2 Corinthians 12
12
1It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast, but I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2I know a man in Christ who was caught up into the third heaven fourteen years ago—whether in the body, I don’t know, or whether out of the body, I don’t know; God knows. 3I know such a man (whether in the body, or outside of the body, I don’t know; God knows), 4how he was caught up into Paradise and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 5On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in my weaknesses. 6For if I would desire to boast, I will not be foolish; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, so that no man may think more of me than that which he sees in me or hears from me. 7By reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted excessively, a thorn in the flesh was given to me: a messenger of Satan to torment me, that I should not be exalted excessively. 8Concerning this thing, I begged the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me.
10Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, and in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong. 11I have become foolish in boasting. You compelled me, for I ought to have been commended by you, for I am in no way inferior to the very best apostles, though I am nothing. 12Truly the signs of an apostle were worked among you in all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty works. 13For what is there in which you were made inferior to the rest of the assemblies, unless it is that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!
14Behold, this is the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you; for I seek not your possessions, but you. For the children ought not to save up for the parents, but the parents for the children. 15I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I loved the less? 16Even so, I myself didn’t burden you. But you might say that being crafty, I caught you with deception. 17Did I take advantage of you by anyone of those whom I have sent to you? 18I exhorted Titus, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take any advantage of you? Didn’t we walk in the same spirit? Didn’t we walk in the same steps?
19Again, do you think that we are excusing ourselves to you? In the sight of God we speak in Christ. But all things, beloved, are for your edifying. 20For I am afraid that perhaps when I come, I might find you not the way I want to, and that I might be found by you as you don’t desire, that perhaps there would be strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, whisperings, proud thoughts, or riots, 21that again when I come my God would humble me before you, and I would mourn for many of those who have sinned before now, and not repented of the uncleanness, sexual immorality, and lustfulness which they committed.
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2 Corinthians 12
12
Sufficient Grace
1Boasting is necessary. It is not profitable, but I will move on to visions#Lk 1:22 and revelations#1Pt 4:13 of the Lord. 2I know a man in Christ who was caught up#1Th 4:17 to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether he was in the body or out of the body, I don’t know; God knows. 3I know that this man — whether in the body or out of the body I don’t know; God knows — 4was caught up into paradise#Lk 23:43 and heard inexpressible words, which a human being is not allowed to speak. 5I will boast about this person, but not about myself, except of my weaknesses.
6For if I want to boast, I wouldn’t be a fool, because I would be telling the truth.#Ps 119:142; Jn 8:14; 14:6; 2Co 11:10; 1Jn 5:20; 3Jn 3 But I will spare you, so that no one can credit me with something beyond what he sees in me or hears from me, 7especially because of the extraordinary revelations. Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh#Nm 33:55; Ezk 28:24; Php 3:3 was given to me, a messenger of Satan#Mt 4:1,10; Ac 13:10 to torment me so that I would not exalt myself. 8Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times that it would leave me. 9But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power#Mk 5:30; Lk 1:35; 6:19; Ac 19:11; 2Co 13:4; Rv 11:17 is perfected in weakness.”#Is 40:29–31; 1Co 2:5; Php 4:13
Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. 10So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ.#Mt 5:11–12; Rm 5:3; 2Co 13:4 For when I am weak, then I am strong.#Eph 6:10
Signs of an Apostle
11I have been a fool; you forced it on me. You ought to have commended me, since I am not in any way inferior to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.#Gl 6:3 12The signs#Heb 2:4 of an apostle#Ac 1:2; Jd 17 were performed with unfailing endurance among you, including signs and wonders#Mk 13:22 and miracles.#Ac 19:11 13So in what way are you worse off than the other churches, except that I personally did not burden you? Forgive me for this wrong!
Paul’s Concern for the Corinthians
14Look, I am ready to come to you this third time.#Ac 18; 2Co 2:1; 13:1 I will not burden you, since I am not seeking what is yours, but you. For children ought not save up for their parents, but parents for their children. 15I will most gladly spend and be spent for you.#12:15 Lit for your souls, or for your lives#2Co 1:6; Php 2:17; Col 1:24; 1Th 2:8; 2Tm 2:10 If I love you more, am I to be loved less? 16Now granted, I did not burden#1Th 2:7 you; yet sly as I am, I took you in by deceit!#Ps 10:7 17Did I take advantage of you by any of those I sent you? 18I urged Titus#Ti 1:4 to go, and I sent the brother with him. Titus didn’t take advantage of you, did he? Didn’t we walk in the same spirit#Ps 51:12 and in the same footsteps?
19Have you been thinking all along that we were defending ourselves to you? No, in the sight of God we are speaking in Christ, and everything, dear friends, is for building you up.#1Co 14:3–4 20For I fear that perhaps when I come I will not find you to be what I want, and you may not find me to be what you want. Perhaps there will be quarreling,#Ti 3:9 jealousy,#Jms 3:14 angry outbursts, selfish ambitions,#Rm 2:8 slander,#1Pt 2:1 gossip, arrogance, and disorder.#1Co 14:33,40 21I fear that when I come my God will again#12:21 Or come again my God will humiliate me in your presence, and I will grieve for many who sinned before and have not repented#Ac 3:19 of the moral impurity, sexual immorality,#1Th 4:3 and sensuality#Mk 7:21–22 they practiced.
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