in distress, in persecutions, in grievous difficulties--
for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
012:011 It is foolish of me to write all this, but you have compelled
me to do so. Why, you ought to have been my vindicators;
for in no respect have I been inferior to these superlatively
great Apostles, even though in myself I am nothing.
012:012 The signs that characterize the true Apostle have been done
among you, accompanied by unwearied fortitude, and by tokens
and marvels and displays of power.
012:013 In what respect, therefore, have you been worse dealt with than
other Churches, except that I myself never hung as a dead
weight upon you? Forgive the injustice I thus did you!
012:014 See, I am now for the third time prepared to visit you, but I
will not be a dead weight to you. I desire not your money,
but yourselves; for children ought not to put by for their parents,
but parents for their children.
012:015 And as for me, most gladly will I spend all I have and be
utterly spent for your salvation.
012:016 If I love you so intensely, am I the less to be loved?
Be that as it may: I was not a burden to you.
But being by no means scrupulous, I entrapped you, they say!
012:017 Have I gained any selfish advantage over you through any one
of the messengers I have sent to you?
012:018 I begged Titus to visit you, and sent our other brother
with him. Did Titus gain any selfish advantage over you?
Were not he and I guided by one and the same Spirit, and did
we not walk in the same steps?
012:019 You are imagining, all this time, that we are making our
defense at your bar. In reality it is as in God's presence
and in communion with Christ that we speak; but, dear friends,