16. I say again, let no one consider me to be a fool. But if you do, accept me as a fool, so that I also may boast a little.
17. What I am saying, I am saying not according to the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this self-confident boasting.
18. Since many boast according to the flesh, I too will boast.
19. For you, being so wise, put up with fools gladly.
20. For you put up with it if someone enslaves you, if someone devours you, if someone takes advantage of you, if someone puts on airs, if someone slaps you on the face.
21. To my shame I must say that we have been weak. Yet whatever anyone else dares to boast about—I speak in foolishness—I dare, too.
22. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the descendants of Abraham? So am I.
23. Are they servants of Messiah? I am more so—I speak like I’m out of my mind—in labors much more, in prisons much more, in beatings more brutal, near death often.
24. Five times from the Jewish leaders I received forty lashes minus one.
25. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I suffered shipwreck. A night and a day I spent in the open sea.
26. In my many journeys I have been in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the desert, dangers in the sea, dangers among false brothers,
27. in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.
28. Besides these other things, there is daily pressure on me of concern for all of Messiah’s communities.