²¹ I speak by way of disparagement, as though we had been weak. Yet however any is bold (I speak in foolishness), I am bold also.

¹⁰ For, "His letters," they say, "are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech is despised."

¹ Now I Paul, myself, entreat you by the humility and gentleness of Christ; I who in your presence am lowly among you, but being absent am of good courage toward you.

² Yes, I beg you that I may not, when present, show courage with the confidence with which I intend to be bold against some, who consider us to be walking according to the flesh.

¹⁷ That which I speak, I don't speak according to the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting.

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 servants of Christ? (I speak as one beside himself) I am more so; in labors more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in deaths often.

²⁴ Five times from the Jews I received forty stripes minus one.

²⁵ Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I suffered shipwreck. I have been a night and a day in the deep.

²⁶ I have been in travels often, perils of rivers, perils of robbers, perils from my countrymen, perils from the Gentiles, perils in the city, perils in the wilderness, perils in the sea, perils among false brothers;

²⁷ in labor and travail, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, and in cold and nakedness.

¹⁰ For this cause I write these things while absent, that I may not deal sharply when present, according to the authority which the Lord gave me for building up, and not for tearing down.

³ For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh;

⁴ though I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If any other man thinks that he has confidence in the flesh, I yet more:

⁵ circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee;

⁶ concerning zeal, persecuting the assembly; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, found blameless.