12 I beg you, my brothers and sisters, be like me. After all, I am like you. You have not done me any wrong.
13 You remember why I preached the gospel to you the first time; it was because I was ill.
14 But even though my physical condition was a great trial to you, you did not despise or reject me. Instead, you received me as you would an angel from heaven; you received me as you would Christ Jesus.
15 You were so happy! What has happened? I myself can say that you would have taken out your own eyes, if you could, and given them to me.
16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?
17 Those other people show a deep interest in you, but their intentions are not good. All they want is to separate you from me, so that you will have the same interest in them as they have in you.
18 Now, it is good to have such a deep interest if the purpose is good — this is true always, and not merely when I am with you.