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Paul
Defends His Apostleship |
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2 Corinthians 11:1
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I wish that you would bear with me in a little
foolishness; but indeed you are bearing with me. |
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2 Corinthians 11:2
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For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy;
for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a
pure virgin. |
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2 Corinthians 11:3
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But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived
Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity
of devotion to Christ. |
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2 Corinthians 11:4
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For if one comes and preaches another Jesus
whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not
received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully.
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2 Corinthians 11:5
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For I consider myself not in the least inferior
to the most eminent apostles. |
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2 Corinthians 11:6
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But even if I am unskilled in speech, yet I
am not so in knowledge; in fact, in every way we have made this evident to you
in all things. |
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2 Corinthians 11:7
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Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself so
that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you without
charge? |
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2 Corinthians 11:8
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I robbed other churches by taking wages from
them to serve you; |
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2 Corinthians 11:9
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and when I was present with you and was in need,
I was not a burden to anyone; for when the brethren came from Macedonia they fully
supplied my need, and in everything I kept myself from being a burden to you,
and will continue to do so. |
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2 Corinthians 11:10
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As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting
of mine will not be stopped in the regions of Achaia. |
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2 Corinthians 11:11
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Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I
do! |
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2 Corinthians 11:12
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But what I am doing I will continue to do, so
that I may cut off opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded
just as we are in the matter about which they are boasting. |
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2 Corinthians 11:13
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For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers,
disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. |
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2 Corinthians 11:14
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No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself
as an angel of light. |
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2 Corinthians 11:15
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Therefore it is not surprising if his servants
also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according
to their deeds. |
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2 Corinthians 11:16
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Again I say, let no one think me foolish; but
if you do, receive me even as foolish, so that I also may boast a little. |
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2 Corinthians 11:17
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What I am saying, I am not saying as the Lord
would, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting. |
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2 Corinthians 11:18
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Since many boast according to the flesh, I will
boast also. |
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2 Corinthians 11:19
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For you, being so wise, tolerate the foolish
gladly. |
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2 Corinthians 11:20
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For you tolerate it if anyone enslaves you,
anyone devours you, anyone takes advantage of you, anyone exalts himself, anyone
hits you in the face. |
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2 Corinthians 11:21
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To my shame I must say that we have been weak
by comparison. But in whatever respect anyone else is bold--I speak in foolishness--I
am just as bold myself. |
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2 Corinthians 11:22
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Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites?
So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. |
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2 Corinthians 11:23
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Are they servants of Christ?--I speak as if
insane--I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times
without number, often in danger of death. |
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2 Corinthians 11:24
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Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine
lashes. |
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2 Corinthians 11:25
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Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was
stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep.
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2 Corinthians 11:26
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I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers
from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the
Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea,
dangers among false brethren; |
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2 Corinthians 11:27
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I have been in labor and hardship, through many
sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. |
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2 Corinthians 11:28
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Apart from such external things, there is the
daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches. |
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2 Corinthians 11:29
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Who is weak without my being weak? Who is led
into sin without my intense concern? |
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2 Corinthians 11:30
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If I have to boast, I will boast of what pertains
to my weakness. |
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2 Corinthians 11:31
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The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, He who
is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. |
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2 Corinthians 11:32
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In Damascus the ethnarch under Aretas the king
was guarding the city of the Damascenes in order to seize me, |
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2 Corinthians 11:33
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and I was let down in a basket through a window
in the wall, and so escaped his hands. |
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