10Now I, Paul, appeal to you with the gentleness and kindness of Christ—though I realize you think I am timid in person and bold only when I write from far away.G1161G1473G3972G846G3870G5209G1223G4236G2532G1932G5547G3739G2596G4383G3303G5011G1722G5213G1161G548G2292G1519G5209 2Well, I am begging you now so that when I come I won’t have to be bold with those who think we act from human motives.G1161G1189G3361G2292G3918G4006G3739G3049G5111G1909G5100G3588G3049G2248G5613G4043G2596G4561 3We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do.G1063G4043G1722G4561G4754G3756G4754G2596G4561 4We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.G1063G3696G2257G4752G3756G4559G235G1415G2316G4314G2506G3794 5We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.G2507G3053G2532G3956G5313G1869G2596G1108G2316G2532G163G3956G3540G1519G5218G5547 6And after you have become fully obedient, we will punish everyone who remains disobedient.G2532G2192G1722G2092G1556G3956G3876G3752G5216G5218G4137 7Look at the obvious facts. Those who say they belong to Christ must recognize that we belong to Christ as much as they do.G991G2596G4383G1536G3982G1438G1511G5547G3049G575G1438G3049G5124G3825G3754G2531G846G5547G2532G3779G2249G5547 8I may seem to be boasting too much about the authority given to us by the Lord. But our authority builds you up; it doesn’t tear you down. So I will not be ashamed of using my authority.G1063G2532G1437G5037G2744G5100G4055G4012G2257G1849G3739G2962G1325G2254G1519G3619G2532G3756G1519G5216G2506G153G3756G153 9I’m not trying to frighten you by my letters.G3363G1380G3363G1380G5613G302G1629G5209G1223G1992 10For some say, “Paul’s letters are demanding and forceful, but in person he is weak, and his speeches are worthless!”G3754G1992G3303G5346G926G2532G2478G1161G4983G3952G772G2532G3056G1848 11Those people should realize that our actions when we arrive in person will be as forceful as what we say in our letters from far away.G3049G5108G3049G5124G3754G3634G2070G3056G1223G1992G548G5108G2532G2041G3918 12Oh, don’t worry; we wouldn’t dare say that we are as wonderful as these other men who tell you how important they are! But they are only comparing themselves with each other, using themselves as the standard of measurement. How ignorant!G1063G5111G3756G1469G1469G2228G4793G1438G4793G5100G4921G1438G235G846G3354G1438G1722G1438G2532G4793G1438G4793G1438G4920G3756G4920 13We will not boast about things done outside our area of authority. We will boast only about what has happened within the boundaries of the work God has given us, which includes our working with you.G1161G2249G2744G3780G2744G1519G280G235G2596G3358G2583G3739G2316G3307G2254G3358G2185G2532G891G5216 14We are not reaching beyond these boundaries when we claim authority over you, as if we had never visited you. For we were the first to travel all the way to Corinth with the Good News of Christ.G1063G5239G3756G1438G5239G5613G2185G3361G1519G5209G1063G5348G891G5216G2532G1722G2098G5547 15Nor do we boast and claim credit for the work someone else has done. Instead, we hope that your faith will grow so that the boundaries of our work among you will be extended.G3756G2744G1519G280G1722G245G2873G1161G2192G1680G5216G4102G837G3170G1722G5213G2596G2257G2583G1519G4050 16Then we will be able to go and preach the Good News in other places far beyond you, where no one else is working. Then there will be no question of our boasting about work done in someone else’s territory.G2097G1519G5238G5216G3756G2744G1722G245G2583G1519G2092 17As the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.”G1161G2744G2744G1722G2962 18When people commend themselves, it doesn’t count for much. The important thing is for the Lord to commend them.G1063G3756G1565G4921G1438G2076G1384G235G3739G2962G4921
11I hope you will put up with a little more of my foolishness. Please bear with me.G3785G430G3450G3397G877G2532G235G430G3450 2For I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God himself. I promised you as a pure bride to one husband—Christ.G1063G2206G5209G2316G2205G1063G718G5209G1520G435G3936G53G3933G5547 3But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent.G1161G5399G3381G4458G5613G3789G1818G2096G1722G846G3834G3779G5216G3540G5351G575G572G1519G5547 4You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed.G1063G1487G3303G2064G2784G243G2424G3739G2784G3756G2784G2228G2983G2087G4151G3739G2983G3756G2983G2228G2087G2098G3739G1209G3756G1209G430G2573G430 5But I don’t consider myself inferior in any way to these “super apostles” who teach such things.G1063G3049G5302G3367G5302G5228G3029G652 6I may be unskilled as a speaker, but I’m not lacking in knowledge. We have made this clear to you in every possible way.G1161G1499G2399G3056G235G3756G1108G235G1722G3956G5319G1519G5209G1722G3956 7Was I wrong when I humbled myself and honored you by preaching God’s Good News to you without expecting anything in return?G2228G4160G266G5013G1683G2443G5210G5312G3754G2097G5213G2098G2316G1432 8I “robbed” other churches by accepting their contributions so I could serve you at no cost.G4813G243G1577G2983G3800G4314G1248G5216G1248 9And when I was with you and didn’t have enough to live on, I did not become a financial burden to anyone. For the brothers who came from Macedonia brought me all that I needed. I have never been a burden to you, and I never will be.G2532G3918G4314G5209G2532G5302G3756G2655G3762G1063G5303G3450G80G2064G575G3109G4322G2532G1722G3956G5083G1683G4G5213G2532G5083 10As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, no one in all of Greece will ever stop me from boasting about this.G225G5547G2076G1722G1698G3754G3756G4972G5420G1519G1691G3778G2746G1722G2824G882 11Why? Because I don’t love you? God knows that I do.G1302G3754G25G5209G3756G2316G1492 12But I will continue doing what I have always done. This will undercut those who are looking for an opportunity to boast that their work is just like ours.G1161G3739G4160G2532G4160G2443G1581G874G2309G874G2443G1722G3739G2744G2147G2532G2531G2249 13These people are false apostles. They are deceitful workers who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ.G1063G5108G5570G1386G2040G3345G1519G652G5547 14But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.G2532G3756G2298G1063G4567G846G3345G1519G32G5457 15So it is no wonder that his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. In the end they will get the punishment their wicked deeds deserve.G3767G3756G3173G1499G846G1249G1499G3345G5613G1249G1343G3739G5056G2071G2596G846G2041 16Again I say, don’t think that I am a fool to talk like this. But even if you do, listen to me, as you would to a foolish person, while I also boast a little.G3004G3825G1380G3361G5100G1380G1511G3165G878G1490G2579G5613G878G1209G3165G2443G2504G2744G5100G3397 17Such boasting is not from the Lord, but I am acting like a fool.G3739G2980G2980G3756G2596G2962G235G5613G1722G877G1722G5026G5287G2746 18And since others boast about their human achievements, I will, too.G1893G4183G2744G2596G4561G2744G2504 19After all, you think you are so wise, but you enjoy putting up with fools!G1063G430G878G2234G5607G5429 20You put up with it when someone enslaves you, takes everything you have, takes advantage of you, takes control of everything, and slaps you in the face.G1063G430G1536G2615G5209G2615G1536G2719G1536G2983G1536G1869G1536G1194G5209G1519G4383 21I’m ashamed to say that we’ve been too “weak” to do that! But whatever they dare to boast about—I’m talking like a fool again—I dare to boast about it, too.G3004G2596G819G5613G3754G2249G770G1161G1722G3739G302G5100G5111G3004G1722G877G5111G2504 22Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.G1526G1445G2504G1526G2475G2504G1526G4690G11G2504 23Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again.G1526G1249G5547G2980G3912G1473G5228G1722G2873G4056G1722G4127G5234G1722G5438G4056G1722G2288G4178 24Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes.G5259G2453G3999G2983G5062G3844G3391 25Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea.G5151G4463G530G3034G5151G3489G3574G4160G1722G1037 26I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not.G3597G4178G2794G4215G2794G3027G2794G1537G1085G2794G1537G1484G2794G1722G4172G2794G1722G2047G2794G1722G2281G2794G1722G5569 27I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.G1722G2873G2532G3449G1722G70G4178G1722G3042G2532G1373G1722G3521G4178G1722G5592G2532G1132 28Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches.G5565G3924G3588G1999G3450G2250G2596G3308G3956G1577 29Who is weak without my feeling that weakness? Who is led astray, and I do not burn with anger?G5101G770G2532G770G3756G770G5101G4624G2532G1473G4448G3756 30If I must boast, I would rather boast about the things that show how weak I am.G1487G1163G2744G2744G3588G3450G769 31God, the Father of our Lord Jesus, who is worthy of eternal praise, knows I am not lying.G2316G2532G3962G2257G2962G2424G5547G3588G5607G2128G1519G165G1492G3754G5574G3756 32When I was in Damascus, the governor under King Aretas kept guards at the city gates to catch me.G1722G1154G1481G702G935G5432G4172G1153G5432G2309G4084G3165 33I had to be lowered in a basket through a window in the city wall to escape from him.G2532G1223G2376G1722G4553G5465G1223G5038G2532G1628G846G5495
12This boasting will do no good, but I must go on. I will reluctantly tell about visions and revelations from the Lord.G4851G3756G4851G3427G1211G2744G1063G2064G1519G3701G2532G602G2962 2I was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether I was in my body or out of my body, I don’t know—only God knows.G1492G444G1722G5547G4253G1180G2094G4253G1535G1722G4983G3756G1492G1535G1622G4983G3756G1492G2316G1492G5108G726G2193G5154G3772 3Yes, only God knows whether I was in my body or outside my body. But I do knowG2532G1492G5108G444G1535G1722G4983G1535G1622G4983G3756G1492G2316G1492 4that I was caught up to paradise and heard things so astounding that they cannot be expressed in words, things no human is allowed to tell.G3754G726G1519G3857G2532G191G731G4487G3739G1832G3756G1832G444G2980 5That experience is worth boasting about, but I’m not going to do it. I will boast only about my weaknesses.G5228G5108G2744G1161G5228G1683G2744G3756G2744G1508G1722G3450G769 6If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t do it, because I don’t want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message,G1063G1437G2309G2744G2071G3756G2071G878G1063G2046G225G1161G5339G3361G5100G3049G1519G1691G5228G3739G991G3165G2228G191G5100G1537G1700 7even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.G2532G3363G5229G5236G602G1325G3427G4647G4561G32G4566G2443G2852G3165G3363G5229 8Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away.G5228G5127G3870G2962G5151G2443G868G575G1700 9Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.G2532G2046G3427G3450G5485G714G4671G1063G3450G1411G5048G1722G769G2236G3767G2744G3123G2744G1722G3450G769G2443G1411G5547G1981G1909G1691 10That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.G1352G2106G1722G769G1722G5196G1722G318G1722G1375G1722G4730G5228G5547G5228G1063G3752G770G5119G1510G1415 11You have made me act like a fool—boasting like this. You ought to be writing commendations for me, for I am not at all inferior to these “super apostles,” even though I am nothing at all.G1096G878G2744G5210G315G3165G1063G1473G3784G4921G5259G5216G1063G3762G5302G3029G652G5228G1499G1510G3762 12When I was with you, I certainly gave you proof that I am an apostle. For I patiently did many signs and wonders and miracles among you.G3303G4592G652G2716G1722G5213G1722G3956G5281G1722G4592G2532G5059G2532G1411 13The only thing I failed to do, which I do in the other churches, was to become a financial burden to you. Please forgive me for this wrong!G1063G5101G2076G3739G2274G5228G3062G1577G1508G3754G1473G846G2655G3756G2655G5216G5483G3427G5026G93 14Now I am coming to you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you. I don’t want what you have—I want you. After all, children don’t provide for their parents. Rather, parents provide for their children.G2400G5154G2192G2093G2064G4314G5209G2532G2655G3756G2655G5216G1063G2212G3756G5216G235G5209G1063G5043G3784G3756G2343G1118G235G1118G5043 15I will gladly spend myself and all I have for you, even though it seems that the more I love you, the less you love me.G1161G1473G2236G1159G2532G1550G5228G5590G5216G1499G4056G25G5209G2276G25 16Some of you admit I was not a burden to you. But others still think I was sneaky and took advantage of you by trickery.G1161G2077G1473G2599G3756G2599G5209G235G5225G3835G2983G5209G1388 17But how? Did any of the men I sent to you take advantage of you?G4122G3361G5209G1223G5100G846G3739G649G4314G5209 18When I urged Titus to visit you and sent our other brother with him, did Titus take advantage of you? No! For we have the same spirit and walk in each other’s steps, doing things the same way.G3870G5103G2532G4882G80G4122G3387G5103G4122G5209G4043G3756G846G4151G3756G846G2487 19Perhaps you think we’re saying these things just to defend ourselves. No, we tell you this as Christ’s servants, and with God as our witness. Everything we do, dear friends, is to strengthen you.G3825G1380G3754G626G5213G2980G2714G2316G1722G5547G1161G3956G27G5228G5216G3619 20For I am afraid that when I come I won’t like what I find, and you won’t like my response. I am afraid that I will find quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly behavior.G1063G5399G3381G4458G2064G2147G3756G2147G5209G3634G2309G2504G2147G5213G3634G2309G3756G3381G4458G2054G2205G2372G2052G2636G5587G5450G181 21Yes, I am afraid that when I come again, God will humble me in your presence. And I will be grieved because many of you have not given up your old sins. You have not repented of your impurity, sexual immorality, and eagerness for lustful pleasure.G3361G2064G3825G3450G2316G5013G3165G4314G5209G2532G3996G4183G3588G4258G2532G3340G3361G3340G1909G167G2532G4202G2532G766G3739G4238
13This is the third time I am coming to visit you (and as the Scriptures say, “The facts of every case must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”)G5124G5154G2064G4314G5209G1909G4750G1417G2532G5140G3144G2476G3956G4487G2476 2I have already warned those who had been sinning when I was there on my second visit. Now I again warn them and all others, just as I did before, that next time I will not spare them.G4280G2532G4302G5613G3918G1208G2532G548G3568G1125G4258G2532G3956G3062G3754G1437G2064G1519G3825G5339G3756G5339 3I will give you all the proof you want that Christ speaks through me. Christ is not weak when he deals with you; he is powerful among you.G1893G2212G1382G5547G2980G1722G1698G3739G1519G5209G770G3756G770G235G1414G1722G5213 4Although he was crucified in weakness, he now lives by the power of God. We, too, are weak, just as Christ was, but when we deal with you we will be alive with him and will have God’s power.G1063G2532G1487G4717G1537G769G235G2198G1537G1411G2316G1063G2249G2532G770G1722G846G235G2198G4862G846G1537G1411G2316G1519G5209 5Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith.G3985G1438G1487G2075G1722G4102G1381G1438G2228G1921G3756G1438G3754G2424G5547G2076G1722G5213G1509G2075G5100G96 6As you test yourselves, I hope you will recognize that we have not failed the test of apostolic authority.G1161G1679G3754G1097G3754G2249G2070G3756G96 7We pray to God that you will not do what is wrong by refusing our correction. I hope we won’t need to demonstrate our authority when we arrive. Do the right thing before we come—even if that makes it look like we have failed to demonstrate our authority.G1161G2172G4314G2316G5209G3361G4160G3367G2556G3756G2443G2249G5316G1384G235G2443G5210G4160G2570G1161G2249G5600G5613G96 8For we cannot oppose the truth, but must always stand for the truth.G1063G1410G3756G5100G2596G225G235G5228G225 9We are glad to seem weak if it helps show that you are actually strong. We pray that you will become mature.G1063G2249G5463G3752G770G1161G5210G5600G1415G1161G5124G2532G2172G5216G2676 10I am writing this to you before I come, hoping that I won’t need to deal severely with you when I do come. For I want to use the authority the Lord has given me to strengthen you, not to tear you down.G5124G1223G1125G5023G548G3363G3918G5530G664G2596G1849G3739G2962G1325G3427G1519G3619G2532G3756G1519G2506 11Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.G3063G80G5463G2675G3870G846G5426G1514G2532G2316G26G2532G1515G2071G3326G5216 12Greet each other with Christian love.G782G240G1722G40G5370 13All of God’s people here send you their greetings.G3956G40G782G5209 14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.G5485G2962G2424G5547G2532G26G2316G2532G2842G40G4151G3326G5216G3956G281
Dublin, OH
We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.G1063
