JMNT(i)
1 I wish that you folks were continuing to put up with a little something of my thoughtlessness (or: unreasonableness; lack of consideration; foolishness; imprudence). But in fact, you are also always patiently tolerant of me (or, as an imperative: Still further, be also patiently tolerant of me),
2 for I continue with hot zeal (eager vehement passion) concerning you in (or: with; by) God's fervent zeal (an eager vehement passion which is God), because I myself joined you folks in marriage to one husband, to make a pure virgin (= unmarried girl) to stand alongside in the Christ.
3 Yet I continue fearing lest somehow, as the serpent thoroughly deceived (or: seduces; fully deludes) Eve within its capability for every work (its cunning ability in all crafts and actions; its readiness to do anything), the results of directing your minds should be decayed (could be ruined; would be spoiled or corrupted) away from the singleness [of purpose] and simplicity [of being] – even the purity – which [focuses us] into the Christ (or: [leads] into the Anointing).
4 For if, indeed, the person periodically coming is habitually preaching (heralding; proclaiming) another Jesus – whom we do not preach (or: did not herald and proclaim) – or, [if] you folks are continuously receiving a different breath-effect (or: are repeatedly laying hold of a spirit or attitude that is different in kind and nature) which you did not receive, or a different “good-news” (a message of ease and wellness which is different in kind and character) which you did not welcome and accept, are you repeatedly holding back from [him] in an ideal way? (or: you folks are beautifully putting up with and tolerant of [it]! [other MSS: were you finely holding back from {it}?]).
5 Now you see, I am habitually considering and counting myself to have been in nothing inferior to or deficient from those "very-overly [pretentious and condescending] emissaries (or: super-folks sent forth with a mission)." [note: Paul is probably referring to the Judaizers – those sent out from the Jews]
6 Yet even if [I am] non-professional (ordinary and unskilled) in word and expression – though certainly not in intimate and experiential knowledge and insight (the gnosis) – still, we are men manifesting light into you folks: in every situation [and] in all things (or: in every person – in union with and in the midst of all people; in every respect, among all folks).
7 Or, do I make a mistake (or: did I commit a sin) [by] repeatedly humbling myself so that you folks can (or: may; would) be lifted up because I announce as good news a free gift – God's good news – to you (or: because without cost I declare a message of ease and wellness to you: God's message of goodness)?
8 I encroached upon and took the goods of (or: rob; despoil) other called-out folks (or: groups), taking (or: receiving; getting) rations (provisions; subsistence pay) with a view toward the attending service and dispensing pertaining to you people.
9 Further, being present and facing you, and being put in need (being made to lack and fall short of means), I was not a "dead weight" on (= an idle encumbrance, hence, a financial burden to) even one person, for the brothers (= fellow believers) coming from Macedonia replenished the lacks resulting from my being in need, and in everything I kept and shall continue keeping myself "weight-free" to (= free from being a burden for) you folks.
10 Christ's reality (or: Truth pertaining to, originating in, and which is [the] Anointed One) continuously exists within me, so that this boast (or: boasting) will not be constantly fenced in or hedged about (thus: stopped or blocked) unto (or: for) me within the slopes (= regions) of Achaia!
11 Why (Through what reason or situation)? Because I am not continuously loving you folks? God has seen and thus knows!
12 So what I am habitually doing I will still continue doing, to the end that I can cut out the starting point, base of operations, and occasion of those repeatedly wanting and intending a starting point (base of operations, or, an occasion), so that they can be found within that which they are constantly boasting – even just as we!
13 For such folks [are] false emissaries (pseudo-representatives) – fraudulent and deceitful workers – constantly changing their outward fashion and transforming themselves into emissaries of Christ (representatives of [the] Anointed One).
14 And no wonder ([it is] no marvel or cause for astonishment), for the adversary (opponent; satan) itself is repeatedly changing its form and outward fashion (transforming itself) into a messenger of light (or, as a passive: is from time to time being transformed and changed in its outward expression into an agent from [the] Light).
15 Therefore, [it is] no great thing if its attending servants and dispensers also repeatedly change their form and outward fashion (or: are habitually transformed) as attending servants of fairness and equity (dispensers of the way pointed out; = ministers of the covenant) – whose finish (or: end in view; finished product; attained goal; consummation; accomplished end) will proceed in being in accord with, along the line of, to the level of and corresponding to their works and actions (or: = their outcome will constantly be what they reap from their deeds).
16 I say again, no one should presume to imagine or suppose me to be a senseless fellow (a fool; one devoid of intellect; an imprudent man). Still – if not in fact – even if as senseless (foolish; idiotic; imprudent), accept and receive me, so that I myself also can boast of something!
17 What I am presently speaking I am speaking not down from or in accord with [the] Lord (Master; Owner; [= Christ or Yahweh]), but to the contrary, as within senselessness (foolishness; imprudence) – within this assumed position as a basis for boasting:
18 since many folks are habitually boasting – according to the flesh (or: = on the level of the natural being; or: = in the sphere of estranged humanity) – I myself should also boast,
19 for with pleasure you folks – continuously being intelligent, sensible and prudent folks! – habitually put up with the senseless (foolish; idiotic; imprudent) people!
20 In fact, you constantly put up with anyone if he is progressively bringing you down to slavery (or: is completely enslaving you as his habit) – if someone is repeatedly devouring; if someone is constantly taking [you] in hand; if someone is progressively elevating himself or lifting himself up upon [you]; if someone is continuously bringing the lash into your face (flaying you with a whip so as to remove the skin and eat into the face)! (= you folks constantly tolerate tyranny, abusive insults, pride and arrogance, as well as being drained of resources, being manipulated and being restrained.)
21 I am saying [this] down from dishonor (or: in accord with being devalued), seeing that we, ourselves, have been weak [among you]. Yet in whatever anyone is habitually daring – I say this in senselessness (I’m talking foolishly and unreasonably) – I, too, am habitually daring!
22 Are they Hebrews? So [am] I! Are they Israelites? So [am] I! Are they a seed of Abraham? So [am] I! [comment: this is the "boasting on the level of flesh" in vs. 18, above]
23 Are they Christ's attending servants? – I am speaking as one being beside himself (or: insane) – I [am] over and above [them] (or: I, more so; = I surpass [them])! In toilsome labors and weariness more exceedingly; in prisons and jails more often; in blows (stripes or beatings) surpassingly; in deaths many times (= in near-death situations often).
24 Five times by Jews I received forty [stripes; lashes], less one.
25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked – I have done night and day within the midst of the depth [of the sea], even hitting bottom;
26 on journeys often (many times); in dangers (perils) of rivers (or: floods); in dangers of robbers (perils of plunderers); in dangers from out of [my] race (kindred); in dangers from out of the multitudes of ethnic groups ([the] nations); in dangers within city; in dangers within a desolate place (wilderness); in dangers at sea; in dangers among false-brothers (= pseudo-believers; or: = Family members who lie and deal falsely);
27 in exhaustive labor and wearisome toil; in lack of sleep (or: sleeplessness; or: vigils) often; in hunger (or: scarcity of food; or: famine) and in thirst – in situations of deprivation or need of food (or: in fastings), many times; in cold and in lack of sufficient clothing (or: nakedness);
28 apart from these external matters (or: apart from those things [just mentioned] – besides the outside –) [there is] the thing rushing in on me and giving cares (the pressure) from day to day: the anxiety, concern and divided distraction pertaining to all the called-out folks (or: summoned-forth communities):
29 Who is continuing weak and I am not proceeding to be weak (= sharing their weakness)? Who is habitually snared and caused to stumble or be entrapped, and I, myself, am not being repeatedly made fiery hot (or: caused to be incensed)?
30 If (or: Since) it is necessary to boast, I will boast concerning the things pertaining to my weakness.
31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus (or, in apposition: which is [the] Lord Jesus) – the One continuously being a blessed One (or: the One constantly existing being [in character and quality as] a Word of ease and a Message of wellness and goodness) on into the ages – has seen and thus knows that I am not lying.
32 In Damascus the ethnarch (tribal governor; ruler of that culture) under Aretas, the king, had been watching with guards to garrison the city of Damascus, intending to seize and arrest me,
33 and through a window (or: small opening) I was lowered through the wall in a braided hamper (of ropes or wicker), and escaped (fled out of) his hands.