1I hope you will put up with a little of my foolishness, but you are already doing that.
2I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. For I promised you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.
3I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ.
4For if someone comes and proclaims a Jesus other than the One we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit than the One you received, or a different gospel than the one you accepted, you put up with it very easily.
5I consider myself in no way inferior to those “super-apostles.”
6Although I am not a polished speaker, I am certainly not lacking in knowledge. We have made this clear to you in every way possible.
7Was it a sin for me to humble myself in order to exalt you, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge?
8I robbed other churches by accepting their support in order to serve you.
9And when I was with you and in need, I was not a burden to anyone; for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my needs. I have refrained from being a burden to you in any way, and I will continue to do so.
10As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be silenced in the regions of Achaia.
11Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!
12But I will keep on doing what I am doing, in order to undercut those who want an opportunity to be regarded as our equals in the things of which they boast.
13For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.
14And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.
15It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions.