Bible Passages Bridge: New Testament in a Year

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2 Corinthians 11 - Easy-To-Read Version (ERV)

September 26
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King James and other versions... [http://bibleabc.net/bible/kjv/2cor11-1.htm]
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Paul and the False Apostles
111I wish you would be patient with me even when I am a little foolish. But you
are already patient with me. 2I feel jealousy for you. And this jealousy is a jealousy
that comes from God. I promised to give you to Christ. Christ must be your only
husband. I want to give you to Christ to be his pure bride.* 3But I am afraid that
your minds will be led away from your true and pure following of Christ. This might
happen the same as Eve was tricked (fooled) by the snake (the devil) with his evil
ways. 4You are very patient with any person who comes to you and tells you things
about Jesus that are different from the things we told you. You are very willing
to accept a spirit or a gospel that is different from the Spirit* and gospel* that
you received from us. [So you should be patient with me.] 5I don't think that those
"great apostles" are any better than I am. 6It is true that I am not a trained speaker.
But I do have knowledge. We have shown this to you clearly in every way.

7I 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? 8I accepted pay from other
churches. I took their money so that I could serve you. 9If 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. 10No person in Achaia* will stop me from boasting
about that. I say this with the truth of Christ in me. 11And why [do I not burden
you]? Do you think it is because I don't love you? No. God knows that I love you.

12And I will continue doing what I am doing now. I will continue this 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. 13These people are not true
apostles.* They are workers who lie. And they change themselves to [make people
think they are] apostles of Christ. 14That does not surprise us. Why? Even Satan
(the devil) changes himself to [make people think he is] an angel of light.* 15So
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 be paid (punished) for
the things they do.
Paul Tells About His Sufferings
16I tell you again: No person should think that I am a fool. But if you think that
I am a fool, then accept me like you accept a fool. Then I can boast a little too.
17I boast because I feel sure of myself. But I am not talking like the Lord would
talk. I am boasting like a fool. 18Many people are boasting about their lives in
the world. So I will boast too. 19You are wise, so you will gladly be patient with
fools! 20[I know you will be patient,] because you are even patient with a person
who forces you to do things and uses you! You are patient with people that trick
you, or think they are better than you, or hit you in the face! 21It is shameful
to me to say this, but we were too "weak" [to do those things to you]! But if any
person is brave enough [to boast], then I also will be brave and boast. (I am talking
like a fool.) 22Are those people Hebrews*? I am too. Are they Israelites*? I am
too. Are they from Abraham's* family? I am too. 23Are those people serving Christ?
I am serving him more. (I am crazy to talk like this.) I have worked much harder
than those people. I have been in prison more often. I have been hurt more in beatings.
I have been near death many times. 24Five times the Jews have given me their punishment
of 39 hits with a whip. 25Three 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. 26I have traveled
many, many times. And I have been in danger from rivers, from thieves, from my own
people (the Jews), and from people who are not Jews. I have been in danger in cities,
in places where no people live, and on the sea. And I have been in danger with people
who say they are brothers, but are really not brothers. 27I 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. 28And there are
many other problems. One of these is the care I have for all the churches. I worry
about them every day. 29I feel weak every time another person is weak. I feel upset
inside myself every time another person is led into sin.

30If I must boast, then I will boast about the things that show that I am weak.
31God knows that I am not lying. He is the God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ,
and he is to be praised forever. 32When I was in Damascus, the governor under King
Aretas wanted to arrest me. So he put guards around the city. 33But [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.

Footnotes: bride Literally, "virgin." Spirit, Holy Spirit Also called the Spirit
of God, the Spirit of Christ, and the Comforter. Joined with God and Christ, He
does God's work among people in the world. gospel, Good News The news that God
has made a way for people to have their sins forgiven and live with him forever.
Achaia The southern part of Greece where Corinth was. apostles The men Jesus chose
to represent him in a special way. angel of light Messenger from God. The devil
fools people so that they think he is from God. Hebrews, Israelites Other names
for the Jewish people. Abraham Most respected ancestor of the Jews.
"Taken from the HOLY BIBLE: EASY-TO-READ VERSION © 2001 by World Bible Translation
Center, Inc. and used by permission."
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Friday, September 25, 2009

New Testament in a Year - September 26

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