2 Corinthians 11

New King James Version

Concern for Their Faithfulness

11 Oh, that you would bear with me in a little^(A)folly—and indeed you do bear with me.² For I am^(B)jealous for you with godly jealousy. For^(C)I have betrothed you to one husband,^(D)that I may presentyou^(E)asa chaste virgin to Christ.³ But I fear, lest somehow, as^(F)the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds^(G)may be corrupted from the^[a]simplicity that is in Christ.⁴ For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, orifyou receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a^(H)different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!

Paul and False Apostles

⁵ For I consider that^(I)I am not at all inferior to the most eminent apostles.⁶ Even though^(J)I amuntrained in speech, yetI amnot^(K)in knowledge. But^(L)we have^[b]been thoroughly manifested among you in all things.

⁷ Did I commit sin in^[c]humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you^(M)free of charge?⁸ I robbed other churches, taking wagesfrom themto minister to you.⁹ And when I was present with you, and in need,^(N)I was a burden to no one, for what I lacked^(O)the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied. And in everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so I will keepmyself.^10 (P)As the truth of Christ is in me,^(Q)no one shall stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia.¹¹ Why?^(R)Because I do not love you? God knows!

¹² But what I do, I will also continue to do,^(S)that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast.¹³ For such^(T)arefalse apostles,^(U)deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.¹⁴ And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into^(V)an angel of light.¹⁵ Thereforeit isno great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness,^(W)whose end will be according to their works.

Reluctant Boasting

¹⁶ I say again, let no one think me a fool. If otherwise, at least receive me as a fool, that I also may boast a little.¹⁷ What I speak,^(X)I speak not according to the Lord, but as it were, foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.¹⁸ Seeing that many boast according to the flesh, I also will boast.¹⁹ For you put up with fools gladly,^(Y)since youyourselvesare wise!²⁰ For you put up with it^(Z)if one brings you into bondage, if one devoursyou,if one takesfrom you,if one exalts himself, if one strikes you on the face.²¹ Toourshame^(AA)I say that we were too weak for that! But^(AB)in whatever anyone is bold—I speak foolishly—I am bold also.

Suffering for Christ

²² Are they^(AC)Hebrews? SoamI. Are they Israelites? SoamI. Are they the seed of Abraham? SoamI.²³ Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—Iammore:^(AD)in labors more abundant,^(AE)in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently,^(AF)in deaths often.²⁴ From the Jews five times I received^(AG)forty^(AH)stripesminus one.²⁵ Three times I was^(AI)beaten with rods;^(AJ)once I was stoned; three times I^(AK)was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep;²⁶ injourneys often,inperils of waters,inperils of robbers,^(AL)inperils ofmy owncountrymen,^(AM)inperils of the Gentiles,inperils in the city,inperils in the wilderness,inperils in the sea,inperils among false brethren;²⁷ in weariness and toil,^(AN)in sleeplessness often,^(AO)in hunger and thirst, in^(AP)fastings often, in cold and nakedness—²⁸ besides the other things, what comes upon me daily:^(AQ)my deep concern for all the churches.^29 (AR)Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burnwith indignation?

³⁰ If I must boast,^(AS)I will boast in the things which concern my^[d]infirmity.^31 (AT)The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,^(AU)who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.^32 (AV)In Damascus the governor, under Aretas the king, was guarding the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desiring to arrest me;³³ but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands.