2 Corinthians 12
12
Paul's Visions and Revelations
1I have to boast, even though it doesn't do any good. But I will now talk about visions and revelations given me by the Lord. 2I know a certain Christian man who fourteen years ago was snatched up to the highest heaven (I do not know whether this actually happened or whether he had a vision — only God knows). 3-4I repeat, I know that this man was snatched to Paradise (again, I do not know whether this actually happened or whether it was a vision — only God knows), and there he heard things which cannot be put into words, things that human lips may not speak. 5So I will boast about this man — but I will not boast about myself, except the things that show how weak I am. 6If I wanted to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be telling the truth. But I will not boast, because I do not want anyone to have a higher opinion of me than he has as a result of what he has seen me do and heard me say.
7But to keep me from being puffed up with pride because of the many wonderful things I saw, I was given a painful physical ailment, which acts as Satan's messenger to beat me and keep me from being proud. 8Three times I prayed to the Lord about this and asked him to take it away. 9But his answer was: “My grace is all you need, for my power is greatest when you are weak.” I am most happy, then, to be proud of my weaknesses, in order to feel the protection of Christ's power over me. 10I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Paul's Concern for the Corinthians
11I am acting like a fool — but you have made me do it. You are the ones who ought to show your approval of me. For even if I am nothing, I am in no way inferior to those very special “apostles” of yours. 12The many miracles and wonders that prove that I am an apostle were performed among you with much patience. 13How were you treated any worse than the other churches, except that I did not bother you for financial help? Please forgive me for being so unfair!
14This is now the third time that I am ready to come to visit you — and I will not make any demands on you. It is you I want, not your money. After all, children should not have to provide for their parents, but parents should provide for their children. 15I will be glad to spend all I have, and myself as well, in order to help you. Will you love me less because I love you so much?
16You will agree, then, that I was not a burden to you. But someone will say that I was crafty, and trapped you with lies. 17How? Did I take advantage of you through any of the messengers I sent? 18I begged Titus to go, and I sent the other Christian brother with him. Would you say that Titus took advantage of you? Do he and I not act from the very same motives and behave in the same way?
19Perhaps you think that all along we have been trying to defend ourselves before you. No! We speak as Christ would wish us to speak in the presence of God, and everything we do, dear friends, is done to help you. 20I am afraid that when I get there I will find you different from what I would like you to be and you will find me different from what you would like me to be. I am afraid that I will find quarrelling and jealousy, hot tempers and selfishness, insults and gossip, pride and disorder. 21I am afraid that the next time I come my God will humiliate me in your presence, and I shall weep over many who sinned in the past and have not repented of the immoral things they have done — their lust and their sexual sins.
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Good News Bible with Deuterocanonicals/Apocrypha. Scripture taken from the Good News Bible (r) (Today's English Version Second Edition, UK/British Edition). Copyright © 1992 British & Foreign Bible Society. Used by permission.
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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The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.