or not he that commends himself is approved,
but he whom the Lord commends.

XI.

WOULD that ye could bear with me in a little folly! Nay, ye do bear
with me. (2)For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy; for I
espoused you to one husband, that I may present a chaste virgin to
Christ. (3)But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve
by his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from your
simplicity toward Christ. (4)For if indeed he that comes preaches
another Jesus, whom we preached not, or if ye receive a different
spirit, which ye received not, or a different gospel, which ye
accepted not, ye might well bear with it. (5)For I reckon that I am in
no respect behind these overmuch apostles. (6)And though I be rude in
speech, yet not in knowledge; but in everything we have been made
manifest among all, in respect to you.

(7)Did I commit an offense in abasing myself that ye might be exalted,
because I preached to you the gospel of God without charge. (8)I
robbed other churches, taking wages of them, in order to do you
service. (9)And when I was present with you, and in want, I was a
charge to no one; for what was lacking to me the brethren who came
from Macedonia supplied; and in every thing I kept myself from being
burdensome to you, and so will keep myself.

(10)As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting shall not be shut
up against me in the regions of Achaia. (11)Wherefore? Because I love
you not? God knows. (12)But what I do, and will do, is that I may cut
off the occasion of those who desire an occasion, that wherein they
boast they may be found even as we. (13)For such are false apostles,
deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.
(14)And no wonder; for Satan himself transforms himself into an angel
of light. (15)It is no great thing then, if also his ministers
transform themselves as ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be
according to their works.

(16)I say again, let no one think me foolish; but if it can not be so,
yet receive me even if as foolish, that I too may boast myself a
little. (17)What I speak, I speak not after the Lord, but as in
foolishness, in this confidence of boasting. (18)Seeing that many
boast after the flesh, I also will boast. (19)For ye gladly bear with
the foolish, being yourselves wise. (20)For ye bear with it, if one
brings you into bondage, if one devours you, if one takes you, if one
exalts himself, if one smites