2 Corinthians 12

Visions and Revelations

1Doubtless it is not profitable for me to boast. So I will move on to visions and revelations of the Lord. # Gal 1:12; 2:2 2I knew a man in Christ over fourteen years ago—whether in the body or out of the body I cannot tell, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven. # Ac 22:17 3And I knew that such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I cannot tell, God knows— 4was caught up into paradise # Lk 23:43; Rev 2:7 and heard inexpressible words not permitted for a man to say. # 1Co 13:1 5Of such a person, I will boast. Yet of myself I will not boast, except in my weaknesses. 6For if I desire to boast, I will not be a fool, # 2Co 11:16 for I will be speaking the truth. But now I resist, lest anyone should think of me above that which he sees me to be or hears from me. 7And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of revelations, a thorn # Nu 33:55; Eze 28:24 was given me in the body, a messenger of Satan, to torment me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8I asked the Lord three times that this thing might depart from me. 9But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will boast in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. # Isa 40:29–31; 2Co 12:10; Php 4:13 10So I take pleasure in weaknesses, in reproaches, in hardships, in persecutions, and in distresses for Christ’s sake. # Ro 5:3 For when I am weak, then I am strong. # 2Co 13:4

Paul’s Concern for the Corinthian Church

11I have become a fool in boasting. # 2Co 11:1 You have compelled me, for I ought to have been commended by you, for I am in no way inferior to the leading apostles, # 2Co 11:5 though I am nothing. 12Truly the signs of an apostle were performed among you in all patience, in signs and wonders, and mighty deeds. 13For in what respect were you inferior to other churches, unless it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong! # 1Co 9:12; 2Co 12:14

14I am ready to come to you this third time. And I will not be burdensome to you, for I do not seek what is yours but only you. For the children ought not to save up for the parents, but the parents for the children. # 1Co 4:14–15 15And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you. # Php 2:17; 1Th 2:8 If I love you more, am I to be loved less? 16But be that as it may. I did not burden you. Nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with deceit. 17Did I take advantage of you by any of those whom I sent to you? 18I urged Titus to go, # 2Co 8:6 and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same steps?

19Again, do you think that we are defending ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ. # Ro 9:1 We do all things, beloved, for your edifying. # 2Co 10:8 20For I fear that when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found by you such as you do not wish. I fear there are debates, envying, wrath, strife, backbiting, whispering, arrogance, and disorder. # Ro 1:29; 1Co 1:11 21And I fear that when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall mourn for many who have sinned already, # 2Co 13:2 who have not repented of impurity, sexual immorality, # 1Co 5:1 and lasciviousness which they have committed.

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2 Corinthians 12

Paul’s Vision and His Thorn

1I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 2I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. 3And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— 4was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. 5I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. 6Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, 7or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Paul’s Concern for the Corinthians

11I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the “super-apostles,”#12:11 Or the most eminent apostles even though I am nothing. 12I persevered in demonstrating among you the marks of a true apostle, including signs, wonders and miracles. 13How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!

14Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. 15So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less? 16Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you. Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery! 17Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent to you? 18I urged Titus to go to you and I sent our brother with him. Titus did not exploit you, did he? Did we not walk in the same footsteps by the same Spirit?

19Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends, is for your strengthening. 20For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder. 21I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged.

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