1. I wish you would put up with a little foolishness from me. Yes, do put up with me.
2. For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy, because I have promised you in marriage to one husband — to present a pure virgin to Christ.
3. But I fear that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your minds may be seduced from a complete and pure devotion to Christ.
4. For if a person comes and preaches another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or you receive a different spirit, which you had not received, or a different gospel, which you had not accepted, you put up with it splendidly!
5. Now I consider myself in no way inferior to the “super-apostles.”
6. Though untrained in public speaking, I am certainly not untrained in knowledge. Indeed, we have always made that clear to you in everything.
7. Or did I commit a sin by humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge?
8. I robbed other churches by taking pay from them to minister to you.
9. When I was present with you and in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my needs. I have kept myself, and will keep myself, from burdening you in any way.
10. As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be stopped in the regions of Achaia.
11. Why? Because I don’t love you? God knows I do!