Welcome to our website where we explore the Bible! Pleasure to meet you here!
May your journey into the world of the Holy Scriptures be engaging and inspiring!
You can change reading language: uk ru
Parallel
New Living Translation
New King James Version
Paul and the False Apostles
I hope you will put up with a little more of my foolishness. Please bear with me.
I hope you will put up with a little more of my foolishness. Please bear with me.
Concern for Their Faithfulness
Oh, that you would bear with me in a little folly — and indeed you do bear with me.
Oh, that you would bear with me in a little folly — and indeed you do bear with me.
For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
But 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.
You 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.
For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted — you may well put up with it!
But I don’t consider myself inferior in any way to these “super apostles” who teach such things.
Paul and False Apostles
For I consider that I am not at all inferior to the most eminent apostles.
For I consider that I am not at all inferior to the most eminent apostles.
I may be unskilled as a speaker, but I’m not lacking in knowledge. We have made this clear to you in every possible way.
Was I wrong when I humbled myself and honored you by preaching God’s Good News to you without expecting anything in return?
I “robbed” other churches by accepting their contributions so I could serve you at no cost.
I robbed other churches, taking wages from them to minister to you.
And 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.
And when I was present with you, and in need, I was a burden to no one, for what I lacked the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied. And in everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so I will keep myself.
As the truth of Christ is in me, no one shall stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia.
Why? Because I don’t love you? God knows that I do.
Why? Because I do not love you? God knows!
But 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.
But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast.
These people are false apostles. They are deceitful workers who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ.
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.
But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.
So 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.
Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.
Paul’s Many Trials
Again 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.
Reluctant Boasting
I say again, let no one think me a fool. If otherwise, at least receive me as a fool, that I also may boast a little.
I say again, let no one think me a fool. If otherwise, at least receive me as a fool, that I also may boast a little.
Such boasting is not from the Lord, but I am acting like a fool.
What I speak, I speak not according to the Lord, but as it were, foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.
And since others boast about their human achievements, I will, too.
Seeing that many boast according to the flesh, I also will boast.
After all, you think you are so wise, but you enjoy putting up with fools!
For you put up with fools gladly, since you yourselves are wise!
You 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.
For you put up with it if one brings you into bondage, if one devours you, if one takes from you, if one exalts himself, if one strikes you on the face.
I’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.
But whatever they dare to boast about — I’m talking like a fool again — I dare to boast about it, too.
To our shame I say that we were too weak for that! But in whatever anyone is bold — I speak foolishly — I am bold also.
Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.
Suffering for Christ
Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I.
Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I.
Are 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.
Are they ministers of Christ? — I speak as a fool — I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often.
Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes.
From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one.
Three 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.
Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep;
I 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.c
in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
I 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.
in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness —
Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches.
besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.
Who is weak without my feeling that weakness? Who is led astray, and I do not burn with anger?
Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?
If I must boast, I would rather boast about the things that show how weak I am.
God, the Father of our Lord Jesus, who is worthy of eternal praise, knows I am not lying.
The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.
When I was in Damascus, the governor under King Aretas kept guards at the city gates to catch me.
In Damascus the governor, under Aretas the king, was guarding the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desiring to arrest me;