2 Corinthians 11:1-15 - Paul Defends His Apostleship

¹ I would that you bear with me a little in my folly: yes indeed you do bear with me. ² For I am jealous of you with the jealousy of God: for I espoused you to one husband, to present you a pure virgin to Christ; ³ but I fear, lest, as the serpent beguiled Eve by his craftiness, your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity which is in Christ. ⁴ For if indeed one coming preaches another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or you receive another spirit, which you did not receive, or another gospel which you did not receive, well do you bear with him.

⁵ For I consider that I am not inferior to the chief of the apostles. ⁶ If indeed rude in speech, but not in knowledge; but in every thing making manifest unto you in all things. ⁷ Did I commit sin humbling myself that you may be exalted, because I preached unto you the gospel of God gratuitously? ⁸ I robbed other churches, having received support for your ministry, and being present with you and being destitute, I burdened no one; ⁹ for the brethren, having come from Macedonia, supplied my deficiency; and in everything I rendered myself not burdensome to you, and will so render. ¹⁰ The truth of Christ is in me, that this glorying shall not cease unto me in the regions of Achaia. ¹¹ Why? because I do not love you with divine love? God knows.

¹² But what I am doing, I indeed will do, in order that I may cut off occasion from those wishing occasion, in order that in whatsoever they may glory, they may be found even as we are. ¹³ For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. ¹⁴ And no wonder; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. ¹⁵ Then it is no great wonder if his ministers are transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose, end shall be according to their works.