This is my defense to those who examine me.

我对那盘问我的人就是这样分诉：

对那些质问我的人，这就是我的答辩。

对那些质问我的人，这就是我的答辩。

对那些责难我的人，我的答复是这样：

对那些盘问我的人，这就是我的答辩。

对那些评断我的人，我的辩护是这样的：

我對那盤問我的人就是這樣分訴：

對那些質問我的人，這就是我的答辯。

對那些質問我的人，這就是我的答辯。

對那些責難我的人，我的答覆是這樣：

對那些盤問我的人，這就是我的答辯。

對那些審斷我的人呢、我的分訴是這樣說：

對那些評斷我的人，我的辯護是這樣的：

有詰我者、我以此白之、

有詰我者、我以是告之、

有詰我者、我即以此答之、

亦即吾所持以答人之質問者也。

This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me.

That is what I say to stand up for myself when people judge me.

This is my defense to those who would examine me.

This is my answer to those who question my authority.

My defense to those who examine me is this:

My defense to those who examine me is this:

My defense to those who examine me is this:

My defence to them that examine me is this.

My defense to those who examine me is this:

Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,

My defense to those who examine me is this:

If anyone considers himself a prophet or spiritual person, he should acknowledge that what I write to you is the Lord’s command.

For it is right for me to think this about all of you, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel all of you became partners in God’s grace together with me.

Because of this I am writing these things while absent, so that when I arrive I may not have to deal harshly with you by using my authority– the Lord gave it to me for building up, not for tearing down!

since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak toward you but is powerful among you.

You are looking at outward appearances. If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should reflect on this again: Just as he himself belongs to Christ, so too do we.For if I boast somewhat more about our authority that the Lord gave us for building you up and not for tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of doing so.

But be that as it may, I have not burdened you. Yet because I was a crafty person, I took you in by deceit!I have not taken advantage of you through anyone I have sent to you, have I?I urged Titus to visit you and I sent our brother along with him. Titus did not take advantage of you, did he? Did we not conduct ourselves in the same spirit? Did we not behave in the same way?Have you been thinking all this time that we have been defending ourselves to you? We are speaking in Christ before God, and everything we do, dear friends, is to build you up.

I answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans to hand over anyone before the accused had met his accusers face to face and had been given an opportunity to make a defense against the accusation.

“ Brothers and fathers, listen to my defense that I now make to you.”

The former proclaim Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, because they think they can cause trouble for me in my imprisonment.

Put yourselves to the test to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize regarding yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you– unless, indeed, you fail the test!

At my first defense no one appeared in my support; instead they all deserted me– may they not be held accountable for it.