8
I robbed other churches, taking wages from them to minister to you.
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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.
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As the truth of Christ is in me, no one shall stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia.
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Why? Because I do not love you? God knows!
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But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast.
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For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.
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And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.
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Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.
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I say again, let no one think me a fool. If otherwise, at least receive me as a fool, that I also may boast a little.
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What I speak, I speak not according to the Lord, but as it were, foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.
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Seeing that many boast according to the flesh, I also will boast.
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For you put up with fools gladly, since you yourselves are wise!
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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.
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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.
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Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I.
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Are they ministers of Christ?--I speak as a fool--I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often.
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From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one.
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Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep;
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in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
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in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness--
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besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.
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Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?
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If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity.
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The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.
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In Damascus the governor, under Aretas the king, was guarding the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desiring to arrest me;
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but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands.