2 Corinthians 11
11
True and False Apostles
1I wish that you would put up with a little foolishness from me, but indeed you are putting up with me.
2For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy. For I betrothed you to one husband, to present you to Messiah as a pure virgin.
3But I am afraid that somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your minds might be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion and purity to the Messiah.
4For if someone comes and proclaims another Yeshua whom we did not proclaim, or if you receive a different spirit that you did not receive, or a different “good news” that you did not accept, you put up with that well enough!
5For I consider myself in no way inferior to the “super special” emissaries.
6Even if I am unskilled in speech, yet I am not so in knowledge. No, in every way we have made this clear to you in all things.
7Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I proclaimed to you God’s Good News free of charge?
8I robbed other communities by taking wages from them for service to you.
9When I was present with you and I was in need, I did not burden anyone; for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my need. In everything I kept myself from being a burden to you, and I will continue to do so.
10As the truth of Messiah is in me, this boasting of mine will not be silenced in the regions of Achaia.
11Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!
12But what I am doing I will continue to do, so that I may cut off the opportunity from those who want an opportunity in what they boast about to also be regarded just as we are.
13For such men are false emissaries, deceitful workers masquerading as Messiah’s emissaries.
14And no wonder, for even satan masquerades as an angel of light.
15It is no great thing therefore if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be according to their deeds.
Paul Boasts in the Lord
16I say again, let no one consider me to be a fool. But if you do, accept me as a fool, so that I also may boast a little.
17What I am saying, I am saying not according to the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this self-confident boasting.
18Since many boast according to the flesh, I too will boast.
19For you, being so wise, put up with fools gladly.
20For you put up with it if someone enslaves you, if someone devours you, if someone takes advantage of you, if someone puts on airs, if someone slaps you on the face.
21To my shame I must say that we have been weak. Yet whatever anyone else dares to boast about—I speak in foolishness—I dare, too.
22Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the descendants of Abraham? So am I.
23Are they servants of Messiah? I am more so—I speak like I’m out of my mind—in labors much more, in prisons much more, in beatings more brutal, near death often.
24Five times from the Jewish leaders I received forty lashes minus one.
25Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I suffered shipwreck. A night and a day I spent in the open sea.
26In my many journeys I have been in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the desert, dangers in the sea, dangers among false brothers,
27in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.
28Besides these other things, there is daily pressure on me of concern for all of Messiah’s communities.
29Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not burn with indignation?
30If I must boast, I will boast of my weakness.
31The God and Father of the Lord Yeshua, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.
32In Damascus the governor under King Aretas was guarding the city of the Damascenes in order to seize me,
33and I was lowered in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his hands.
Currently Selected:
2 Corinthians 11: TLV
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Copyright © 2014 - Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society
2 Corinthians 11
11
Paul and the False Apostles
1I wish you would be patient with me even when I am a little foolish. But you are already patient with me. 2I am jealous for you with a jealousy that comes from God. I promised to give you to Christ. He must be your only husband. I want to give you to Christ to be his pure bride.#11:2 bride Literally, “virgin.” 3But I am afraid that your minds will be led away from your true and pure following of Christ. This could happen just as Eve was tricked by that snake with his clever lies. 4You seem to be quite patient with anyone who comes to you and tells you about a Jesus that is different from the Jesus we told you about. You seem very willing to accept a spirit or a message that is different from the Spirit and message that you received from us.
5I don’t think that those “super apostles” are any better than I am. 6It is true that I am not a trained speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have shown this to you clearly in every way.
7I did the work of telling God’s Good News to you without pay. I humbled myself to make you important. Do you think that was wrong? 8I accepted pay from other churches. I took their money so that I could serve you. 9If I needed something when I was with you, I did not trouble any of you. The brothers who came from Macedonia gave me all that I needed. I did not allow myself to be a burden to you in any way. And I will never be a burden to you. 10No one there in Achaia will stop me from boasting about that. I say this with the truth of Christ in me. 11And why do I not burden you? Do you think it is because I don’t love you? God knows that I love you.
12And I will continue doing what I am doing now, because I want to stop those people from having a reason to boast. They would like to say that the work they boast about is the same as ours. 13They are false apostles, lying workers. They only pretend to be apostles of Christ. 14That does not surprise us, because even Satan changes himself to look like an angel of light.#11:14 angel of light Messenger from God. The devil fools people so that they think he is from God. 15So it does not surprise us if Satan’s servants make themselves look like servants who work for what is right. But in the end those people will get the punishment they deserve.
Paul Tells About His Sufferings
16I tell you again: No one should think that I am a fool. But if you think I am a fool, then accept me as you would accept a fool. Then I can boast a little too. 17But I am not talking the way the Lord would talk. I am boasting like a fool. 18Others are boasting about their lives in the world. So I will boast too. 19You are wise, so you will gladly be patient with fools! 20I say this because you are even patient with someone who forces you to do things and uses you. You are patient with those who trick you, or think they are better than you, or hit you in the face! 21I am ashamed to say it, but we were too “weak” to do such things to you.
But if anyone dares to boast, I will too. (I am talking like a fool.) 22Are those people Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites#11:22 Hebrews … Israelites Other names for the Jewish people.? So am I. Are they from Abraham’s family? So am I. 23Are they serving Christ? I am serving him more. (I am crazy to talk like this.) I have worked much harder than they have. I have been in prison more often. I have been hurt more in beatings. I have been near death many times.
24Five times the Jews have given me their punishment of 39 lashes with a whip. 25Three different times I was beaten with rods. One time I was almost killed with rocks. Three times I was in ships that were wrecked, and one of those times I spent the night and the next day in the sea. 26In my constant traveling I have been in danger from rivers, from thieves, from my own people, and from people who are not Jews. I have been in danger in cities, in places where no one lives, and on the sea. And I have been in danger from people who pretend to be believers but are not.
27I have done hard and tiring work, and many times I did not sleep. I have been hungry and thirsty. Many times I have been without food. I have been cold and without clothes. 28And there are many other problems. One of these is the care I have for all the churches. I worry about each group of believers every day. 29I feel weak every time another person is weak. I feel deeply upset every time another person is led into sin.
30If I must boast, I will boast about the things that show I am weak. 31God knows that I am not lying. He is the God and Father of the Lord Jesus, and he is to be praised forever. 32When I was in Damascus, the governor under King Aretas wanted to arrest me, so he put guards around the city. 33But some friends put me in a basket. Then they put the basket through a hole in the wall and lowered me down. So I escaped from the governor.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
© 1987, 2004 Bible League International