17
What I speak, I speak not according to the Lord, but as it were, foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.
18
Seeing that many boast according to the flesh, I also will boast.
19
For you put up with fools gladly, since you yourselves are wise!
20
For you put up with it if one brings you into bondage, if one devours you, if one takes from you, if one exalts himself, if one strikes you on the face.
21
To our shame, I say that we were too weak for that! But in whatever anyone is bold--I speak foolishly--I am bold also.
22
Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I.
23
Are they ministers of Christ?--I speak as a fool--I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often.
24
From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one.
25
Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep;
26
in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
27
in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness--