Paul and the False Apostles

1I wish you⁺ were bearing with me in a little foolishness, but you⁺ also bear with me. 2For I am jealous as to you⁺ with the jealousy of God. For I betrothed you⁺ to one husband, to present a pure virgin to Christ.

3But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve in his craftiness, your⁺ minds might be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity† that is to Christ. 4For if indeed the one coming proclaims another Jesus whom we did not proclaim, or you⁺ receive a different spirit that you⁺ did not receive, or a different gospel that you⁺ did not accept, you⁺ bear with it well.

5For I reckon in nothing to have been lacking to the “most eminent apostles.” 6But even if I am unskilled in word, yet not in knowledge; but in every way, we were made manifest to you⁺ in all things.

7Or did I commit a sin, humbling myself so that you⁺ might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you⁺ freely? 8I robbed other churches, having received support for ministry to you⁺. 9And being present with you⁺ and having been in need, I burdened no one; for the brothers having come from Macedonia supplied my need, and in everything I kept and will keep myself unburdensome to you⁺. 10The truth of Christ is in me, that this boasting of mine will not be stopped in the regions of Achaia. 11Because of what? Because I do not love you⁺? God knows I do!

12But what I do, I also will do, so that I might cut off the opportunity of those wanting an opportunity that in what they boast they might be found according as also we. 13For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14And no wonder, for Satan himself disguises himself as an angel of light. 15Therefore it is not great if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

Paul’s Suffering and Service
(Colossians 1:24–29)

16Again I say, no one should think me to be a fool; but if otherwise, receive me even as a fool, that I also may boast a little. 17What I am speaking, I am not speaking according to the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting. 18Since many boast according to the flesh, I also will boast. 19For gladly you⁺ bear with fools—being wise! 20For you⁺ bear with it if anyone enslaves you⁺, if anyone devours you, if anyone takes from you, if anyone lifts himself up, if anyone strikes you⁺ in the face. 21I speak as to dishonor, as that we have been weak!

But in that which anyone may dare—I speak in foolishness—I also dare. 22Are they Hebrews? I also. Are they Israelites? I also. Are they seed of Abraham? I also. 23Are they servants of Christ? I speak as being beside myself—I too above measure: in labors more abundantly, in imprisonments more abundantly, in beatings surpassingly,† in deaths often. 24Five times I received from the Jews forty lashes minus one. 25Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked. I have passed a night and a day in the deep; 26in journeyings often, in dangers of rivers, in dangers of robbers; in dangers from kindred, in dangers from the Gentiles; in dangers in the city, in dangers in the wilderness;† in dangers in the sea, in dangers among false brothers; 27in labor and toil, in sleepless nights often; in hunger and thirst, in fastings often; in cold and nakedness.

28Apart from the external things, the crowding on me on every day is the care of all the churches. 29Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is caused to stumble, and I am not burned?

30If it is necessary to boast, I will boast in the things of my weakness. 31The God and Father of the Lord Jesus,† the One being blessed to the ages,† knows that I am not lying. 32In Damascus the governor under King Aretas was guarding the city of the Damascenes to seize me.† 33But I was let down in a basket through a window through the wall, and I escaped his hands.

Footnotes:

3 BYZ and TR do not include and the purity
23 BYZ and TR in worse beatings, in more imprisonments
26 Or desert
31 BYZ of the Lord Jesus Christ; TR and GOC of our Lord Jesus Christ
31 Or worthy of praise forever
32 BYZ and TR wishing to seize me