¹ Would that you could put up with a little "folly" from me! Nay, do bear with me. ² I have a divine jealousy on your behalf; for I betrothed you to one only husband, even to Christ, that I might present you to him, a chaste virgin. ³ But I fear lest, just as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, so your minds should be seduced from your single-mindedness and purity toward Christ. ⁴ If indeed some one is coming to preach another Jesus, whom I did not preach, or you are receiving a Spirit other than you once received, or another gospel which you did not accept before, you would do well to bear with me.

⁵ For I reckon that I am in no respect behind your superapostolic apostles. ⁶ Yes, though I be unskilled in speech, at least I am not in knowledge; indeed I made this perfectly plain to you in all things and among all men. ⁷ Is it a sin, forsooth, that I humbled myself that you might be exalted, in preaching the gospel to you free of cost? ⁸ Other churches I spoiled, and took their wages to do you service. ⁹ Even when I lacked the actual necessities of life while I was with you, I was a burden to no one; for whatever I lacked, the brothers from Macedonia supplied, when they came. So I kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so. ¹⁰ As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine shall not be stopped within the boundaries of Greece! ¹¹ And why? Because I love you not? God knows I do.

¹² I am doing and will continue to do this in order to cut away the ground from under those who wish some cause for slander; and that the ground of their boasting may appear as does mine. ¹³ For such fellows are sham apostles of Christ. ¹⁴ No wonder! for Satan himself disguises himself as an angel of light. ¹⁵ It is no great marvel, then, if his ministers also disguise themselves as ministers of righteousness. Their end will be according to their works.