1
Oh, that you would bear with me in a little folly--and indeed you do bear with me.
2
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.
3
But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
4
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!
5
For I consider that I am not at all inferior to the most eminent apostles.
6
Even though I am untrained in speech, yet I am not in knowledge. But we have been thoroughly manifested among you in all things.
7
Did I commit sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge?
8
I robbed other churches, taking wages from them to minister to you.
9
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.
10
As the truth of Christ is in me, no one shall stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia.
11
Why? Because I do not love you? God knows!