November 24, 2024
Evening Service

Paul and the False Apostles

2Co 11:1  I wish you would be patient with me even when I am a little foolish. But you are already patient with me.

2Co 11:2  I am jealous for you with a jealousy that comes from God. I promised to give you to Christ. He must be your only husband. I want to give you to Christ to be his pure bride.

 

2Co 11:3  But I am afraid that your minds will be led away from your true and pure following of Christ. This could happen just as Eve was tricked by that snake with his clever lies.

 

2Co 11:4  You seem to be quite patient with anyone who comes to you and tells you about a Jesus that is different from the Jesus we told you about. You seem very willing to accept a spirit or a message that is different from the Spirit and message that you received from us.

2Co 11:5  I don't think that those "super apostles" are any better than I am.

2Co 11:6  It is true that I am not a trained speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have shown this to you clearly in every way.

2Co 11:7  I did the work of telling God's Good News to you without pay. I humbled myself to make you important. Do you think that was wrong?

 

2Co 11:8  I accepted pay from other churches. I took their money so that I could serve you.

2Co 11:9  If I needed something when I was with you, I did not trouble any of you. The brothers who came from Macedonia gave me all that I needed. I did not allow myself to be a burden to you in any way. And I will never be a burden to you.

2Co 11:10  No one there in Achaia will stop me from boasting about that. I say this with the truth of Christ in me.

2Co 11:11  And why do I not burden you? Do you think it is because I don't love you? God knows that I love you.

2Co 11:12  And I will continue doing what I am doing now, because I want to stop those people from having a reason to boast. They would like to say that the work they boast about is the same as ours.

2Co 11:13  They are false apostles, lying workers. They only pretend to be apostles of Christ.

 

2Co 11:14  That does not surprise us, because even Satan changes himself to look like an angel of light.

2Co 11:15  So it does not surprise us if Satan's servants make themselves look like servants who work for what is right. But in the end those people will get the punishment they deserve.

 

Paul's Sufferings as an Apostle

2Co 11:16  I tell you again: No one should think that I am a fool. But if you think I am a fool, then accept me as you would accept a fool. Then I can boast a little too.

2Co 11:17  But I am not talking the way the Lord would talk. I am boasting like a fool.

2Co 11:18  Others are boasting about their lives in the world. So I will boast too.

2Co 11:19  You are wise, so you will gladly be patient with fools!

2Co 11:20  I say this because you are even patient with someone who forces you to do things and uses you. You are patient with those who trick you, or think they are better than you, or hit you in the face!

2Co 11:21  I am ashamed to say it, but we were too "weak" to do such things to you. But if anyone dares to boast, I will too. (I am talking like a fool.)

 

2Co 11:22  Are those people Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they from Abraham's family? So am I.

2Co 11:23  Are they serving Christ? I am serving him more. (I am crazy to talk like this.) I have worked much harder than they have. I have been in prison more often. I have been hurt more in beatings. I have been near death many times.

2Co 11:24  Five times the Jews have given me their punishment of 39 lashes with a whip.

2Co 11:25  Three different times I was beaten with rods. One time I was almost killed with rocks. Three times I was in ships that were wrecked, and one of those times I spent the night and the next day in the sea.

2Co 11:26  In my constant traveling I have been in danger from rivers, from thieves, from my own people, and from people who are not Jews. I have been in danger in cities, in places where no one lives, and on the sea. And I have been in danger from people who pretend to be believers but are not.

2Co 11:27  I have done hard and tiring work, and many times I did not sleep. I have been hungry and thirsty. Many times I have been without food. I have been cold and without clothes.

2Co 11:28  And there are many other problems. One of these is the care I have for all the churches. I worry about each group of believers every day.

2Co 11:29  I feel weak every time another person is weak. I feel deeply upset every time another person is led into sin.

2Co 11:30  If I must boast, I will boast about the things that show I am weak.

2Co 11:31  God knows that I am not lying. He is the God and Father of the Lord Jesus, and he is to be praised forever.

2Co 11:32  When I was in Damascus, the governor under King Aretas wanted to arrest me, so he put guards around the city.

2Co 11:33  But some friends put me in a basket. Then they put the basket through a hole in the wall and lowered me down. So I escaped from the governor.