1 I wish you would bear with {anechomai: endure patiently} me in a little bit of foolishness {aphrosyne: self-disparaging speech}; but indeed, you are already bearing with me.
2 I am consumed by a zeal from God {Theos, Zealous Protector}, because I have bound you to one husband in order to present you to Christ {Christos, Heavenly Bridegroom} as an unblemished virgin.
3 However, I am afraid that somehow, just as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning {panourgia: wily craftiness}, your minds may be led away from the simplicity and purity that belong to Christ {Christos, Faithful Devotional Focus}.
4 For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus {Iesous, Falsely Portrayed Savior}, whom we did not proclaim, or if you take in a different spirit which you did not receive, or a different gospel which you did not accept, you tolerate it readily {kalos: overly willing}.
5 For I consider {logizomai: deliberate evaluation} that I have not at all fallen short of those superlative {hyperlian: so-called elites} apostles.
6 But even if I am unskilled {idiotes: lacking rhetoric} in speech, yet I am not in knowledge; rather, in every way we have made everything clear {phanerosantes: openly demonstrated} to you.
7 Or did I commit a sin in lowering myself so that you might be lifted up, because I preached the gospel of God {Theos, Source Of Gospel} to you without charge {dorean: no payment}?
8 I took support from other churches {ekklesias: gatherings of believers}, as if plundering them, by receiving wages in order to serve you in ministry {diakonia: ministry work}.
9 And when I was with you and fell into need, I did not burden anyone, for my lack {hysterema: deficiency or need} was supplied by the brothers {adelphoi: fellow believers} who came from Macedonia; and in everything I have kept myself from being a burden to you, and I will keep myself so.
10 The truth of Christ {Christos, Oath Witness} is in me: this boasting {kauchesis: confident declaration} will not, as far as I am concerned, be silenced in the regions of Achaia.
11 Why is this? Is it because I do not love {agapo: self-giving devotion} you? God {Theos, All-Knowing Witness} knows.
12 But what I do, I will also continue to do, so that I might remove the opportunity {aphorme: opening or pretext} from those who desire an opportunity, in order that in what they boast {kauchontai: take pride in} they may be found just as we are.
13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers {ergatai: religious laborers}, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ {Christos, Commissioning Lord}.
14 And it is not a wonder {thauma: expected marvel}, for even Satan {Satanas: Deceptive Accuser} himself transforms himself into an angel of light.
15 Therefore, it is not a great thing {mega: anything remarkable} if even his servants are transformed as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works {erga: outward actions}.
16 Again I say, let no one think me to be a fool; but if indeed not, then at least receive {dexasthe: accept for a moment} me as a fool, so that I also may boast a little {kauchesomai: limited self-praise}.
17 What I speak, I do not speak according to the Lord {Kurios, Measure of Truth}, but as in foolishness, in this confidence {hypostasis: settled stance} of boasting.
18 Since many boast {kauchaomai: speak with pride} according to the flesh {sarx: unspiritual nature}, I also will boast.
19 For you gladly {hēdeōs: with ready willingness} bear with fools, being wise {phronimoi: possessing practical insight} yourselves.
20 For you endure {anekhesthe: tolerate ongoing abuse} if someone enslaves you, if someone devours you, if someone takes from you, if someone exalts himself, if someone strikes you in the face {prosopon: public humiliation}.
21 I say this to my shame {atimian: state of dishonor}, as though we have been weak. But in whatever anyone dares—I am speaking in foolishness {aphrosynē: lack of sound judgment}—I also dare.
22 They are Hebrews {Hebraioi: ethnic Jews}; so am I. They are Israelites; so am I. They are the seed {sperma: physical lineage} of Abraham; so am I.
23 Are they servants of Christ {Christos, Suffering Master}? I am speaking as one out of my mind—I am more, in labors {kopois: strenuous ministry work} far more, in prisons far more often, in beatings beyond measure, in deaths often.
24 Five times I received from the Jews {Ioudaion: Jewish authorities} forty {tessarakonta: prescribed maximum} lashes minus one.
25 Three times I was beaten with rods {erabdisthen: Roman penalty}, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked; for a night and a day I have spent in the deep {buthos: open sea}.
26 On journeys often, in dangers from rivers, in dangers from robbers, in dangers from my own kindred {genous: fellow Jews}, in dangers from the nations, in dangers in the city, in dangers in the wilderness, in dangers at sea, in dangers among false brothers {pseudadelphois: professing believers}.
27 In toil and in hardship, in many sleepless nights {agrypniais: watchful vigils}, in hunger and in thirst, in fastings often, in cold and in nakedness {gymnoteti: lacking adequate covering}.
28 Apart from the things besides, there is the daily pressure {epistasis: heavy internal strain} on me, the care for all the churches {ekklēsia: called-out community}.
29 Who is weak {asthenei: lacking strength}, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble {skandalizetai: caused to falter}, and I do not burn?
30 If it is necessary {dei: moral obligation} to boast, I will boast about the things of my weakness {astheneia: human limitation}.
31 The God {Theos, Faithful Witness} and Father of the Lord Jesus {Kyrios Iesous, Exalted Son}, He who is blessed {eulogetos: eternally praised} forever, knows that I am not lying.
32 In Damascus, the governor {ethnarches: regional ruler} belonging to King Aretas kept watch over the city of the Damascenes so as to seize {piasai: take by force} me.
33 And through a window {thyri-dos: small opening} I was lowered down the wall in a basket, and I escaped his hands {cheiras: grasp or control}.