Study Desk

For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.

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

For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted--you may well put up with it!

For I consider that I am not at all inferior to the most eminent apostles.

And when I was present with you, and in need, I was a burden to no one, for what I lacked the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied. And in everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so I will keep myself.

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

And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.

For you put up with fools gladly, since you yourselves are wise!

For you put up with it if one brings you into bondage, if one devours you, if one takes from you, if one exalts himself, if one strikes you on the face.

To our shame I say that we were too weak for that! But in whatever anyone is bold--I speak foolishly--I am bold also.

besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.

It is doubtless [fn] not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord:

how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me.

And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

I have become a fool in boasting; [fn] you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you; for in nothing was I behind the most eminent apostles, though I am nothing.

For what is it in which you were inferior to other churches, except that I myself was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong!

Now for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be burdensome to you; for I do not seek yours, but you. For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.