⁷ For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive?^(A) And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

⁸ Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich!^(B) You have begun to reign—and that without us! How I wish that you really had begun to reign so that we also might reign with you! ⁹ For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like those condemned to die^(C) in the arena. We have been made a spectacle^(D) to the whole universe, to angels as well as to human beings. ¹⁰ We are fools for Christ,^(E) but you are so wise in Christ!^(F) We are weak, but you are strong!^(G) You are honored, we are dishonored! ¹¹ To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.^{(H) 12} We work hard with our own hands.^(I) When we are cursed, we bless;^(J) when we are persecuted,^(K) we endure it;

¹³ As you know, it was because of an illness^(A) that I first preached the gospel to you,

Paul’s Defense of His Ministry

10 By the humility and gentleness^(A) of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul,^(B) who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” toward you when away!

¹⁰ For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive^(A) and his speaking amounts to nothing.”^(B)

⁷ or because of these surpassingly great revelations.^(A) Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh,^(B) a messenger of Satan,^(C) to torment me.