12I beg you, brothers, become like me, for I became like you. You have done me no wrong.
13You know that it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you.
14And although my illness was a trial to you, you did not despise or reject me. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus Himself.
15What then has become of your blessing? For I can testify that, if it were possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.
16Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?
17Those people are zealous for you, but not in a good way. Instead, they want to isolate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them.
18Nevertheless, it is good to be zealous if it serves a noble purpose—at any time, and not only when I am with you.
19My children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,
20how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you.