11. And why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!
12. And what I am doing I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do.
13. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.
14. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
15. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.
16. I repeat, 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 with this boastful confidence, I say not as the Lord would but as a fool.
18. Since many boast according to the flesh, I too will boast.
19. For you gladly bear with fools, being wise yourselves!
20. For you bear it if someone makes slaves of you, or devours you, or takes advantage of you, or puts on airs, or strikes you in the face.
21. To my shame, I must say, 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? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they offspring of Abraham? So am I.
23. Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death.
24. Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one.