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For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not found vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying on your behalf: I am filled with comfort, I overflow with joy in all our affliction.

I rejoice that in everything I am of good courage concerning you.

Now I Paul myself entreat you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I who in your presence am lowly among you, but being absent am of good courage toward you:

For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy: for I espoused you to one husband, that I might present you as a pure virgin to Christ.

For I reckon that I am not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.

But though I be rude in speech, yet am I not in knowledge; nay, in every way have we made this manifest unto you in all things.

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.

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

Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is caused to stumble, and I burn not?

Wherefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

I am become foolish: ye compelled me; for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing was I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I am nothing.

Behold, this is the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be a burden to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

And I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I loved the less?

This is the third time I am coming to you. At the mouth of two witnesses or three shall every word be established.

For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? or am I striving to please men? if I were still pleasing men, I should not be a servant of Christ.

I am afraid of you, lest by any means I have bestowed labor upon you in vain.

I beseech you, brethren, become as I am, for I also am become as ye are. Ye did me no wrong:

So then am I become your enemy, by telling you the truth?