7. I did the work of telling God’s Good News to you without pay. I humbled myself to make you important. Do you think that was wrong?
8. I accepted pay from other churches. I took their money so that I could serve you.
9. If I needed something when I was with you, I did not trouble any of you. The brothers who came from Macedonia gave me all that I needed. I did not allow myself to be a burden to you in any way. And I will never be a burden to you.
10. No one there in Achaia will stop me from boasting about that. I say this with the truth of Christ in me.
11. And why do I not burden you? Do you think it is because I don’t love you? God knows that I love you.
12. And I will continue doing what I am doing now, because I want to stop those people from having a reason to boast. They would like to say that the work they boast about is the same as ours.
13. They are false apostles, lying workers. They only pretend to be apostles of Christ.
14. That does not surprise us, because even Satan changes himself to look like an angel of light.
15. So it does not surprise us if Satan’s servants make themselves look like servants who work for what is right. But in the end those people will get the punishment they deserve.
16. I tell you again: No one should think that I am a fool. But if you think I am a fool, then accept me as you would accept a fool. Then I can boast a little too.
17. But I am not talking the way the Lord would talk. I am boasting like a fool.
18. Others are boasting about their lives in the world. So I will boast too.
19. You are wise, so you will gladly be patient with fools!
20. I say this because you are even patient with someone who forces you to do things and uses you. You are patient with those who trick you, or think they are better than you, or hit you in the face!
21. I am ashamed to say it, but we were too “weak” to do such things to you. But if anyone dares to boast, I will too. (I am talking like a fool.)
22. Are those people Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they from Abraham’s family? So am I.
23. Are they serving Christ? I am serving him more. (I am crazy to talk like this.) I have worked much harder than they have. I have been in prison more often. I have been hurt more in beatings. I have been near death many times.
24. Five times the Jews have given me their punishment of 39 lashes with a whip.