12 Brothers and sisters, I beg you to become like me. After all, I became like you were.You didn’t do anything wrong to me.
13 You know that the first time I brought you the Good News I was ill.
14 Even though my illness was difficult for you, you didn’t despise or reject me. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were God’s messenger or Christ Jesus himself.
15 What happened to your positive attitude? It’s a fact that if it had been possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.
16 Can it be that I have become your enemy for telling you the truth?
17 These people ⌊who distort the Good News⌋ are devoted to you, but not in a good way. They don’t want you to associate with me so that you will be devoted only to them.
18 (Devotion to a good cause is always good, even when I’m not with you.)