Study Desk

I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool.^(ac) But if you do, then tolerate me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting.

In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would,^(ad) but as a fool.^(ae)

Since many are boasting in the way the world does,^(af) I too will boast.^(ag)

You gladly put up with^(ah) fools since you are so wise!^(ai)

In fact, you even put up with^(aj) anyone who enslaves you^(ak) or exploits you or takes advantage of you or puts on airs or slaps you in the face.

To my shame I admit that we were too weak^(al) for that! Whatever anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about.^(am)

Are they Hebrews? So am I.^(an) Are they Israelites? So am I.^(ao) Are they Abraham's descendants? So am I.^(ap)

Are they servants of Christ?^(aq) (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder,^(ar) been in prison more frequently,^(as) been flogged more severely,^(at) and been exposed to death again and again.^(au)

Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes^(av) minus one.

Three times I was beaten with rods,^(aw) once I was pelted with stones,^(ax) three times I was shipwrecked,^(ay) I spent a night and a day in the open sea,

I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews,^(az) in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city,^(ba) in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers.^(bb)

I have labored and toiled^(bc) and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food;^(bd) I have been cold and naked.

Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.^(be)

Who is weak, and I do not feel weak?^(bf) Who is led into sin,^(bg) and I do not inwardly burn?

If I must boast, I will boast^(bh) of the things that show my weakness.^(bi)

The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever,^(bj) knows^(bk) that I am not lying.

In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me.^(bl)

But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.^(bm)