7. Or did I commit a sin in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I preached to you the gospel of God for nought?
8. I robbed other churches, taking wages of them that I might minister unto you;
9. and when I was present with you and was in want, I was not a burden on any man; for the brethren, when they came from Macedonia, supplied the measure of my want; and in everything I kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.
10. As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this glorying in the regions of Achaia.
11. Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth.
12. But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire an occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.
13. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, fashioning themselves into apostles of Christ.
14. And no marvel; for even Satan fashioneth himself into an angel of light.
15. It is no great thing therefore if his ministers also fashion themselves as ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
16. I say again, Let no man think me foolish; but if ye do, yet as foolish receive me, that I also may glory a little.
17. That which I speak, I speak not after the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of glorying.
18. Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.
19. For ye bear with the foolish gladly, being wise yourselves.
20. For ye bear with a man, if he bringeth you into bondage, if he devoureth you, if he taketh you captive, if he exalteth himself, if he smiteth you on the face.
21. I speak by way of disparagement, as though we had been weak. Yet whereinsoever any is bold (I speak in foolishness), I am bold also.
22. Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.
23. Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as one beside himself) I more; in labours more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in deaths oft.
24. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.