8. I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you.
9. And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so.
10. As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, nobody in the regions of Achaia will stop this boasting of mine.
11. Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!
12. And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about.
13. For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.
14. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.
15. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.
16. I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then tolerate me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting.
17. In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would, but as a fool.
18. Since many are boasting in the way the world does, I too will boast.
19. You gladly put up with fools since you are so wise!
20. In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or puts on airs or slaps you in the face.
21. To my shame I admit that we were too weak for that! Whatever anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about.