II Corinthians 12
12
The Vision of Paradise
1It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to #Acts 16:9; 18:9; 22:17, 18; 23:11; 26:13–15; 27:23visions and #Acts 9:3–6; 1 Cor. 14:6; 2 Cor. 12:7; (Gal. 1:12; 2:2; Eph. 3:3–6)revelations of the Lord: 2I know a man #Rom. 16:7; Gal. 1:22in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one #Acts 22:17was caught up to the third heaven. 3And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— 4how he was caught up into #Luke 23:43; (Rev. 2:7)Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 5Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not #2 Cor. 11:30boast, except in my infirmities. 6For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me.
The Thorn in the Flesh
7And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a #Num. 33:55; Ezek. 28:24; Hos. 2:6; Gal. 4:13, 14thorn in the flesh was given to me, #Job 2:7; Matt. 4:10; Luke 13:16; (1 Cor. 5:5)a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8#Deut. 3:23; Matt. 26:44Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly #2 Cor. 11:30I will rather boast in my infirmities, #(1 Pet. 4:14)that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10Therefore #(Rom. 5:3; 8:35)I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. #2 Cor. 13:4For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Signs of an Apostle
11I have become #2 Cor. 5:13; 11:1, 16; 12:6a fool in boasting; you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you; for #1 Cor. 15:10; 2 Cor. 11:5in nothing was I behind the most eminent apostles, though #1 Cor. 3:7; 13:2; 15:9I am nothing. 12#Acts 14:3; Rom. 15:18Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and #Acts 15:12wonders and mighty #Acts 14:8–10; 16:16–18; 19:11, 12; 20:6–12; 28:1–10deeds. 13For what is it in which you were inferior to other churches, except that I myself was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong!
Love for the Church
14#2 Cor. 1:15; 13:1, 2Now for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be burdensome to you; for #Acts 20:33; (1 Cor. 10:24–33)I do not seek yours, but you. #1 Cor. 4:14; Gal. 4:19For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. 15And I will very gladly spend and be spent #John 10:11; Rom. 9:3; 2 Cor. 1:6; Phil. 2:17; Col. 1:24; 1 Thess. 2:8; (2 Tim. 2:10)for your souls; though #2 Cor. 6:12, 13the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.
16But be that as it may, #2 Cor. 11:9I did not burden you. Nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you by cunning! 17Did I take advantage of you by any of those whom I sent to you? 18I urged Titus, and sent our #2 Cor. 8:18brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same steps?
19#2 Cor. 5:12Again, do you think that we excuse ourselves to you? #(Rom. 9:1, 2); 2 Cor. 11:31We speak before God in Christ. #1 Cor. 10:33But we do all things, beloved, for your edification. 20For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that #1 Cor. 4:21; 2 Cor. 13:2, 10I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults; 21lest, when I come again, my God #2 Cor. 2:1, 4will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many #2 Cor. 13:2who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, #1 Cor. 5:1fornication, and lewdness which they have practiced.
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II Corinthians 12: NKJV
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The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
2 Corinthians 12
12
Visions from the Lord
1I have to boast. There is nothing to be gained by it, but I must boast about the visions and other things that the Lord has shown me. 2I know about one of Christ's followers who was taken up into the third heaven fourteen years ago. I don't know if the man was still in his body when it happened, but God certainly knows.
3As I said, only God really knows if this man was in his body at the time. 4But he was taken up into paradise,#12.4 paradise: In the Greek translation of the Old Testament, this word is used for the Garden of Eden. In New Testament times it was sometimes used for the place where God's people are happy and at rest, as they wait for the final judgment. where he heard things that are too wonderful to tell. 5I will boast about that man, but not about myself, except to say how weak I am.
6Yet even if I did boast, I would not be foolish. I would simply be speaking the truth. But I will try not to say too much. That way, none of you will think more highly of me than you should because of what you have seen me do and say. 7Of course, I am now referring to the wonderful things I saw. One of Satan's angels was sent to make me suffer terribly, so that I would not feel too proud.#12.7 Of course…too proud: Or “Because of the wonderful things that I saw, one of Satan's angels was sent to make me suffer terribly, so that I would not feel too proud.”
8Three times I begged the Lord to make this suffering go away. 9But he replied, “My kindness is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak.” So if Christ keeps giving me his power, I will gladly boast about how weak I am. 10Yes, I am glad to be weak or insulted or ill-treated or to have troubles and sufferings, if it is for Christ. Because when I am weak, I am strong.
Paul's concern for the Lord's followers at Corinth
11I have been making a fool of myself. But you forced me to do it, when you should have been speaking up for me. I may be nothing at all, but I am as good as those super apostles. 12When I was with you, I was patient and worked all the powerful miracles and signs and wonders of a true apostle. 13You missed out on only one blessing that the other churches received. That is, you didn't have to support me. Forgive me for doing you wrong.
14I am planning to visit you for the third time. But I still won't make a burden of myself. What I really want is you, and not what you have. Children are not supposed to save up for their parents, but parents are supposed to take care of their children. 15So I will gladly give all that I have and all that I am. Will you love me less for loving you too much? 16You agree that I wasn't a burden to you. Perhaps that's because I was trying to catch you off guard and trick you. 17Were you cheated by any of those I sent to you? 18I urged Titus to visit you, and I sent another follower with him. But Titus didn't cheat you, and we felt and behaved the same way he did.
19Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? Actually, we have been speaking to God as followers of Christ. But, my friends, we did it all for your good.
20I am afraid that when I come, we won't be pleased with each other. I fear that some of you may be arguing or jealous or angry or selfish or gossiping or insulting each other. I even fear that you may be proud and acting like a mob. 21I am afraid God will make me ashamed when I visit you again. I will feel like crying because many of you have never given up your old sins. You are still doing things that are immoral, indecent, and shameful.
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© British and Foreign Bible Society 2012