2 Corinthians

Paul defends his apostleship and teaches on the power of God in weakness and the importance of generous giving.

Chapter 11

1 Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.

*I wish you would be patient with me in my foolishness; and truly, be patient with me.

2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

*Because I am very protective of you in a good way: since I've promised you to only one partner, it's so I can give you to Jesus pure and untouched.

3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

*But I am worried that, in any way possible, like how the snake tricked Eve with cleverness, you might be led away from the simple truth found in Christ.

4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

*If someone teaches a different Jesus than what we have shared, or gives you a new spirit that you haven't received before, or presents a new message that you haven't agreed to, it would be understandable if you put up with them.

5 For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.

*I believe that I was not at all inferior to the most important apostles.

6 But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things.

*Even if my speech is not polite, I am still knowledgeable. And we have shown everything clearly to you.

7 Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?

*Did I do something wrong by humbling myself so you can be lifted up, since I shared the good news of God with you without charge?

8 I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.

*I stole money from other churches to help you.

9 And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.

*When I was with you and needed something, I didn't ask anyone to pay for it. The brothers who came from Macedonia helped me instead. I never asked for anything that would make things difficult for you, and I won't in the future either.

10 As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.

*Because I truly believe in Christ, nobody can prevent me from bragging about it in the area of Achaia.

11 Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth.

*Why? Because you don't love me? God knows.

12 But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.

*But whatever action I take, it's to stop them from having a reason to act; for those who want a reason, let their pride be the same as ours.

13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

*False apostles disguise themselves as true ones, being tricky and misleading.

14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

*And it's not surprising, because even Satan can change into a good-looking angel.

15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

*So, it's not surprising if his helpers change too and become helpers of what's right. Their final outcome will match their actions.

16 I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little.

*I repeat, don't see me as foolish; if you do, at least treat me like I am, so I can brag a little.

17 That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.

*What I say, I don't say because the Lord told me, but rather, it seems silly and I say it with prideful confidence.

18 Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.

*Noticing others boast about their physical achievements, I will do the same.

19 For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.

*Put up with foolish people happily, because you know you are smart.

20 For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face.

*If someone forces you into slavery, eats you alive, takes what you have, acts proud, or hits you in the face, you will suffer.

21 I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.

*In terms of disgrace, I act like we are weak. However, when anyone is brave, I act bravely too, even though it may seem silly.

22 Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.

*Are they Hebrew people? It's the same for me. Are they Israelite people? It's the same for me. Are they descendants of Abraham? It's the same for me.

23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.

*Are they servants of Christ? (I'm speaking like a foolish person) I do even more; with many more tasks, getting hit lots more times, spending more time in jail, and facing death more often.

24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.

*I received forty minus one lashes five different times for the Jews.

25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

*Three times I got hit with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times my ship wrecked, one day and one night I spent in the ocean depths.

26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

*I often face many dangers during my travels, such as risks on the water, encounters with robbers, dangers from my own people, dangers from non-believers, city dangers, wilderness dangers, sea dangers, and dangers from fake friends.

27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

*In tiredness and pain, during many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, during frequent fasts, in cold and without clothes.

28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

*Next to outside events and the daily challenges I face, I am responsible for taking care of all the churches.

29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?

*Which person is weak and I am not weak? Which person is offended and I do not suffer?

30 If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.

*If I need to boast, I will boast about my weaknesses.

31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.

*The God and Father of Jesus knows that I'm telling the truth. He is always blessed forever.

32 In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:

*In Damascus, the ruler wanted to capture me for the king Aretas and guarded the city of the Damascenes with soldiers.

33 And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.

*I was lowered out of a window in a basket and went down the wall, avoiding capture.

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