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Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly:andindeedbear with me.2For I am jealous over you with godlyjealousy:for I have espousedyou to onehusband, that I may present you as a chastevirgin to Christ.3But I fear , lest by any means,as the serpentbeguiledEvethroughhissubtilty,soyourminds should be corruptedfrom the simplicity that is inChrist.4Forifhe that comethpreachethanotherJesus,whom we havenotpreached , or if ye receiveanotherspirit,which ye havenotreceived , oranothergospel,which ye havenotaccepted , ye mightwell bear with him.
5For I suppose I was not a whitbehind the verychiefestapostles.6Butthough I be rude in speech,yetnot in knowledge;but we have been throughlymademanifestamongyouin all things.7Have I committed an offence in abasingmyselfthatye might be exalted , because I have preached to you the gospel of Godfreely?8
I robbedotherchurches,takingwages of them, todoyouservice.9And when I was presentwithyou,andwanted , I waschargeable to no man:for that which was lacking to me the brethren which camefromMacedoniasupplied : andinall things I have keptmyself from being burdensome unto you,and so will I keep myself.
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As the truth of Christisinme , no mana shall stopmeofthisboastingin the regions of Achaia.11Wherefore?because I loveyounot?Godknoweth .
12Butwhat I do , that I will do , that I may cut offoccasion from them which desireoccasion;thatwhereintheyglory , they may be foundevenaswe.13Forsuch are false apostles,deceitfulworkers, transforming themselvesinto the apostles of Christ.14Andnomarvel;forSatanhimself is transformedinto an angel of light.15Therefore it is no great thingifhisministersalso be transformedas the ministers of righteousness;whoseend shall beaccording to theirworks.16
I sayagain,Letnomanthinkme a fool; if otherwise,yetas a foolreceivebme,thatI may boast myselfalittle.17
That which I speak , I speak it notafter the Lord,butas it were foolishly , inthisconfidence of boasting.18
Seeing thatmanygloryafter the flesh, I will gloryalso.19For ye sufferfoolsgladly, seeing ye yourselves arewise.20For ye suffer , if a manbringyou into bondage , if a mandevour you, if a mantake of you, if a man exalt himself , if a mansmiteyouon the face.21
I speak as concerningreproach,asthoughwe had been weak . Howbeitwhereinsoeverany is bold , (I speakfoolishly ,) I am boldalso.22
Are theyHebrews? so am I. Are theyIsraelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.23
Are theyministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool ) I am more;inlabours more abundant,instripes above measure,inprisons more frequent,indeathsoft.24Of the Jews five times received Iforty stripes saveone.25Thrice was I beaten with rods , once was I stoned , thrice I suffered shipwreck , a night and a day I have beenin the deep;26
In journeyingsoften, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perilsby mine own countrymen, in perilsby the heathen, in perilsin the city, in perilsin the wilderness, in perilsin the sea, in perilsamong false brethren;27Inwearinessandpainfulness,inwatchingsoften,inhungerandthirst,infastingsoften,incoldandnakedness.28Beside those things that are without, that which cometh uponmedaily , the care of all the churches.29Who is weak , and I amnotweak ? who is offended , andIburnnot?30If I must needsglory , I will glory of the things which concernmineinfirmities.31
The GodandFather of ourLordJesusChrist,whichisblessedforevermore,knoweth that Ilienot.32InDamascus the governor under Aretas the kingkept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison , desirous to apprehendme:33Andthrough a windowin a basket was I let downby the wall,andescapedhishands.
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