2 Corinthians 11

Defense of His Apostolic Authority 2 Corinthians 11:5–9

⁵Verse 5. For I reckon that I am not at all behind the very best apostles. ⁶Verse 6. But though I am unskilled in speech, yet I am not unskilled in knowledge. No, in every way we have been revealed to you in all things. ⁷Verse 7. Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached to you God’s Good News free of charge? ⁸Verse 8. I robbed other assemblies, taking wages from them that I might serve you. ⁹Verse 9. When I was present with you and was in need, I wasn’t a burden on anyone, for the brothers, when they came from Macedonia, supplied the measure of my need. In everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and I will continue to do so.

Warning Against False Apostles 2 Corinthians 11:10–15

¹⁰Verse 10. As the truth of Christ is in me, no one will stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia. ¹¹Verse 11. Why? Because I don’t love you? God knows. ¹²Verse 12. But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them that desire an occasion, that in which they boast, they may be found even as we. ¹³Verse 13. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as Christ’s apostles. ¹⁴Verse 14. And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light. ¹⁵Verse 15. It is no great thing therefore if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

Paul's Boasting in Weakness 2 Corinthians 11:16–21

¹⁶Verse 16. I say again, let no one think me foolish. But if so, yet receive me as foolish, that I also may boast a little. ¹⁷Verse 17. That which I speak, I don’t speak according to the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting. ¹⁸Verse 18. Seeing that many boast after the flesh, I will also boast. ¹⁹Verse 19. For you bear with the foolish gladly, being wise. ²⁰Verse 20. For you bear with a man, if he brings you into bondage, if he devours you, if he takes you captive, if he exalts himself, if he strikes you on the face. ²¹Verse 21. I speak by way of disparagement, as though we had been weak. Yet in whatever way anyone is bold (I speak in foolishness), I am bold also.

List of Paul's Hardships 2 Corinthians 11:22–29

²²Verse 22. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the offspring of Abraham? So am I. ²³Verse 23. Are they servants of Christ? (I speak as one beside himself) I am more so; in labors more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in deaths often. ²⁴Verse 24. Five times from the Jews I received forty stripes minus one. ²⁵Verse 25. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I suffered shipwreck. I have been a night and a day in the deep. ²⁶Verse 26. I have been in travels often, perils of rivers, perils of robbers, perils from my countrymen, perils from the Gentiles, perils in the city, perils in the wilderness, perils in the sea, perils among false brothers;

²⁷Verse 27. in labor and travail, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, and in cold and nakedness. ²⁸Verse 28. Besides those things that are outside, there is that which presses on me daily: anxiety for all the assemblies. ²⁹Verse 29. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is caused to stumble, and I don’t burn with indignation?

Escape from Danger 2 Corinthians 11:30–33

³⁰Verse 30. If I must boast, I will boast of the things that concern my weakness. ³¹Verse 31. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, he who is blessed forever more, knows that I don’t lie. ³²Verse 32. In Damascus the governor under King Aretas guarded the Damascenes’ city, desiring to arrest me. ³³Verse 33. Through a window I was let down in a basket by the wall, and escaped his hands.