been done in someone else’s area of ministry.^{(M) 17} So the one who boasts must boast in the Lord.^{(N)[f] 18} For it is not the one commending himself who is approved, but the one the Lord commends.^(O)

Paul and the False Apostles

11 I wish you would put up with a little foolishness^(P) from me. Yes, do put up with me.^{[g] 2} For I am jealous^(Q) over you with a godly jealousy,^(R) because I have promised you in marriage to one husband—to present a pure^(S) virgin to Christ. ³ But I fear that, as the serpent^(T) deceived^(U) Eve^(V) by his cunning, your minds may be seduced from a complete and pure^[h] devotion to Christ.^{(W) 4} For if a person comes and preaches another Jesus,^(X) whom we did not preach, or you receive a different spirit,^(Y) which you had not received, or a different gospel,^(Z) which you had not accepted, you put up with it splendidly!

⁵ Now I consider myself in no way inferior to the “super-apostles.”^{(AA) 6} Though untrained in public speaking,^(AB) I am certainly not untrained in knowledge.^(AC) Indeed, we have always made that clear to you in everything. ⁷ Or did I commit a sin by humbling^(AD) myself so that you might be exalted,^(AE) because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge?^{(AF) 8} I robbed other churches by taking pay from them to minister to you. ⁹ When I was present with you and in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia^(AG) supplied my needs.^(AH) I have kept myself, and will keep myself, from burdening you in any way. ¹⁰ As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be stopped^[i] in the regions of Achaia.^{(AI) 11} Why? Because I don’t love you? God knows I do!

¹² But I will continue to do what I am doing, in order to deny^[j] the opportunity of those who want an opportunity to be regarded just as our equals in what they boast about. ¹³ For such people are false apostles,^(AJ) deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. ¹⁴ And no wonder! For Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. ¹⁵ So it is no great thing if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their destiny^[k] will be according to their works.^(AK)

Paul’s Sufferings for Christ

¹⁶ I repeat: No one should consider me a fool. But if you do, at least accept me as a fool, so I too may boast a little. ¹⁷ What I say in this matter^[l] of boasting, I don’t speak as the Lord would, but foolishly. ¹⁸ Since many boast in an unspiritual way,^[m] I will also boast. ¹⁹ For you, being so wise, gladly put up with fools!^{(AL) 20} In fact, you put up with it if someone enslaves you, if someone devours^(AM) you, if someone captures you, if someone dominates you, or if someone hits^(AN) you in the face. ²¹ I say this to our shame: We have been weak.

But in whatever anyone dares to boast—I am talking foolishly—I also dare:

²⁸ Not to mention^[p] other things, there is the daily pressure on me: my care for all the churches. ²⁹ Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble,^(AX) and I do not burn with indignation? ³⁰ If boasting is necessary, I will boast about my weaknesses. ³¹ The God and Father^(AY) of the Lord Jesus, who is praised forever, knows I am not lying. ³² In Damascus,^(AZ) the governor under King Aretas^[q] guarded the city of the Damascenes in order to arrest me, ³³ so I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his hands.^(BA)